Monday 4 June 2012

Deep Water by Jo Cotterill (Children's, 10 years +, 10E/10E)

 (I adore the covers to this series!)

7th June 2012, Red Fox
296 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Themes: Life as a teen athlete, competing in the Olympics, ups & downs of being in a close knit girls team, disappointment, divorce, being abandonned, having to grow up fast, protecting your family, unexpected surprises (both good & bad), the Olympic Village, life in the zone during competitions, extreme highs, early teen romance, and early adult romance (totally mild content), fair amount of laughs, a box of tissues is needed

Summary from Random House Children's Publishers
Pearl is a synchronised-swimming star in the making, who's heading for the Olympics. But will she be distracted by romance? Does she even have time for boys with all her training...?

Nayuleska's thoughts
I'm a bit sad that for now this is the last book in the series. I know I'm not the only one hoping Jo will eventually write more. There's a lot of drama in the series as most of the girls tread a path filled with competition. None seem as hard as Pearl, who even when on the Olympic team still has a risk of injury. 

Seeing life from her eyes showed how excitingly scary taking part in the Olympics or any other major competition is for team members of all ages. I liked the little details slipped in such as the amount of security for the Olympic Village, the way Pearl is a normal girl with trying on make up & enjoying movies. 

What tugged on my heart the most was her family situation. Jo accurately portrayed the mixed emotions surrounding such an event during & after it. Pearl is strong minded in a good way, protecting her own heart from harm, as well as her mother's. She learns she has to let people in, a lesson she doesn't mind learning by the end. This uplifting, reassuring story is most definitely a 10/10 read.

You can find out more on the dedicated website.
Suggested read

You simply must read the other books in the series, which address quite different issues but each with the same level of emotions. Plus the girls feature a little in each other's story.The first one is Star Crossed

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