Swim Team

Bibliography:

Christmas, Johnnie. 2022. SWIM TEAM. HarperAlley ISBN: 0063056763

Plot Summary:

Christmas wrote a book that is perfect with lots of beautiful images and with a moving tale. It wrestles a lot of different topics from anxiety, racism, family, sports, and friendship. Bree and her father moved to Florida, and Bree is forced to take a swimming class at her new school, and she doesn’t like to swim. Instead of failing the class she learns to swim and shows a talent for swimming. She joins the swim team and finds friendships and family.

Critical Analysis:

I think Christmas did a great job telling a story that I feel in some way or another you experienced anxiety, family issues, and different stages of friendship during your junior high school years. These years are rough years for any child and reading Bree’s story is very inspiring and hopefully will help children see that they need to step out of their comfort zone and try new things.

I think that this story did a great job of including racism and discussing the topic of how Black people can’t swim. The book goes a little over this topic as it goes over some of the civil rights history. I learned a lot of things myself while reading this book such as one reason black people don’t swim stereotype.

I personally am not a fan of graphic novels and feel this would make an amazing novel but trying to look at it as a youth I think that the story and graphics would draw a student in as being relatable.

Review Awards and Excerpt(s):

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor

National Book Award Longlist

Kirkus Best Book of the Year

Harvey Award Best Children’s or Young Adult Book Nominee

“A revelation! You’ll root for Swim Team—the water is just right.” —JOHN JENNINGS, New York Times bestselling and Eisner Award–winning creator

“Problem-solving through perseverance and friendship is the real win in this deeply smart and inspiring story.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Connections:

This book would be a great start to a book club with lots of discussion about stereotypes, things you may be nervous to try, and how you relate to Bree. You could also use the book to lead into writing personal narratives about something you have been nervous to try and why. This book could be used in a variety of ways.