With one word, Tess’s world could be completely undone:
Epilepsy.
Tess lives for swimming: the feel of the pool's rough edge on her toes, the snap of cold water on her skin, and the push of her limbs ever forward. In the water, she’s truly alive.
Until tragedy strikes. And Tess is left navigating a summer of doctor visits, missed swim practices, a newly distant best friend, and a job stuck behind a counter—not sitting high in the lifeguard chair like every season before.
Instead, her spot goes to new guy Charlie. Although his messy hair and laid-back demeanor catch Tess’s attention, this isn’t really the time. She’s got to focus on getting back in the pool—and on getting back to herself.
Lyrically and sensitively written, Breathing Underwater is a slice-of-life story with depth, exploring topics like epilepsy, inclusivity in student athletics, changing friendships, and the power of love and community. With warmth and wit, Abbey Lee Nash has crafted a moving portrait of a teen girl’s journey to self-acceptance and life on her own terms.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Epilepsy.
Tess lives for swimming: the feel of the pool's rough edge on her toes, the snap of cold water on her skin, and the push of her limbs ever forward. In the water, she’s truly alive.
Until tragedy strikes. And Tess is left navigating a summer of doctor visits, missed swim practices, a newly distant best friend, and a job stuck behind a counter—not sitting high in the lifeguard chair like every season before.
Instead, her spot goes to new guy Charlie. Although his messy hair and laid-back demeanor catch Tess’s attention, this isn’t really the time. She’s got to focus on getting back in the pool—and on getting back to herself.
Lyrically and sensitively written, Breathing Underwater is a slice-of-life story with depth, exploring topics like epilepsy, inclusivity in student athletics, changing friendships, and the power of love and community. With warmth and wit, Abbey Lee Nash has crafted a moving portrait of a teen girl’s journey to self-acceptance and life on her own terms.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Praise for this book
"Breathing Underwater is a compelling story of a perfectionist learning to take life as it comes, all the challenges and the opportunities. A must read for anyone who's had a life-long plan they had to adapt." - Molly Horan
"An honest, heartfelt portrait of a young athlete willing to put everything on the line to achieve her dreams. But even more, Breathing Underwater is an unflinching look at the courage it takes to forge new paths when everything's stripped away - and, ultimately, discovering what matters most. I loved it." - Jared Reck
"An honest, heartfelt portrait of a young athlete willing to put everything on the line to achieve her dreams. But even more, Breathing Underwater is an unflinching look at the courage it takes to forge new paths when everything's stripped away - and, ultimately, discovering what matters most. I loved it." - Jared Reck
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