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Deep Water
An impactful, gripping middle grade novel in verse from acclaimed author Jamie Sumner that spans one girl’s marathon swim over twelve miles and six hours, calling her mom back home with every stroke.
Six hours.
One marathon swim.
That’s all Tully Birch needs to get her life straightened out. With the help of her best friend, Arch, Tully braves the waters of Lake Tahoe to break the record for the youngest person ever to complete the famous “Godfather swim.” She wants to achieve something no one in the world has done, because if she does, maybe, just maybe, her mom will come back.
The swim starts off well—heart steady, body loose, Arch in charge of snacks as needed. But for Tully, all that time alone with her thoughts allows memories to surface. And in the silence of deep waters, sadness can sink you. When the swim turns dangerous, Tully fights for her survival. Does she keep going and risk her own safety and Arch’s? Or does she quit to save them both, even if it means giving up hope that her mother will return?
Six hours.
One marathon swim.
That’s all Tully Birch needs to get her life straightened out. With the help of her best friend, Arch, Tully braves the waters of Lake Tahoe to break the record for the youngest person ever to complete the famous “Godfather swim.” She wants to achieve something no one in the world has done, because if she does, maybe, just maybe, her mom will come back.
The swim starts off well—heart steady, body loose, Arch in charge of snacks as needed. But for Tully, all that time alone with her thoughts allows memories to surface. And in the silence of deep waters, sadness can sink you. When the swim turns dangerous, Tully fights for her survival. Does she keep going and risk her own safety and Arch’s? Or does she quit to save them both, even if it means giving up hope that her mother will return?
224 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2024
25 people are currently reading
884 people want to read
About the author
Jamie Sumner
17 books340 followersJamie Sumner is the author of the critically-acclaimed middle-grade novels, Roll with It, Tune It Out, and One Kid's Trash. Her forth middle-grade novel The Summer of June hits shelves on May 31st, 2022 with Atheneum Books for Young Readers. She is also the author of the nonfiction parenting books, Eat, Sleep, Save the World and Unbound.
She has also written for the New York Times and the Washington Post as well as other publications. She loves stories that celebrate the grit and beauty in all kids. She and her family live in Nashville, Tennessee. Connect with her at Jamie-Sumner.com
She has also written for the New York Times and the Washington Post as well as other publications. She loves stories that celebrate the grit and beauty in all kids. She and her family live in Nashville, Tennessee. Connect with her at Jamie-Sumner.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
August 15, 2024
What on earth could be better to do when you're stuck in bed with COVID than to read a middle-grade book in verse?
Turns out, nothing could be better.
This touching, immensely intimate story is about a young girl's quest to swim across Lake Tahoe in the hopes of luring her mother, who suffers from depression, back into her life.
If my brain were in a better condition I'd write this review in verse, but I can barely manage to doggy paddle my way through these words.
Suffice to say, Deep Water is a stunning work that soothed my aching body and calmed my unsettled soul. Thank you, Ms. Sumner.
Turns out, nothing could be better.
This touching, immensely intimate story is about a young girl's quest to swim across Lake Tahoe in the hopes of luring her mother, who suffers from depression, back into her life.
If my brain were in a better condition I'd write this review in verse, but I can barely manage to doggy paddle my way through these words.
Suffice to say, Deep Water is a stunning work that soothed my aching body and calmed my unsettled soul. Thank you, Ms. Sumner.
August 22, 2025
I literally read this for no reason last year. It really wasn’t that exciting. 2.5
April 6, 2025
3.5 stars! Jamie Sumner always hits me with all the emotions. This was a great exploration of familial structures and the impact of the absence of a parent struggling with mental illnesses. I definitely can't wait to explore more books in her bibliography. If you're interested in hearing my full thoughts about this one, be sure to check out my latest middle grade march reading vlog: https://youtu.be/VhWme8U488c
February 18, 2024
For readers who loved Dusti Bowling's The Canyon's Edge, Deep Water is a perfect read. Tully Birch is determined to make her mom, who abandoned their family several months previously, pay attention to her. She plans to do this by being the youngest solo swimmer of Lake Tahoe. The story is told between the beginning and end of that swim. Similar to Long Way Down, Deep Water uses the various legs of the Godfather swim to pull in Tully's personal struggle, anxiety, and devotion to her mom and her sport.
