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Swim Team
Bree can't wait for her first day at her new middle school, Enith Brigitha, home to the Mighty Manatees--until she's stuck with the only elective that fits her schedule, the dreaded Swim 101. The thought of swimming makes Bree more than a little queasy, yet she's forced to dive headfirst into one of her greatest fears. Lucky for her, Etta, an elderly occupant of her apartment building and former swim team captain, is willing to help.
With Etta's training and a lot of hard work, Bree suddenly finds her swim-crazed community counting on her to turn the school's failing team around. But that's easier said than done, especially when their rival, the prestigious Holyoke Prep, has everything they need to leave the Mighty Manatees in their wake.
Can Bree defy the odds and guide her team to a state championship, or have the Manatees swum their last lap--for good?
With Etta's training and a lot of hard work, Bree suddenly finds her swim-crazed community counting on her to turn the school's failing team around. But that's easier said than done, especially when their rival, the prestigious Holyoke Prep, has everything they need to leave the Mighty Manatees in their wake.
Can Bree defy the odds and guide her team to a state championship, or have the Manatees swum their last lap--for good?
248 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 849 reviews
June 1, 2022
Swim Team is a graphic novel that does a good job bringing up relavent social issue while still keeping a relatable story.There's history behind why Black kids are least likely to swim than their white counterparts and this story takes the mc's fear of water and educates while keeping levity. I thought it had nice illusstrations too!
December 24, 2022
If you haven't read this middle grade graphic novel, you are officially missing out. I'm a firm believer that middle grade graphic novels authors and artists are out here doing some amazing work. Swim Team is no different.
I've been interested in Swim Team since it made it's debut, but it took me forever to get to it. The book focuses on a young girl by the name of Bree who is moving with her dad to a new state. While she's both excited and nervous about attending her new middle school, she becomes even more overwhelmed when she discovers that Swim 101 is the only elective left for her to take. Unable to swim, Bree works with friends and neighbors to overcome her fear of the water and help the middle school swim team become better than they've been in years.
One of my favorite aspects of this graphic novel was the blending of fact and fiction. While it does focus on Bree's fear of the water, it also delves into the reason why so many Black individuals don't know how to swim. It's all linked to segregation and Jim Crow when Black families were not permitted to swim in public pools. This eventually led to a lower likelihood that Black community members would be able to swim. Christmas does the perfect job of utilizing this historical fact to build the background stories of both Bree's father and their neighbor Ms. Etta. There are also themes of friendship, bullying, kindness, familial expectations and more that middle grade readers will be able to connect with. I enjoyed that the friendships weren't perfect and that they had to make conscious efforts to make things work.
Overall, this was a great read. I enjoyed so many different elements including the artwork which was fun and vibrant and engaging. I'm hoping that we get a second book in this series so that we can get more information about the repercussions for the coach at the other school.
I've been interested in Swim Team since it made it's debut, but it took me forever to get to it. The book focuses on a young girl by the name of Bree who is moving with her dad to a new state. While she's both excited and nervous about attending her new middle school, she becomes even more overwhelmed when she discovers that Swim 101 is the only elective left for her to take. Unable to swim, Bree works with friends and neighbors to overcome her fear of the water and help the middle school swim team become better than they've been in years.
One of my favorite aspects of this graphic novel was the blending of fact and fiction. While it does focus on Bree's fear of the water, it also delves into the reason why so many Black individuals don't know how to swim. It's all linked to segregation and Jim Crow when Black families were not permitted to swim in public pools. This eventually led to a lower likelihood that Black community members would be able to swim. Christmas does the perfect job of utilizing this historical fact to build the background stories of both Bree's father and their neighbor Ms. Etta. There are also themes of friendship, bullying, kindness, familial expectations and more that middle grade readers will be able to connect with. I enjoyed that the friendships weren't perfect and that they had to make conscious efforts to make things work.
Overall, this was a great read. I enjoyed so many different elements including the artwork which was fun and vibrant and engaging. I'm hoping that we get a second book in this series so that we can get more information about the repercussions for the coach at the other school.
July 22, 2022
Buddy read with my 10 year old daughter.
I absolutely loved this. I loved most of all the history lesson presented to Bree when she surmised that her inability to swim was somehow equated with her blackness.
