Title: Breathing UnderwaterAuthor: Alex Flinn
Publish Date: October 2002
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 272pp
ISBN: 0064472574
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Range: 14 and up
Price: $12.95
Annotation: Nick has it all, a dad who earns a healthy living, a big fancy house, a shiny red sports car, and a beautiful and gifted girlfriend, Caitlin, who adores him. That is, until Nick hits his Caitlin and is forced to undergo group counseling.
Summary: Nick has just been sentenced to anger management class because he hit his girlfriend, Catlin. At first, Nick doesn’t see the point of having to go to therapy for slapping his girlfriend. But as he goes through the process of journaling their relationship, he begins to realize that everything he hates about his father is manifested in his treatment of Caitlin.
Evaluation: A very important story, detailing the cycle of abuse, and the affects family violence have on everyone involved. I found it interesting that Alex Finn, a female author, was writing in the perspective of Nick, the abuser.
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness:
- Abusive relationships.
- Anger management.
- Abusive parent.
Reason this book was chosen: Physical abuse in teenage years is important to highlight as it does happen. Breathing Underwater details the life of the abuser, and more importantly shows how he came to be that way and provides hopefulness for his recovery.
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Author’s Website: Click HERE
Awards:
ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2002
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2002
Awards:
ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2002
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2002
