Christmas, Johnnie. Swim Team: Small Waves, Big Changes. Johnnie Christmas, Illus.
HarperCollins, 05/2022. 245pp. Graphic. GRADES 3 – 8. $21.99. 978-0-06-305677-0. OUTSTANDING.
When middle-schooler Bree, who is Black, moves to Florida for her dad’s job training, she plans to enroll in Math Puzzles for her school elective. Unfortunately, the only class available is Swim 101. Bree is afraid of pools and doesn’t swim, so her neighbor and champion swimmer, Ms. Etta, provides lessons. Bree becomes frustrated and remarks, “Black people aren’t good at swimming.” Ms. Etta responds with a history lesson, explaining how white people prevented Black people from accessing pools and beaches through laws and violence. Ms. Etta helps Bree break down stereotypes and excel on her swim team. The aggression and put-downs that Bree’s team experiences from their rivals often feel over-the-top and lack the subtle, under-the-radar quality that often typifies middle school girl bullying. However, that is a small quibble in a book brimming with lovable characters and beautiful art (particularly the expressive faces and water scenes). A must for every graphic novel collection.
Cindy Gullikson—Joaquin Miller School Oakland Unified School District