This was a compelling read, and I would highly recommend it to swimmers, sports lovers, and those who enjoy novel-in-verse.
This was a compelling read, and I would highly recommend it to swimmers, sports lovers, and those who enjoy novel-in-verse.
January 6, 2024
3.75 stars
As an incoming fan of Sumner's work, I was really excited to see how the verse worked out here. While this isn't my favorite installment in this author's stellar collection, it'll undeniably be a useful and meaningful overview for many young readers.
This is a short book that moves quickly, and Sumner uses the backdrop of a very lengthy swim to feature young Tully, the m.c., and the ways in which she's dealing with her mom's somewhat recent departure from the family home. As the multi-hour swim continues, readers get more insight into Tully's mom's depression, other times when she's left, Tully's relationship with her dad, and the deeper meaning of the swim itself. Like so many kids, Tully is dealing with problems that even adults struggle with at a very young age, and while her dad has done a great job of getting her into therapy to make sense of this, the struggle is very real.
Some of the highlights of this one include the packaging (it's nice to have some shorter reads available for this audience), the focus on depression, and every second of Arch, Tully's best buddy. I wanted to see more, though, when it came to Tully's mom's backstory, Tully's experiences since her mom left, and especially Tully's and Arch's relationship. That bond seems so strong and special, and the swim and brief snapshots from the past left me wanting to know additional details.
For me, Jamie Sumner is a tried-and-true writer, and the characters always deliver more reality than the often too rosy view depicted in other novels for this audience. Tully is a good example of this unfiltered reality, and my only wish for her story is simply to have gotten to know her even better.
As usual, I look forward to whatever Jamie Sumner has in store next for readers of all ages!
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
As an incoming fan of Sumner's work, I was really excited to see how the verse worked out here. While this isn't my favorite installment in this author's stellar collection, it'll undeniably be a useful and meaningful overview for many young readers.
This is a short book that moves quickly, and Sumner uses the backdrop of a very lengthy swim to feature young Tully, the m.c., and the ways in which she's dealing with her mom's somewhat recent departure from the family home. As the multi-hour swim continues, readers get more insight into Tully's mom's depression, other times when she's left, Tully's relationship with her dad, and the deeper meaning of the swim itself. Like so many kids, Tully is dealing with problems that even adults struggle with at a very young age, and while her dad has done a great job of getting her into therapy to make sense of this, the struggle is very real.
Some of the highlights of this one include the packaging (it's nice to have some shorter reads available for this audience), the focus on depression, and every second of Arch, Tully's best buddy. I wanted to see more, though, when it came to Tully's mom's backstory, Tully's experiences since her mom left, and especially Tully's and Arch's relationship. That bond seems so strong and special, and the swim and brief snapshots from the past left me wanting to know additional details.
For me, Jamie Sumner is a tried-and-true writer, and the characters always deliver more reality than the often too rosy view depicted in other novels for this audience. Tully is a good example of this unfiltered reality, and my only wish for her story is simply to have gotten to know her even better.
As usual, I look forward to whatever Jamie Sumner has in store next for readers of all ages!
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
May 3, 2024
Tully decides to swim across Lake Tahoe unbeknownst to the adults in her life. With only her friend Arch accompanying her and a storm on the horizon, can Tully accomplish her goal? Fans of novels in verse (i.e. Starfish, Hidden), survival stories (i.e. Across the Desert) and/or stories with a parent with mental health issues will enjoy this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this title.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this title.
