Book Review: Swim Team
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Christmas, J. (2022). Swim team: A Graphic Novel.
HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0063056763
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Bree is an adolescent girl who is forced to move during a
very transformative time in her life. She is moving from Brooklyn to Florida, two
totally different places and experiences. You follow the main character as she navigates
the changes of moving to a new place during middle school. This book tackles aspects
of change, bravery, trying new things and conquering fears. This triumphant
graphic novel follows Bree as she learns to swim and ultimately becomes a successful
swimmer making her the darling of the swim team. The relationships Bree forms
are so important to her success.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is very relatable to the reader. It highlights several
scary situations that kids could be put in: being forced to do something you
don’t want to do and accepting change. Anxiety is an experience that many young
people suffer from and in this book, you learn how the character faces anxiety
but also works through it. The illustrations in this graphic novel convey so
much detail and even emotion from the character.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“Problem solving through perseverance and friendship is the
real win in this deeply smart and inspiring story.” – Kirkus Reviews
National Book Award Longlist
Coretta Scott King Honor Book
5. CONNECTIONS
Bree’s neighbor explains to her why it is that some black children
do not know how to swim and will not learn how to swim. You could research this
with your class asking: How has racism of the past contributed to anxiety
around swimming in the black community? What other spaces have black people
been potentially shut out of?
Book Review by Barbara Jean Thompson
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