I loved the culture presented in the food, I loved the authors conveyance of rolling with the punches and making the most of the hand that was dealt to you.
I liked that when the friendships had fallouts they were solved with personal growth and heartfelt apologies.
The only thing this book was missing was consequences for the coach from Holyoake (?) She was unbearable...maybe a second book?
I absolutely loved this. I loved most of all the history lesson presented to Bree when she surmised that her inability to swim was somehow equated with her blackness.
I loved the culture presented in the food, I loved the authors conveyance of rolling with the punches and making the most of the hand that was dealt to you.
I liked that when the friendships had fallouts they were solved with personal growth and heartfelt apologies.
The only thing this book was missing was consequences for the coach from Holyoake (?) She was unbearable...maybe a second book?
January 2, 2023
3.5⭐️
This book can be viewed in 2 vastly different ways:
1. Forcing a kid to partake in an activity that she fears immensely instead of nurturing/letting her pursue her interests (e.g. Math), such that she skips school and almost drowns
2. An uplifting read about learning to face and fight your fears
Although I pivoted from #1 to #2 eventually and enjoyed the book overall, I truly don't understand why everyone was so adamant about getting Bree to swim. Even the coach was using her grades and extra credit to blackmail her into joining tryouts.
Sure, it's nice to overcome your phobia but forcing someone into it, taking away their freedom and choice, just rubs me the wrong way. Some parts of the story felt too 'easy' and I didn't like how the antagonists were portrayed.
What I liked: Cute artwork, heartwarming themes of family + friendship + community, learning about the segregation of public pools and racism that Black people faced, satisfying arcs even for the supporting adult characters.
Overall, this is a heartwarming graphic novel with an inspiring message a d feel-good vibes. However, the execution sucked and there are better ways to go about it. The book is also overly idealistic and lacks nuance, so it might be more suitable for a younger audience than picky old me.
This book can be viewed in 2 vastly different ways:
1. Forcing a kid to partake in an activity that she fears immensely instead of nurturing/letting her pursue her interests (e.g. Math), such that she skips school and almost drowns
2. An uplifting read about learning to face and fight your fears
Although I pivoted from #1 to #2 eventually and enjoyed the book overall, I truly don't understand why everyone was so adamant about getting Bree to swim. Even the coach was using her grades and extra credit to blackmail her into joining tryouts.
Sure, it's nice to overcome your phobia but forcing someone into it, taking away their freedom and choice, just rubs me the wrong way. Some parts of the story felt too 'easy' and I didn't like how the antagonists were portrayed.
What I liked: Cute artwork, heartwarming themes of family + friendship + community, learning about the segregation of public pools and racism that Black people faced, satisfying arcs even for the supporting adult characters.
Overall, this is a heartwarming graphic novel with an inspiring message a d feel-good vibes. However, the execution sucked and there are better ways to go about it. The book is also overly idealistic and lacks nuance, so it might be more suitable for a younger audience than picky old me.
August 26, 2022
Swim Team is a highly engaging graphic novel about swimming, Black history (and why many Blacks don’t swim), and friendship. The illustrations are well done, including detailed swim coaching scenes. This will also appeal to fans of historical fiction as the book includes a sweet connection to the past in Ms. Etta. Sweet, immersive, and compulsively-readable — fans of Jerry Craft’s New Kid and Varian Johnson’s Twins will love this one.
Read my full review on my blog.
Read my full review on my blog.
June 8, 2022
This is such a powerful coming of age story that explores the meaning of friendship, family struggles, bullying, and the stereotype of Black people not swimming.
There’s an entire section that really dives into the stereotype that Black people can’t swim and it’s unpacked for the reader in a way that I wish someone would’ve told me as a kid. The author goes into the history of Black folks trying to swim in public pools during the Jim Crow era.
I also just loved Bree as a character and watching her navigate her new life and these obstacles that’s she’s never had to face. She meets so many wonderful people in this book and becomes both a skilled and confident swimmer (with training of course!).
This is one of those books that I desperately wished I had as a kid. I loved every second of it.
Thank you to HarperKids for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
There’s an entire section that really dives into the stereotype that Black people can’t swim and it’s unpacked for the reader in a way that I wish someone would’ve told me as a kid. The author goes into the history of Black folks trying to swim in public pools during the Jim Crow era.