February 14, 2024
Jamie Sumner (Roll With It, Another Kid’s Trash, Summer of June & others) books have always been filled with such heart and inspiration for readers and with this one being NIV, the “heart” part is magnified. Tully’s profound sense of loss and guilt after her mother abandons her and Dad is deeply felt with every swim stroke and memory as she aims to complete the “Godfather” marathon swim as they planned. The book is almost entirely set with Tully swimming alongside best friend and major supporter Arch in his kayak manning the phone filming video proof, providing time, weather reports and snacks. Flashbacks to times with Arch, her mom and/or dad are only in her mind as she swims on, aiming to be the youngest to finish the 12 mile swim and trying to convince herself that word of the achievement will send mom racing back to them. Tully’s vain hopes and certainty of her failures and “not enough-ness” being the cause of mom’s leaving is heart-breaking and likely exactly what most 12 year olds would feel. Coping with clinical depression in a caregiver would be a terrifying, insecure experience for any child and, much the way children often blame themselves for the divorce of parents, Sumner captures the anxiety and fruitless efforts to be and do more of many. Thought-provoking and heart-rending book for those in grades 5-7 with an ending that gives readers hope that Tully and her dad will begin to heal together but does not wrap up everything neatly. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. Highly recommended.
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss.
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss.
October 11, 2023
Jamie Sumner has quickly become one of my "go-to" authors for any type of reader. This story, told in verse, takes place on Lake Tahoe as Tully attempts to swim The Godfather swim. Fast-paced, tense, dangerous, and heart-breaking at times, Tully has some tough decisions to make...motivated by her desire to lure her mother back home. Highly recommend!
August 10, 2025
I read this book while at Lake Tahoe (very on theme) and was surprised to see I really liked it!! I never read this genre of books and I was skeptical at first, but I read this in 2 days. So that shows this book really took my interest and I couldn’t put it down. Very poetic, inspirational and emotional. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 21, 2023
This was a great middle grade fiction read. Deep Water is written in-verse and was beautifully executed. This book really had me feeling for the main character and was quite emotional at times. I loved seeing the main character, Tully, and her relationship with her best friend, Arch, throughout this book. It was really heartwarming. Overall, this was a fantastic read and I highly recommend it.
July 16, 2025
3.5 Not sure if I should go up or down on my rating. The beginning was slow going for me. Good ending.
December 7, 2024
The setup for this book is truly unique; told over the course of a six hour, twelve mile, world record-breaking swim Tully recounts what has brought her to this moment interspersed with the physical and mental struggle of swimming a marathon. I appreciated the way the story was told, but struggled with Tully’s selfishness in regard to her friend Arch. It certainly looked hopeful at the end, but I had hoped for a more in depth reconciliation.
October 11, 2025
3.5 stars. A very sweet, powerful middle grade novel in verse about 12-year-old Tully coming to terms with her mom abandoning her. The whole story takes place during Tully’s marathon swim in open water, hoping to break a world record and finally prove she’s good enough for her mom to come back. It’s a heavy topic for kids, but handled in a gentle and age appropriate way.
While I do really enjoy novels in verse, I also think there has to be a good reason for them to be written in that style. These poems work fine, but I didn’t see the need for it to be in verse. Some sections might have been more detailed and powerful if they were written in prose.
Overall, though, the story was short and strong. For kids who struggle with living up to their parents’ expectations and navigate a life around mentally ill family members, this book is solid.
While I do really enjoy novels in verse, I also think there has to be a good reason for them to be written in that style. These poems work fine, but I didn’t see the need for it to be in verse. Some sections might have been more detailed and powerful if they were written in prose.
Overall, though, the story was short and strong. For kids who struggle with living up to their parents’ expectations and navigate a life around mentally ill family members, this book is solid.
April 6, 2024
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for letting me read an ARC of this book through NetGalley!
Deep Water
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5) or 7.28/10 overall
Characters - 7
I enjoyed getting to hear about the characters mostly through flashbacks, but that did hamper some of the relatability and made it harder to connect with any character besides Tully.
