About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when a child has experienced a violation of personal boundaries or is struggling with the heavy weight of a secret. This memoir in verse follows a young girl whose idyllic summer is disrupted by the predatory behavior of an older neighbor. Through the metaphor of learning to swim, the poems explore the suffocating nature of shame and the gradual process of regaining one's voice. It is a sensitive, realistic portrayal of trauma and recovery for older children and young teens. Parents will appreciate how it honors the child's perspective while modeling the importance of speaking out to safe adults to reclaim a sense of security and self.