I also just loved Bree as a character and watching her navigate her new life and these obstacles that’s she’s never had to face. She meets so many wonderful people in this book and becomes both a skilled and confident swimmer (with training of course!).
This is one of those books that I desperately wished I had as a kid. I loved every second of it.
Thank you to HarperKids for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
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December 31, 2022
A wonderful final book of 2022.
Harper Leadership—negotiate a fair contract with your workers to end the strike so I can talk about this damn book!
Harper Leadership—negotiate a fair contract with your workers to end the strike so I can talk about this damn book!
April 2, 2023
A feel good story about a character of color overcoming fears and winning. Bree becomes a member of her school's swim team. A team that would like to go to state to defeat the neighboring private school. Can she, her teammates and the adults in their lives overcome their fears and insecurities to win?
If you like swimming, graphic novels or friendship stories, give this a try.
If you like swimming, graphic novels or friendship stories, give this a try.
June 10, 2022
This graphic novel deserves a place in every elementary and middle school library and youth public collection. A combination of middle school scaries plus overcoming a fear of swimming, it’s a story that many children will be able to relate to. I loved the historical content that lays out why there may be an aversion to water in some Black families and dispels the myth of Black bodies not being able to swim. I’d say 5th / 6th grade is the sweet spot for this one.
April 12, 2022
I really liked this graphic novel. I thought the subject matter of black swimming culture was done really well. I always love learning something new about a culture I don't belong to and this book did that for me. I also really appreciated the focus on teamwork and the different dynamics within sports teams. The illustrations were done really well and overall this one was a winner for me.
April 15, 2023
so heartwarming and enlightening to read, i really enjoyed this!!
February 22, 2023
shut the hell up im emotional that was so cute
July 17, 2022
3.5. I loved the historical threads in this graphic novel about access to public pools effects on Black communities and how they view swimming. I also really liked anytime the older characters interacted with the younger characters (Bree/her dad, Bree/Etta). I think there were some maybe convenient and unnecessary plot decisions: Bree helping her new school excel even though she just started swimming, the kids "spying" on the other school, the bullies and mean coach from the private school seeming kind of like caricatures). But overall loved how the story progressed and enjoyed the characters.
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July 17, 2023This is a really good middle grade graphic novel and underdog sports story, which has beautiful images that help shape and extend the text. The representation of learning to swim and becoming a team is inspiring, and I love the way sports are portrayed as a way to build confidence and friendships for girls. The story also has important asides about the history of discrimination against Black people having access to public pools. My favorite feature is the author’s illustration of Bree’s intrusive negative thoughts and the way that exercise can be a way to combat them.
May 29, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Children’s Books for the ARC of this!
What a heartwarming and adorable story about persevering and friendship. I absolutely loved the art style and characters. Perfect for middle grade readers!
What a heartwarming and adorable story about persevering and friendship. I absolutely loved the art style and characters. Perfect for middle grade readers!
July 14, 2023
Absolutely phenomenal. One of the best GNs I've read.
August 17, 2023
This is a very cute graphic novel that follows Bree as she learns to swim and joins the swim team, and their journey of them making it all the way to state while overcoming challenges.
December 11, 2023
Highly recommend Swim Team to anyone interested in swimming, history of race in America, middle school drama, relatable graphic novels... Or probably a bunch of other things I'm forgetting. The author does an excellent job of balancing vibrant characters and moments of humor with painful moments in history and rough social dynamics.
November 26, 2023
This is one of the best graphic novels I've read in a while. Teamwork, history, intergenerational friendships, single parent families and personal growth are all included.
March 20, 2023
Middle Grade March FOREVER
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December 1, 2022On the one hand this is a totally charming story that fills some serious gaps in middle grade sports literature and middle grade graphic novels, plus it gives a nice history lesson on why Black people in America often don't know how to swim.
On the other hand, I have a great many technical bones to pick with this as a competitive swimmer (who tf calls it a "relay medley?" It's a medley relay. And why did he describe it in IM order?) and wish someone involved in the creation of this book had been an actual swimmer so they could have called out the errors--there's a person in the middle of a breaststroke race who is obviously doing a flip turn instead of a touch turn, for another example, and just because it's art doesn't mean you should show people doing hella deep dives that don't make sense for the sport or for the way the pool was shown to be designed. So many things here were technically incorrect.
