Helpful Score: 1
Swim Team is the middle grade graphic novel by Johnnie Christmas I didn't know I needed to read.
It's hard to be the new student in school, and after Bree and her father move to a new home in a new state, she struggles to fit in. Especially when there's no open spot on the Math Team, and the only group that's available is Swim Team. This is stressful for Bree because she doesn't know how to swim, and the entire future of the school's swim program depends on the success of this year's team. No pressure!
Fortunately, Bree finds a friend in a teammate who also lives in her apartment building. Etta, another neighbor and a past member of an award-winning swim team, steps up to help coach Bree's team and teaches her about the discrimination that's part of Black swim culture which prevented many from learning to swim.
The story includes mean girls from a rival team, a realistic father/daughter relationship, important historical information, and an example of teammate bonds many years after their shared experience. I enjoyed the bright, colorful illustrations and especially appreciated the way Bree's anxieties were depicted.
This is meaningful for readers of all ages in an accessible graphic format. I'm glad my library has it in its collection.
It's hard to be the new student in school, and after Bree and her father move to a new home in a new state, she struggles to fit in. Especially when there's no open spot on the Math Team, and the only group that's available is Swim Team. This is stressful for Bree because she doesn't know how to swim, and the entire future of the school's swim program depends on the success of this year's team. No pressure!
Fortunately, Bree finds a friend in a teammate who also lives in her apartment building. Etta, another neighbor and a past member of an award-winning swim team, steps up to help coach Bree's team and teaches her about the discrimination that's part of Black swim culture which prevented many from learning to swim.
The story includes mean girls from a rival team, a realistic father/daughter relationship, important historical information, and an example of teammate bonds many years after their shared experience. I enjoyed the bright, colorful illustrations and especially appreciated the way Bree's anxieties were depicted.
This is meaningful for readers of all ages in an accessible graphic format. I'm glad my library has it in its collection.