Atmosphere - 8
The atmosphere of this book helped to keep me intrigued and made the story less flat considering how most of the present moments took place on a lake.
Writing - 8
I was pleasantly surprised by this change of pace in Jamie Sumner's writing style. The other two books I've read by her, Roll With It and Maid for It , had quite different styles to this one, but I think the in-verse style helped to give this book the emotion necessary for the story it was telling.
Plot - 7
The plot was fairly straightforward and simplistic, but still quite emotional and interesting. It wasn't too predictable and it was easily to get invested in the plot, in my opinion.
Intrigue - 7
I was intrigued by the description and cover of this book from the start. As I stated above, I have read other Jamie Sumner books and each of them has been quite unique and had an individualized style. *Deep Water* was no different - the style thoroughly enhance my understanding and enjoyment of the book in a moving way.
Logic - 7
The characters' actions were logical given their circumstances, however some points felt a little less nuanced and it left me hoping for a bit more of an explanation than I got.
Enjoyment - 7
Overall, I found this to be a quick and entertaining read. Nothing showstopping but still quite poignant and influential. The book lived up to its premise and I will certainly look forward to reading more of Sumner's books in the future. :)
Deep Water
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5) or 7.28/10 overall
Characters - 7
I enjoyed getting to hear about the characters mostly through flashbacks, but that did hamper some of the relatability and made it harder to connect with any character besides Tully.
Atmosphere - 8
The atmosphere of this book helped to keep me intrigued and made the story less flat considering how most of the present moments took place on a lake.
Writing - 8
I was pleasantly surprised by this change of pace in Jamie Sumner's writing style. The other two books I've read by her, Roll With It and Maid for It , had quite different styles to this one, but I think the in-verse style helped to give this book the emotion necessary for the story it was telling.
Plot - 7
The plot was fairly straightforward and simplistic, but still quite emotional and interesting. It wasn't too predictable and it was easily to get invested in the plot, in my opinion.
Intrigue - 7
I was intrigued by the description and cover of this book from the start. As I stated above, I have read other Jamie Sumner books and each of them has been quite unique and had an individualized style. *Deep Water* was no different - the style thoroughly enhance my understanding and enjoyment of the book in a moving way.
Logic - 7
The characters' actions were logical given their circumstances, however some points felt a little less nuanced and it left me hoping for a bit more of an explanation than I got.
Enjoyment - 7
Overall, I found this to be a quick and entertaining read. Nothing showstopping but still quite poignant and influential. The book lived up to its premise and I will certainly look forward to reading more of Sumner's books in the future. :)
November 7, 2024
5 stars. Wow - prologue about letting someone else tell your story
Powerful story about a girl dealing with her mother’s mental illness and depression
Frosted cheerios
Everyone in Tahoe wears Keens but only some of them to do outdoor activities, indoor people and outdoor people
Who needs therapy when you have the lake and a record to break
Wants to get mom’s attention and get her out of her biggest blue period and why she left the family suffering depression
I’m here and alive and with showing up for
You can’t trust a person who won’t meet your gaze and that’s how she knew her mom was off meds
Powerful story about a girl dealing with her mother’s mental illness and depression
Frosted cheerios
Everyone in Tahoe wears Keens but only some of them to do outdoor activities, indoor people and outdoor people
Who needs therapy when you have the lake and a record to break
Wants to get mom’s attention and get her out of her biggest blue period and why she left the family suffering depression
I’m here and alive and with showing up for
You can’t trust a person who won’t meet your gaze and that’s how she knew her mom was off meds
June 22, 2025
I really enjoyed this one. I liked the way it was structured around this one swim and how the main character is processing her feelings about her mother and their relationship. Didn't quite reach the level of a new favorite because I thought I would feel more emotional given the subject matter...and I just didnt. Still a great story and I'm glad I read it...would recommend...just not a new favorite.
August 19, 2024
3.5 stars. Novels in verse are not my favorite. However, I quite enjoyed Tully’s world. I loved the perspective of how mental health affects people around them. And, I love swimming so the setting felt perfect.