Would I hesitate to give this to a kid? Absolutely not; the art is nice, the representation is diverse, the characters are lovable, and so on. But as an editor, I have to say this book feels like someone who did, like, a color-by-numbers approach to writing a book, and the editor didn't do their job nurturing or encouraging the narrative to be great instead of just passable. The tone of the book shifts from realistic fiction to that sort of amplified, melodramatic realistic fiction where the antagonists are cartoonish, over-the-top cliches instead of fully realized, complex villains. The pacing and school details are more Hollywood drama middle school than real world middle school (why are all the meets with like five schools instead of just two teams at a time until championships or something? ).
I just think all that is a shame, because it was a compelling concept and characters that didn't need melodrama to have stakes that were worth following, and leaning into melodrama cheapened everything. A potentially knockout, modern classic, literary marvel graphic novel was instead a perfectly fine but not remarkable graphic novel, and I'm sad about it. If I got this from someone in a workshop I'd be impressed because it shows a lot of promise, but it was not ready to be published.
On the other hand, I have a great many technical bones to pick with this as a competitive swimmer (who tf calls it a "relay medley?" It's a medley relay. And why did he describe it in IM order?) and wish someone involved in the creation of this book had been an actual swimmer so they could have called out the errors--there's a person in the middle of a breaststroke race who is obviously doing a flip turn instead of a touch turn, for another example, and just because it's art doesn't mean you should show people doing hella deep dives that don't make sense for the sport or for the way the pool was shown to be designed. So many things here were technically incorrect.
Would I hesitate to give this to a kid? Absolutely not; the art is nice, the representation is diverse, the characters are lovable, and so on. But as an editor, I have to say this book feels like someone who did, like, a color-by-numbers approach to writing a book, and the editor didn't do their job nurturing or encouraging the narrative to be great instead of just passable. The tone of the book shifts from realistic fiction to that sort of amplified, melodramatic realistic fiction where the antagonists are cartoonish, over-the-top cliches instead of fully realized, complex villains. The pacing and school details are more Hollywood drama middle school than real world middle school (why are all the meets with like five schools instead of just two teams at a time until championships or something? ).
I just think all that is a shame, because it was a compelling concept and characters that didn't need melodrama to have stakes that were worth following, and leaning into melodrama cheapened everything. A potentially knockout, modern classic, literary marvel graphic novel was instead a perfectly fine but not remarkable graphic novel, and I'm sad about it. If I got this from someone in a workshop I'd be impressed because it shows a lot of promise, but it was not ready to be published.
January 31, 2022
Johnnie Christmas is a master storyteller who knows how to get you invested in a character and bring you on a journey with them. In Swim Team, young Bree is in a brand-new city, state, and school. She has to make all-new friends and figure things out from scratch. She wrestles with anxiety and self-doubt that's displayed brilliantly in the story as dark, cloudy word balloons that gather around her, sometimes becoming overwhelming.
And to make matters worse, the only elective that's left for Bree involves something that she's very afraid of: the water and learning how to swim...and at a school that is deeply invested in its swim team!
My HEART. What a brilliant story that effortlessly navigates the hardships that young people face and have to overcome, especially Black children. Johnnie is in his element with this graphic novel, quickly earning a spot amongst contemporary creators such as Raina Telgemeier, Jerry Craft, and more. Kids are sure to find this story relatable, heartfelt, and delightful.
And to make matters worse, the only elective that's left for Bree involves something that she's very afraid of: the water and learning how to swim...and at a school that is deeply invested in its swim team!
My HEART. What a brilliant story that effortlessly navigates the hardships that young people face and have to overcome, especially Black children. Johnnie is in his element with this graphic novel, quickly earning a spot amongst contemporary creators such as Raina Telgemeier, Jerry Craft, and more. Kids are sure to find this story relatable, heartfelt, and delightful.
July 16, 2022
As someone who swam competitively as a kid, I loved seeing swimming in a graphic novel! Even better when it combines elements of family, friendship, history, and uses a fabulous puzzle metaphor!
September 19, 2022
Moving from Brooklyn to Florida means a new apartment, a new school and new friends for middle schooler Bree Hanley and she's excited about the change. While moving into their new apartment, Bree meets elderly Ms. Etta, who loves to do jigsaw puzzles, and Clara, a neighbor and fellow student at Enith Brigitha Middle School.
