Johnnie Christmas

Loved this! Cute artwork, relatable, and informative. The little team of swimmers was fun and felt like kids.

I adore how this delved a little bit into why “some” Black people in America did not swim/didn’t know how to swim historically. Short answer: segregation. I think kids will root for Clara after seeing her progression throughout the story.

Anywho, this is what my soul craves. More graphic novels and comics with Black leads. The shoutouts to Soul food and West Indian food warmed show more my heart.

SN: I think it’s so fun that the author’s last name is Christmas. show less

Bree and her dad, who are Black, move from Brooklyn to Florida. Bree misses her friends but is excited to start her new school and join the math puzzles elective - but she gets stuck with swimming 101 instead. Bree never learned how to swim, but can't admit it to her coach, so she keeps skipping class, and gets in trouble. When she falls into the pool in the apartment complex, neighbor Ms. Etta saves her, then teaches her to swim: Ms. Etta was on the school team that very nearly won, and she show more agrees to help the Enith Brigitha swim team now, including Bree and her friend Clara. Can the underfunded Mighty Manatees beat hoity-toity Holyoke Prep, and save their swimming program? If they work as a team, they can.

See also: Twins by Varian Johnson, Marshmallow & Jordan by Alina Chau, Strange Birds by Celia Perez

Quotes

"Then why can't so many of my friends swim?"
"Well...that's where it gets complicated." (Bree and Ms. Etta, 81, followed by a brief history of racism and swimming pools and beaches in the U.S.)

"Teammates argue sometimes. But if you stick together, you won't fall apart." (Ms. Etta, 183) show less

Bree and her dad move to Florida and she starts at her new middle school hoping to take Math Club as an elective. But the only elective open to her is Swim 101. Bree is a mathematician, not a swimmer and her fear of failing leads her to skip the swim class. Turns out her neighbor Ms Etta swam for the same middle school when the team almost won State. Ms Etta teaches Bree how to swim and eventually she becomes good enough to make the school team. So much great stuff to unpack in this graphic show more novel: teamwork, conflict resolution, overcoming fears, the terrible history and impact of pool segregation, hard work, mentorship, friendship, and fully featuring BIPOC kids with everyday concerns and interests. A must-read for all young people! show less

I really enjoyed the narrative voice here. There are about three different plots here, but the author managed to interweave and end them properly.

A little on the nose at times, but I thought it was refreshing. Yes, nature and video games can both coincide.