November 10, 2024
You can’t fix anyone else. Kids always think adult problems are their fault. They aren’t. Adults make choices. Kids suffer and hopefully learn how not to treat others the way they were treated. Great book.
January 20, 2025
Gripping novel in verse that examines some very intense emotional issues. Thought provoking and powerful.
March 6, 2025
Jamie Sumner is really good…this took me about 3 hours to read and it is going to stick with me. I’m so glad it’s my job to read kids’ books.
April 3, 2025
This book was ok!
Thanks Jamie Sumner!
Thanks Jamie Sumner!
November 16, 2025
4.5 stars. I thought this was a good book, but I needed a bit more, maybe more closure. Maybe that’s life. I just wanted to be sure Tully would be okay.
August 23, 2023
ARC Copy...good poetry and narrative yes happening in...the breaks in chapters titled by hour make the reader feel the passage of time tension along side the protagonist's swim. I find it interesting Tully is very determined to achieve her seemingly impossible swimming feat to try to impress her mom but as the swim goes on, her inner thoughts bubble up.
May 4, 2024
Synopsis: Tully attempts to swim Lake Tahoe in hope of getting her mom’s attention, who has abandoned Tully and her dad. The story flips back and forth between present and past, filling in Tully’s life, and following along with her current, desperate open water swim.
Favourite Scene: “She made a series of choices that caused her depression to get worse until like dominoes lined up in a row, our whole lives toppled to the ground. But I knew the truth. It wasn’t the lack of medicine or lack of therapy or lack of rest. It was the lack of adventure. My mother has always needed a challenge. And somehow, along the way, her life here on the lake with me and Dad had gotten too small, so she jumped the bowl and left me floating in the middle.” (pg 154)
Weak Points: It felt a tad anti climactic. I was constantly waiting for something intense to happen during the swim scenes, but then all that anticipation dissipated with the flashbacks.
Enjoyment Rating: FOUR STARS
I picked this book up because it was about a swimmer - I love the psychological toll of open water swimming, and its unexpected quiet solitude - and this book definitely met my expectations. Also, the fast pace and short scenes made this an easy, enjoyable read.
Ponder Rating: FIVE STARS
Here’s the part that’s hard to share: I identified with the mother in this story. I’m not (so much) in that same place now, but trying to be the parent my kids deserve is something I’m always working towards, and this book offered a lot of insights.
Conclusion: This was the first modern story in verse I read and at first I found it annoying, albeit very easy to read (unlike, you know, Dante, but I’m sure Dante was easy to read for 13th century Italians). I stuck with it because of the subject matter, but found myself enjoying the line breaks and different techniques. I now want to try writing a book in verse myself! (after I’ve finished my other ten or so writing projects).
I also usually don’t stick with books that have dual timelines. Deep Water was so compelling that I had no problem sticking with it to the end.
There is still so much in this story that I am mulling over. Each chapter got stronger and more intriguing. I want to go back and reread it already.
Favourite Scene: “She made a series of choices that caused her depression to get worse until like dominoes lined up in a row, our whole lives toppled to the ground. But I knew the truth. It wasn’t the lack of medicine or lack of therapy or lack of rest. It was the lack of adventure. My mother has always needed a challenge. And somehow, along the way, her life here on the lake with me and Dad had gotten too small, so she jumped the bowl and left me floating in the middle.” (pg 154)
Weak Points: It felt a tad anti climactic. I was constantly waiting for something intense to happen during the swim scenes, but then all that anticipation dissipated with the flashbacks.
Enjoyment Rating: FOUR STARS
I picked this book up because it was about a swimmer - I love the psychological toll of open water swimming, and its unexpected quiet solitude - and this book definitely met my expectations. Also, the fast pace and short scenes made this an easy, enjoyable read.
Ponder Rating: FIVE STARS
Here’s the part that’s hard to share: I identified with the mother in this story. I’m not (so much) in that same place now, but trying to be the parent my kids deserve is something I’m always working towards, and this book offered a lot of insights.