Bree, who loves math, is excited to begin school and sign up for the Math Puzzles elective. But when she's told the class is full and she will have to take swimming instead, Bree is completely deflated - she doesn't know how to swim. Meanwhile, she and Clara become best friends. Clara is also a great swimmer and is on the school's competitive swim team, the Enith Brigitha Manatees. After repeatedly skipping swim class, Bree is finally caught and when the reason comes out, her dad signs her up for swimming lessons.
Some girls from her new school's rival swim team, Holyoke Prep, see Bree learning to swim in the kiddy pool, and cruelly make fun of her. Afraid and humiliated, Bree goes from skipping swim class to skipping school altogether. When her math homework falls into the pool at her apartment, Bree jumps in to get it back, and has to be rescued by Ms. Etta. It turns out that Ms. Etta had been a champion swimmer all through school, college and even professionally for a while. Naturally, she offers to teach Bree how to swim.
Meanwhile, the coach of the Enith Brigitha Manatees learns that the pool the team swims in may be turned into a Smoothie Palace and he desperately needs to get more good swimmers on his team to save it. Bree's swimming lessons with Ms. Etta are going well, although Bree is still filled with self-doubt in the water. Ms. Etta is a calm and patient teacher, and even gives Bree a brief but important lesson about why so many Black people don't know how to swim and it has nothing to do with fear of the water, but rather from laws that limited their access to pools.
When Bree makes the team, and then signs up for swimming instead of math her second semester, her father is clearly disappointed, but accepts her decision. He's been pretty busy with his new job and training and keeps missing her meets, which is very disappointing for Bree. Bree is still filled with self-doubt whenever she's in the water, and that isn't made easier when Keisha, one of the girls from Holyoke Prep who made fun of her, transfers to Enith Brigitha after being kicked off the team there for coming in last at a meet. And Clara, whose mother wants her to go to Holyoke Prep, gets a letter saying she has been accepted there and will be transferring at the beginning of the next school year. All this makes for a very disunited team. So, maybe now that Coach has asked Ms. Etta to help with the team, she can bring some unity and help lead the team to victory and saving their pool, and maybe, just maybe, the girls can help Ms. Etta find the missing piece in her own life.
Bree is a wonderful character. She's smart, upbeat, and supportive, then swimming and self-doubt enter her life. Christmas has really captured the kinds of thoughts that go through a person's head in the throes of self-doubt, but he has Bree swim though them more than once, because anyone who has ever doubted themselves about something knows those pesky thoughts don't go away overnight or even necessarily with accomplishment. It was hard to see this sweet girl sink but wonderful to see how she finally met the challenges put in front of her and swam to the surface.
Ms. Etta was also a great character, bringing the past into the present with her own accomplishments and I like that Christmas portrayed her as someone who still had so much to give to the youth of today. And Bree was certainly a catalyst for turning Ms. Etta's life around as much as Ms. Etta did that for Bree. I was a little disappointed in Bree's father's behavior once she joined the swim team, but forgave him when his own deep dark secret finally came out.
Swim Team is definitely a positive, accessible book about family, community, and sportsmanship (in and out of the pool). It does have some social commentary but much of it is subtle. For example, it's Bree's more diverse school that may lose their OK pool, while the mostly white Holyoke Prep has a state of the art pool. The art is simple, but clear and the cells are easy to follow. It reminded me of Jerry Craft's graphic novel New Kid, which I loved and I would definitely pair these two books for a class read.
Bree, who loves math, is excited to begin school and sign up for the Math Puzzles elective. But when she's told the class is full and she will have to take swimming instead, Bree is completely deflated - she doesn't know how to swim. Meanwhile, she and Clara become best friends. Clara is also a great swimmer and is on the school's competitive swim team, the Enith Brigitha Manatees. After repeatedly skipping swim class, Bree is finally caught and when the reason comes out, her dad signs her up for swimming lessons.
Some girls from her new school's rival swim team, Holyoke Prep, see Bree learning to swim in the kiddy pool, and cruelly make fun of her. Afraid and humiliated, Bree goes from skipping swim class to skipping school altogether. When her math homework falls into the pool at her apartment, Bree jumps in to get it back, and has to be rescued by Ms. Etta. It turns out that Ms. Etta had been a champion swimmer all through school, college and even professionally for a while. Naturally, she offers to teach Bree how to swim.
