Swim team

Title:

Swim team

Author:

Christmas, Johnnie, author, illustrator.

Summary:

A splashy, contemporary middle grade graphic novel from bestselling comics creator Johnnie Christmas! 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? -- Amazon.

Audience:

009-013.

General Note:

"Small waves, big changes" -- front cover.

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

245 pages : chiefly color illustrations ; 24 cm

Genre:

Sports comics.

Comics (Graphic works)

Graphic novels.

Subject Term:

Middle school students -- Comic books, strips, etc.

Swimming -- Comic books, strips, etc.

Fear -- Comic books, strips, etc.

Neighbors -- Comic books, strips, etc.

African American students -- Comic books, strips, etc.

Publisher:

Harper Alley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers,

Publication Date:

2022

ISBN:

9780063056763

9780063056770

Publication Information:

New York, NY : Harper Alley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, [2022]

Award Note:

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book, 2023.

Call Number:

J CHRISTMAS

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003616565	New Juvenile Graphic Novels	CHRISTMAS	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable
33607003603076	New Juvenile Graphic Novels	CHRISTMAS	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

"Combines wonderful characters and history to create a story that will make you want to dive right in!" JERRY CRAFT, author of the Newbery Medal-winning New Kid

A splashy, contemporary middle grade graphic novel from bestselling comics creator Johnnie Christmas!

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?

Praise for SWIM TEAM:

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

"Swim Team is a beautiful story about trying new things. Johnnie Christmas is a fantastic storyteller and artist." --KAZU KIBUISHI, author of Amulet

"Full of charm, heart, and pulse-pounding races. A winner!" --GENE LUEN YANG, author of American Born Chinese and Dragon Hoops

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 3--6--When Bree's father takes a coding job in Florida, the two move cross-country and Bree's world is turned upside-down. Away from her friends, in a town obsessed with the local swim teams, Bree struggles to find her safe space among the mathematics classes and clubs. The lack of space in her desired elective classes lands her in the worst possible situation: swimming class. Unable to swim and grasping for excuses to avoid class, Bree begins drowning in anxiety and self-doubt. However, when her older neighbor Etta takes an interest in teaching her how to swim, things begin to turn around for Bree. Filled with vibrant illustrations and charming characters, this title tackles themes ranging from overcoming fear and forging friendships to grappling with classism and racism as the public school swim team competes with the private school team equipped with more resources to prepare for the season. The work presents an opportunity for readers to reflect on both typical childhood issues as well as the systemic issues the United States has faced for centuries such as the lack of access to pools and resources for Black athletes. Rich with images and references to Black culture, this text will serve as a mirror and window for readers. Bree, her father, and Etta are Black. VERDICT A fresh companion to Jerry Craft's New Kid, this graphic novel belongs on shelves in school and libraries everywhere.--Angie Jameson

Publisher's Weekly Review

When Bree and her single father move from Brooklyn to Florida, Bree's dad encourages her to keep an open mind, emphasizing the way small changes can result in "big unpredictable effects." The middle schooler enjoys learning math, solving puzzles, and spending time with her father, but experiences worry and self-doubt around making new friends and playing sports--especially swimming, which she's never learned to do. But she soon befriends neighbor Clara, an enthusiastic swimmer on the future classmates' underfunded school team, which is on the verge of losing its pool. Bree does everything she can to steer clear of water activities, but swimming seems to be a way of life in Florida, and a full-up elective math course lands her in the only course still open: Swim 101. When elder Ms. Etta, a neighbor at the family's apartment complex, saves Bree from a near drowning, the two build a close bond that propels Bree into confidence in the water, and into a local swim legend's legacy. Challenging the idea that "Black people aren't good at swimming," this middle grade debut from Christmas (the Angel Catbird series, for adults) details segregation's generational impact through a warmhearted story of community, Black diasporic identity, and learning, all portrayed in kinetic contemporary art. Ages 8--12. Agent: Judith Hansen, Hansen Literary. (May)