Swimming Into Trouble (Julia on the Go!)
by Angela Ahn (Author) Julie Kim (Illustrator)
Temporarily sidelined from her swim team by an earache, Julia won't be kept down in this buoyant illustrated novel for ages 7 to 10 by acclaimed writer Angela Ahn.
As a member of the Vipers Swim Team, Julia Nam's always in the pool. Mountainview Community Center is like her second home, not only because swimming at the aquatic center is her favorite thing in the world, but also because her parents run the center's sushi café. Julia would much rather be in the pool than sitting behind the counter of Sushi on the Go! watching other people swim. She's the youngest swimmer on the team, but definitely not the slowest. Julia can't wait for Personal Best Day -- the most important day for all of the swimmers. If their times are good enough, they can enter a big regional swim meet.
But then the worst thing happens. A sharp pain in Julia's ear reveals an infection and she's forbidden to swim for ten days. How can she get timed during Personal Best Day when she's not allowed in the water? Julia is desperate to get back in the pool, even if it means having to go behind her parents' backs in order to do so. But Julia's solution lands her in a sticky situation, and it's going to require the entire community center to come together to help her out of it!
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Publishers Weekly
Nine-year-old Julia Nam discovered her love of swimming when her parents opened their café, Sushi on the Go!, at Mountainview Community Center. Now, while her parents work, Julia practices with her junior swim team, the Vipers, and looks forward to one day taking part in regional competitions. In the meantime, she endeavors to beat her personal best swim time during the team's upcoming Personal Best Day. But a week before PBD, Julia develops an ear infection and must keep her ear dry for 10 days. This development--and the resulting disappointment--is made worse when she learns that nine-year-olds can now compete at regionals, but only if they post strong times on PBD. Despite her parents, coach, and friends' attempts to help her recover, Julia is determined to compete. Readers will cheer for Julia as she pursues her goals and learns how to be a team player. Julia's passion for swimming is infectious and palpable, as are her frustrations surrounding her limitations and her perception that others do not understand her. Via unadorned prose, Ahn (Krista Kim-Bap) deftly portrays the struggles Julia's East Asian immigrant parents faced in establishing their business and how adversity led to the family connecting with their community, who offer a helping hand and loving support throughout. Ages 7-10. (Feb.)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.ALA/Booklist
Review quotes
JUV045000 - Juvenile Fiction | Readers | Chapter Books
JUV032060 - Juvenile Fiction | Sports & Recreation | Water Sports