Meanwhile, the coach of the Enith Brigitha Manatees learns that the pool the team swims in may be turned into a Smoothie Palace and he desperately needs to get more good swimmers on his team to save it. Bree's swimming lessons with Ms. Etta are going well, although Bree is still filled with self-doubt in the water. Ms. Etta is a calm and patient teacher, and even gives Bree a brief but important lesson about why so many Black people don't know how to swim and it has nothing to do with fear of the water, but rather from laws that limited their access to pools.
When Bree makes the team, and then signs up for swimming instead of math her second semester, her father is clearly disappointed, but accepts her decision. He's been pretty busy with his new job and training and keeps missing her meets, which is very disappointing for Bree. Bree is still filled with self-doubt whenever she's in the water, and that isn't made easier when Keisha, one of the girls from Holyoke Prep who made fun of her, transfers to Enith Brigitha after being kicked off the team there for coming in last at a meet. And Clara, whose mother wants her to go to Holyoke Prep, gets a letter saying she has been accepted there and will be transferring at the beginning of the next school year. All this makes for a very disunited team. So, maybe now that Coach has asked Ms. Etta to help with the team, she can bring some unity and help lead the team to victory and saving their pool, and maybe, just maybe, the girls can help Ms. Etta find the missing piece in her own life.
Bree is a wonderful character. She's smart, upbeat, and supportive, then swimming and self-doubt enter her life. Christmas has really captured the kinds of thoughts that go through a person's head in the throes of self-doubt, but he has Bree swim though them more than once, because anyone who has ever doubted themselves about something knows those pesky thoughts don't go away overnight or even necessarily with accomplishment. It was hard to see this sweet girl sink but wonderful to see how she finally met the challenges put in front of her and swam to the surface.
Ms. Etta was also a great character, bringing the past into the present with her own accomplishments and I like that Christmas portrayed her as someone who still had so much to give to the youth of today. And Bree was certainly a catalyst for turning Ms. Etta's life around as much as Ms. Etta did that for Bree. I was a little disappointed in Bree's father's behavior once she joined the swim team, but forgave him when his own deep dark secret finally came out.
Swim Team is definitely a positive, accessible book about family, community, and sportsmanship (in and out of the pool). It does have some social commentary but much of it is subtle. For example, it's Bree's more diverse school that may lose their OK pool, while the mostly white Holyoke Prep has a state of the art pool. The art is simple, but clear and the cells are easy to follow. It reminded me of Jerry Craft's graphic novel New Kid, which I loved and I would definitely pair these two books for a class read.
August 27, 2023
Yes!! This was a wonderful read. I strongly related to Bree and her story. As a child, I didn't learn to swim until the summer between elementary & middle school. It was embarrassing to me as a kid. A family member taught me to swim, one-on-one, just after I finished 5th grade. That fall, I also began swimming lessons at the Y. I was 10, but was placed in the guppy level with Kindergarteners. I felt really self-conscious about the difference in age, but I am very glad that I did learn.
Loves:
* The protagonist, Bree: I love how subtle details of illustration like her father's honor roll student bumper sticker and her logic puzzle say so much about her family life. Her ease of communication with her dad and her grounding in her connection to community and place is wonderful.
* love the use of color! So enticing and vibrant.
* the diversity depicted at Bree's predominantly Black school is great
* I love the panels on Black foods w Ms Etta!
* the Queer-coding of Bree's friend, Humberto, was a welcome surprise
* I love that Dad compliments Bree on a quality (perseverance) instead of a skill!
* the depictions of negative thoughts/fears as encroaching grey clouds from margins in contrast to the color in the rest of the pages. Yes!
* Ms Etta teaching Bree about Black social justice history through the lens of swimming! This was very well-done. Learning from an Elder - YES!
* Also I enjoyed the way Ms Etta teaches using scaffolded learning! Great pedagogy Ms Etta!
* the different schools’ Team names are so cute!
* Love the way the historical context is personalized through adult characters’ stories. This integration is beautifully-crafted.
* I actually got choked up at the surprise guest during the finally team medley!
