Breath Like Water

March 1, 2020
When swimming is everything, what's left when your life doesn't go according to plan? A world champion swimmer at 14, Susannah Ramos' changing body has betrayed her; she struggles to maintain her edge in the pool just two years later. Now, a manipulative coach and crippling self-doubt feel like insurmountable hurdles as Susannah fights to regain both her self-confidence and a spot in the upcoming Olympic Trials. A handsome newcomer to the team turns into more than just a friend, and Susannah must rethink her priorities as she works to regain her elite athlete status. Blossoming romance is soon challenged by pressures from the swim team and difficult secrets coming to light. Jarzab expertly captures the intense pressures of high-stakes athletic competition and the complicated reality of loving someone with mental health struggles. Susannah's family's Mexican American heritage is significant to the plot, and themes of identity and feeling like an outsider in a predominantly white sport are explored authentically. Susannah is third-generation Mexican American and growing up in suburban Illinois. Readers will root for Susannah in her journey to find her place, both in and out of the pool. Racing action and tender romance shine in a story of hard love and harder competition. (Sports romance. 15-18)

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April 13, 2020
Jarzab’s contemplative story questions how far athletes should go for a shot at the rings. Two years ago, Illinois swimmer Susannah Ramos was named world champion. Since then, weighed down by shoulder problems and a sudden growth spurt, the 16-year-old Latina athlete hasn’t been winning races. Her chance of making the USA Olympic team remains slim until her coach’s new assistant, Beth, changes training strategies, focusing on the sport’s mental components. Under Beth’s guidance, Susannah feels herself grow stronger and faster as the Olympic trials draw near, but she is distracted by a new romance with teammate Harry. Forbidden by her coaches to see him, Susannah is forced to take a hard look at the sacrifices she and her family have made for her sport. Former competitive swimmer Jarzab (Red Dirt) paints a realistic picture of elite sports, emphasizing the financial, physical, and psychological burdens placed on participants. Using a first-person narrative, she offers an up-close examination of a swimmer looking beyond her dreams of victory to her place in the world outside the pool. If young athletes don’t agree with all the decisions she makes, they will relate to her dilemmas. Ages 13–up. Agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary.

May 1, 2020

Gr 9 Up-Jarzab's latest offers an incisive and unflinching look at competitive swimming in this powerful and compelling sports-themed YA. Susannah Ramos is a world champion, but doesn't much feel like one since she had a growth spurt that has slowed her down. In the year leading up to the Olympic trials, Susannah struggles to regain her speed in the water, all while dealing with her controlling coach's expectations and the huge amount of pressure she places on herself. Then she meets Harry. Susannah falls hard for the new, handsome swimmer, but their complicated relationship might be too much for them to bear as stress mounts on all sides. Readers will appreciate this stark depiction of the price competitive sports exacts from athletes, both mentally and physically. Susannah's Mexican heritage is thoughtfully portrayed, and her family is multifaceted and well developed. Jarzab gently yet thoroughly tackles mental illness, hospitalization, and a suicide attempt, with care and not graphically. Sex takes place, but not on the page. Fans of Miranda Kenneally and Gayle Forman will find much to love here. VERDICT A gripping and unapologetic look at the rigor of Olympic sports, this title will win fans whether they're sports buffs or not.-Elissa Bongiorno, Washington, DC

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April 15, 2020
Grades 9-12 Susannah Ramos, a competitive swimmer, was crowned World Champion at 14. Following her success, she lost her speed and title. Still, she continues to compete and train for the Olympic Swim Trials. Buoyed by a loving, supportive family, she has no intention of backing away from her dream despite a verbally abusive coach, a shoulder problem, and a blossoming romance with a fellow swim team member, the charismatic Harry Matthews. When her shoulder fails during a meet, she is sidelined with intensive physical therapy. She also learns why Harry is missing training: he's bipolar. Not wanting to give up on Harry nor her shot at the Olympics, Susannah must make important decisions about her life going forward. The dedication to the sport plus the rigors and hours of training are front and center in this novel, breathing life into the question of how much should one endure in order to win. Furthermore, Harry's struggles with his mental illness are handled without melodrama or judgment. Hand this to sports lovers with Olympic fever.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)