Conclusion: This was the first modern story in verse I read and at first I found it annoying, albeit very easy to read (unlike, you know, Dante, but I’m sure Dante was easy to read for 13th century Italians). I stuck with it because of the subject matter, but found myself enjoying the line breaks and different techniques. I now want to try writing a book in verse myself! (after I’ve finished my other ten or so writing projects).
I also usually don’t stick with books that have dual timelines. Deep Water was so compelling that I had no problem sticking with it to the end.
There is still so much in this story that I am mulling over. Each chapter got stronger and more intriguing. I want to go back and reread it already.
Read
May 12, 2024Tully's memories are filled with swimming. For as long as she can remember, she has been in the water. Competitive swimming began when she was very young because having her mother coach the team meant she was included and expected to do well. It was in her blood.
Now Tully is trying to use swimming to get her mother's attention so hopefully she returns from wherever she ran off to. Depression has plagued her mother, but swimming and exercise seemed to help. When she stopped seeing her therapist and stopped taking her medication, Tully knew it was only a matter of time until everything collapsed.
Tully has committed to completing the "Godfather" swim across Lake Tahoe. She would be the youngest to accomplish the feat. This has to get her mother's attention. With her best friend Arch as her support team, Tully starts the swim. She is supposed to have an adult with her, but she knows her father would tell her no. She has prepped and researched for the swim and is sure she can make it.
When a storm threatens to put an end to the swim, Tully refuses to listen to Arch when he tells her it's time to quit. He alerts her father and the Coast Guard. Now Tully must decide if you should defy them all and keep swimming. This has become the most important thing in her life, and she simply can't fail.
DEEP WATER, a novel in verse by Jamie Sumner, focuses on love, determination, courage, and mental health. Sumner deftly captures the need to be seen and recognized, and the disappointment when it's clear it may not happen.
Now Tully is trying to use swimming to get her mother's attention so hopefully she returns from wherever she ran off to. Depression has plagued her mother, but swimming and exercise seemed to help. When she stopped seeing her therapist and stopped taking her medication, Tully knew it was only a matter of time until everything collapsed.
Tully has committed to completing the "Godfather" swim across Lake Tahoe. She would be the youngest to accomplish the feat. This has to get her mother's attention. With her best friend Arch as her support team, Tully starts the swim. She is supposed to have an adult with her, but she knows her father would tell her no. She has prepped and researched for the swim and is sure she can make it.
When a storm threatens to put an end to the swim, Tully refuses to listen to Arch when he tells her it's time to quit. He alerts her father and the Coast Guard. Now Tully must decide if you should defy them all and keep swimming. This has become the most important thing in her life, and she simply can't fail.
DEEP WATER, a novel in verse by Jamie Sumner, focuses on love, determination, courage, and mental health. Sumner deftly captures the need to be seen and recognized, and the disappointment when it's clear it may not happen.
June 6, 2024
Need to think more before I write.
January 12, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
In this novel in verse, we see Tully preparing to make a 12.1 swim across Lake Tahoe, accompanied only by her good friend Arch in a kayak, who will offer support, bananas, and an emergency plan if something goes wrong. The water is cold, but she is determined, and has trained hard for this. Her mother is a physical therapist and also an avid swimmer who has supported Tully, but has also decided to leave Tully and her father. If Tully is the youngest person ever to make this swim, her mother will have to come home. There are lots of rules for the swim, and Tully and Arch are careful to follow all of them but one: getting parental permission. It's not as easy task, and Tully worries about getting an infection in a paper cut, developing a cramp, and dealing with parents who might eventually figure out where the kids are and try to stop them. In flashbacks, as the miles go by, we find out about the complicated reasons that the mother left, and how it has impacted Tully and her father. When a storm approaches, Tully doesn't want to give up, although Arch, who is a very supportive friend but not necessarily a fan of adventure for himself, contacts the parents. Will Tully be able to complete her swim, not because it will bring her mother home, but because it will help her find herself?