* Loved the way the weather was subtle but also readily apparent
* Love the way the story emphasizes the way living one’s truth brings people closer together + the grace and forgiveness in true apologies
* I appreciated the reworking of a character's negative nickname into point of pride by reorienting its connotation.
* Love the resource list at the end! I only wish it been more prominently featured.
All in all, wow! This book is clearly very well-edited. Many, many thanks to Johnnie Christmas for your gift to readers.
Loves:
* The protagonist, Bree: I love how subtle details of illustration like her father's honor roll student bumper sticker and her logic puzzle say so much about her family life. Her ease of communication with her dad and her grounding in her connection to community and place is wonderful.
* love the use of color! So enticing and vibrant.
* the diversity depicted at Bree's predominantly Black school is great
* I love the panels on Black foods w Ms Etta!
* the Queer-coding of Bree's friend, Humberto, was a welcome surprise
* I love that Dad compliments Bree on a quality (perseverance) instead of a skill!
* the depictions of negative thoughts/fears as encroaching grey clouds from margins in contrast to the color in the rest of the pages. Yes!
* Ms Etta teaching Bree about Black social justice history through the lens of swimming! This was very well-done. Learning from an Elder - YES!
* Also I enjoyed the way Ms Etta teaches using scaffolded learning! Great pedagogy Ms Etta!
* the different schools’ Team names are so cute!
* Love the way the historical context is personalized through adult characters’ stories. This integration is beautifully-crafted.
* I actually got choked up at the surprise guest during the finally team medley!
* Loved the way the weather was subtle but also readily apparent
* Love the way the story emphasizes the way living one’s truth brings people closer together + the grace and forgiveness in true apologies
* I appreciated the reworking of a character's negative nickname into point of pride by reorienting its connotation.
* Love the resource list at the end! I only wish it been more prominently featured.
All in all, wow! This book is clearly very well-edited. Many, many thanks to Johnnie Christmas for your gift to readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2022
I loved Swim Team!
This graphic novel has gorgeous illustrations that convey the motion of swimming and competition in a realistic and exciting way, that capture the facial expressions of characters in a way that speaks volumes, and that bring the story to life and carry it forward. I especially loved the way the thoughts of self-doubt, worry, overthinking and negative thinking were done. The black and grey color, along with the font choice and the design that almost resembles gravestones, really demonstrate the impact that kind of thinking can have on a person. So incredibly powerful! The way the history of discrimination regarding swimming and access to pools and beaches in the US is included in the narrative is impactful and delivers the facts in a way that readers can access. The story also highlights power of coaches/mentors and friendship. This is especially true in regards to the neighbor, Mrs. Etta,
who is strong, wise and willing to help inspire a next generation of females. Another fun connection that weaves throughout the books is puzzles: solving them, how all the pieces fit together, what happens if pieces are missing or not connecting, etc. It all ties in nicely. I see this book being a title libraries need several copies of to meet the demand.
This graphic novel has gorgeous illustrations that convey the motion of swimming and competition in a realistic and exciting way, that capture the facial expressions of characters in a way that speaks volumes, and that bring the story to life and carry it forward. I especially loved the way the thoughts of self-doubt, worry, overthinking and negative thinking were done. The black and grey color, along with the font choice and the design that almost resembles gravestones, really demonstrate the impact that kind of thinking can have on a person. So incredibly powerful! The way the history of discrimination regarding swimming and access to pools and beaches in the US is included in the narrative is impactful and delivers the facts in a way that readers can access. The story also highlights power of coaches/mentors and friendship. This is especially true in regards to the neighbor, Mrs. Etta,
who is strong, wise and willing to help inspire a next generation of females. Another fun connection that weaves throughout the books is puzzles: solving them, how all the pieces fit together, what happens if pieces are missing or not connecting, etc. It all ties in nicely. I see this book being a title libraries need several copies of to meet the demand.
May 15, 2022
I have a new favorite Graphic Novel! I will absolutely be buying this for my library and recommending it to students.
Swim Team tells the story of Bree who is moving to Florida with her dad. She settles in well until the only elective she can fit in her schedule is swimming- and she doesn’t know how to swim! Bree avoids that class in ways that go against her usual character. I think students will be able to relate to this feeling of wanting to avoid problems- it is handled so well! At a turning point in the novel, she makes a connection with her neighbor and begins to learn to swim. In the end, it is a story about our relationships with others, helping others and facing what is hard.
