Deep Water
by Jamie Sumner (Author)
"Readers will feel every wave of Tully's emotions as she risks everything to try to get her mom's attention. A powerful novel in verse." --Lisa Fipps, author of Printz Honor book Starfish
An impactful, gripping middle grade novel in verse from acclaimed author Jamie Sumner that spans one girl's marathon swim over twelve miles and six hours, calling her mom back home with every stroke.
Six hours.
One marathon swim.
That's all Tully Birch needs to get her life straightened out. With the help of her best friend, Arch, Tully braves the waters of Lake Tahoe to break the record for the youngest person ever to complete the famous "Godfather swim." She wants to achieve something no one in the world has done, because if she does, maybe, just maybe, her mom will come back.
The swim starts off well--heart steady, body loose, Arch in charge of snacks as needed. But for Tully, all that time alone with her thoughts allows memories to surface. And in the silence of deep waters, sadness can sink you. When the swim turns dangerous, Tully fights for her survival. Does she keep going and risk her own safety and Arch's? Or does she quit to save them both, even if it means giving up hope that her mother will return?
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Kirkus
Packs a powerful punch.
Publishers Weekly
Twelve-year-old Tully Birch attempts to set a record as the youngest swimmer to complete the Godfather swim, a 12.1-mile trek across Lake Tahoe, in this carefully crafted verse novel by Sumner (Maid for It). Though the endeavor was originally Tully's mother's idea, she abandons the family months before the planned swim. Tully hopes Mom will return to celebrate once Tully completes her clandestine swim, which her best friend Arch Novak plans to post online. Arch also serves as navigator, kayaking beside Tully to pace, monitor, and encourage her, as well as intercept increasingly worried texts from both their parents. If all goes as planned, the duo will be safely across the lake by lunchtime. But a lot can happen during a six-hour expedition. Sumner compassionately examines the effects that living with a parent managing mental health challenges can have on a child ("The mind is the biggest/ danger of all./ My mother taught me that"). The spare text deftly mirrors the push-and-pull rhythm of a swimmer in open water, while lengthier poems emphasize memories and harsh realities. Tully and Arch cue as white. Ages 10-up. (Apr.)
Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
School Library Journal
Gr 3-7--Twelve-year-old Tully is set to make history as the youngest person to swim the challenging 12-mile "Godfather Swim" in Lake Tahoe. But her motivation isn't just about the athletic feat. She's hoping this achievement will catch her depressed mother's attention, coaxing her to return home after leaving the family. Tully's been training in secret, hidden from her father with the support of her best friend, Arch. Now, poised for the swim, the question looms: Will she complete it or will fate intervene? Told through verse, this quick read captures the emotional turmoil of a young girl grappling with her mother's abandonment. As Tully pushes ahead in the water, she reflects on the past, trying to understand what might have driven her mother away. Each mile not only propels the race forward but delves deeper into Tully's life story, drawing readers into her struggles and emotions. VERDICT A wonderful read that will resonate with athletes, those navigating family challenges, and even reluctant readers; a strong addition to all middle grade library collections.--Kate Rao
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Review quotes
JUV013060 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Parents
JUV057000 - Juvenile Fiction | Stories in Verse (see also Poetry)
Novels in verse
Mothers
Best friends
Long distance swimming
Loss