Strengths:Swimming, in my mind, is the hardest sport of all, and there are very few books about it, especially open water endurance swimming. This book would be a perfect opportunity to introduce young readers to the accomplishments of Diana Nyad! This starts out quickly, and quietly unfolds a lot of information about Tully's family dynamics that I don't want to spoil. There is a good balance between the details of the physical sensation of being in the cold water and having to exert so much energy, and Tully's introspective inner turmoil. There's a satisfying plot arc as well as just enough parent involvement. Fans of Sumner's Tune It Out, Roll with It, Summer of June, Made for It, and One Kid's Trash will be eager to get their hands on this.
Weaknesses: While writing this, I realized that I wanted to know a little bit more about Arch. Tully's description of him makes it seem like she doesn't really respect his personality, but she trusts him enough to put her life in his hands. He's certainly very secondary to the plot, but I found myself thinking a lot about what was going through HIS mind during this journey.
What I really think: Add this adventurous title from a popular author to the growing list of middle grade literature showing children coping with the effects of mental health challenges that includes Keller's The Science of Unbreakable Things, Jones' Silhouetted by the Blue , Hiranandani's The Whole Story of Half a Girl. Melleby's Hurricane Season, Van Otterloo's The Beautiful Something Else, Greenwald's Absolutely, Positively Natty, Strout's Next Door to Happy, Walters's The King of Jam Sandwiches, Rushby's The Mulberry Tree, Kalmar's Stealing Mt Rushmore,Van Draanen's The Peach Rebellion.
In this novel in verse, we see Tully preparing to make a 12.1 swim across Lake Tahoe, accompanied only by her good friend Arch in a kayak, who will offer support, bananas, and an emergency plan if something goes wrong. The water is cold, but she is determined, and has trained hard for this. Her mother is a physical therapist and also an avid swimmer who has supported Tully, but has also decided to leave Tully and her father. If Tully is the youngest person ever to make this swim, her mother will have to come home. There are lots of rules for the swim, and Tully and Arch are careful to follow all of them but one: getting parental permission. It's not as easy task, and Tully worries about getting an infection in a paper cut, developing a cramp, and dealing with parents who might eventually figure out where the kids are and try to stop them. In flashbacks, as the miles go by, we find out about the complicated reasons that the mother left, and how it has impacted Tully and her father. When a storm approaches, Tully doesn't want to give up, although Arch, who is a very supportive friend but not necessarily a fan of adventure for himself, contacts the parents. Will Tully be able to complete her swim, not because it will bring her mother home, but because it will help her find herself?
Strengths:Swimming, in my mind, is the hardest sport of all, and there are very few books about it, especially open water endurance swimming. This book would be a perfect opportunity to introduce young readers to the accomplishments of Diana Nyad! This starts out quickly, and quietly unfolds a lot of information about Tully's family dynamics that I don't want to spoil. There is a good balance between the details of the physical sensation of being in the cold water and having to exert so much energy, and Tully's introspective inner turmoil. There's a satisfying plot arc as well as just enough parent involvement. Fans of Sumner's Tune It Out, Roll with It, Summer of June, Made for It, and One Kid's Trash will be eager to get their hands on this.
Weaknesses: While writing this, I realized that I wanted to know a little bit more about Arch. Tully's description of him makes it seem like she doesn't really respect his personality, but she trusts him enough to put her life in his hands. He's certainly very secondary to the plot, but I found myself thinking a lot about what was going through HIS mind during this journey.
What I really think: Add this adventurous title from a popular author to the growing list of middle grade literature showing children coping with the effects of mental health challenges that includes Keller's The Science of Unbreakable Things, Jones' Silhouetted by the Blue , Hiranandani's The Whole Story of Half a Girl. Melleby's Hurricane Season, Van Otterloo's The Beautiful Something Else, Greenwald's Absolutely, Positively Natty, Strout's Next Door to Happy, Walters's The King of Jam Sandwiches, Rushby's The Mulberry Tree, Kalmar's Stealing Mt Rushmore,Van Draanen's The Peach Rebellion.