The colored illustrations are clear and pop on the page and invite readers in. It reminds me of the way Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novels are so inviting to students! The details in the drawings of the different characters and setting, add to the development of the story.
My favorite part was the part that gave some background information into segregation of pools and how this affected the black and BIPOC swimmers. It is seamlessly woven into the story and ended up being my favorite few pages of the book.
What I enjoyed the most was the way the author handled difficult topics. Fear of the water and anxiety surrounding being the best were two that I think kids will benefit from seeing. Also, it shows grown ups navigating difficult situations so well.
I will be purchasing this for my library and highly recommend others do the same!
Swim Team tells the story of Bree who is moving to Florida with her dad. She settles in well until the only elective she can fit in her schedule is swimming- and she doesn’t know how to swim! Bree avoids that class in ways that go against her usual character. I think students will be able to relate to this feeling of wanting to avoid problems- it is handled so well! At a turning point in the novel, she makes a connection with her neighbor and begins to learn to swim. In the end, it is a story about our relationships with others, helping others and facing what is hard.
The colored illustrations are clear and pop on the page and invite readers in. It reminds me of the way Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novels are so inviting to students! The details in the drawings of the different characters and setting, add to the development of the story.
My favorite part was the part that gave some background information into segregation of pools and how this affected the black and BIPOC swimmers. It is seamlessly woven into the story and ended up being my favorite few pages of the book.
What I enjoyed the most was the way the author handled difficult topics. Fear of the water and anxiety surrounding being the best were two that I think kids will benefit from seeing. Also, it shows grown ups navigating difficult situations so well.
I will be purchasing this for my library and highly recommend others do the same!
April 11, 2022
I adored this book and cannot wait to purchase a physical copy for my own shelves! The illustrations are beautiful and the coloring is truly exquisite. This middle grade graphic novel is going straight to the top of my favorites list, right next to New Kid by Jerry Craft.
Swim Team is a heartwarming novel that dives beyond just swimming, it's about friendship, community, sportsmanship, history, and trying new things even when they feel scary. I loved the friendships on the swim team, of course, but I loved the relationship between Etta and Bree the most.
Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books and Netgalley for a free digital review copy.
Swim Team is a heartwarming novel that dives beyond just swimming, it's about friendship, community, sportsmanship, history, and trying new things even when they feel scary. I loved the friendships on the swim team, of course, but I loved the relationship between Etta and Bree the most.
Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books and Netgalley for a free digital review copy.
May 23, 2023
2023 - 2024 Florida's Sunshine State Book
This was a graphic novel about a girl learning to swim and competing at a high level for school, but it dips into something more. It goes into the past and the problems with segregation and the time shortly after segregation ends. It even goes through how those issues would lead to stereotypes about those who are black aren't good swimmers, whether it's true for an individual or not.
This story would be great for any preteen who is trying to find his or her place in school and clubs. We all need to find that missing piece that completes our puzzle.
This was a graphic novel about a girl learning to swim and competing at a high level for school, but it dips into something more. It goes into the past and the problems with segregation and the time shortly after segregation ends. It even goes through how those issues would lead to stereotypes about those who are black aren't good swimmers, whether it's true for an individual or not.
This story would be great for any preteen who is trying to find his or her place in school and clubs. We all need to find that missing piece that completes our puzzle.
July 8, 2022
This was a beautiful book! I love that the author incorporated our nation's history of systemic and interpersonal racism which prevented so many Black and Brown Americans from learning to swim. I love that intrusive thoughts and anxiety were part of the story, because that's something my kids can relate to and seeing how others respond to those emotions can support great conversations.
I read it aloud with the kids, and I cried twice. I especially appreciated the example of racism which involved a white best friend standing by and not speaking up/using her privilege - it was useful to see how this event impacted all of the characters for many years and how the white friend eventually make it right. The ending brought a smile to all of our faces. ❤️
I read it aloud with the kids, and I cried twice. I especially appreciated the example of racism which involved a white best friend standing by and not speaking up/using her privilege - it was useful to see how this event impacted all of the characters for many years and how the white friend eventually make it right. The ending brought a smile to all of our faces. ❤️
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