May 6, 2025
I really wanted to like "Deep Water" and see if it could redeem my view of Jamie Sumner but instead, I found myself more frustrated than moved.
Jamie Sumner is a technically strong writer. Her verse flows, the pacing is solid, and I can see why some readers get pulled into her stories. But this is now another one of her books where I’m left asking, “Why do all her young girl characters have to carry the emotional weight of their mothers?” I’m so tired of the trope where a kid believes love has to be earned, especially from a parent. Tully, the main character, is trying to set a record swimming across Lake Tahoe, and every stroke is a desperate call to her absent mom. It’s painful, but not in a cathartic way. It just feels...sad and cyclical.
There were some specific moments that made me cringe. When a grown-up tells Tully, “You can’t trust a person who won’t meet your gaze,” I just sat there stunned. That’s incredibly ableist. Why is that line even in a book for kids? And then there’s the moment where Tully talks about how the school lunch program labels kids “at risk,” and she responds with something like, “Everyone’s at risk for something,” and points to natural disasters as an example. I know it’s meant to be poetic or universal, but it ends up brushing over the real, systemic issues that “at risk” actually refers to—like poverty and food insecurity, and it just feels...tone-deaf. Especially coming from a white author writing a white character.
Also, the line “we don’t do that (cry) in our family” had me groaning out loud. Emotional repression in families is real and complex, but this portrayal didn’t go deep enough to feel anything but reductive. Which was another huge issue I had in "Maid for It."
In the end, "Deep Water" felt like another Jamie Sumner book that dips into trauma and pain but doesn't handle it with the nuance it deserves. And I’m starting to realize that maybe her stories just aren’t for me. I wish they were, there’s so much potential in the ideas she explores, but the execution leaves me cold.
Jamie Sumner is a technically strong writer. Her verse flows, the pacing is solid, and I can see why some readers get pulled into her stories. But this is now another one of her books where I’m left asking, “Why do all her young girl characters have to carry the emotional weight of their mothers?” I’m so tired of the trope where a kid believes love has to be earned, especially from a parent. Tully, the main character, is trying to set a record swimming across Lake Tahoe, and every stroke is a desperate call to her absent mom. It’s painful, but not in a cathartic way. It just feels...sad and cyclical.
There were some specific moments that made me cringe. When a grown-up tells Tully, “You can’t trust a person who won’t meet your gaze,” I just sat there stunned. That’s incredibly ableist. Why is that line even in a book for kids? And then there’s the moment where Tully talks about how the school lunch program labels kids “at risk,” and she responds with something like, “Everyone’s at risk for something,” and points to natural disasters as an example. I know it’s meant to be poetic or universal, but it ends up brushing over the real, systemic issues that “at risk” actually refers to—like poverty and food insecurity, and it just feels...tone-deaf. Especially coming from a white author writing a white character.
Also, the line “we don’t do that (cry) in our family” had me groaning out loud. Emotional repression in families is real and complex, but this portrayal didn’t go deep enough to feel anything but reductive. Which was another huge issue I had in "Maid for It."
In the end, "Deep Water" felt like another Jamie Sumner book that dips into trauma and pain but doesn't handle it with the nuance it deserves. And I’m starting to realize that maybe her stories just aren’t for me. I wish they were, there’s so much potential in the ideas she explores, but the execution leaves me cold.
July 1, 2024
Paired with books such as Olivetti, Something Like Home, and Ruptured, this verse novel is about a girl making her way in a world that she feels lost in due to the actions of a parent. In this case, Tully is attempting to make the Godfather swim, a marathon swim across Lake Tahoe as the youngest person to do so only aided by her friend Arch who conspires with her.
The book is basically the swim through each hour however Tully is working through the past in which her mother, going through depression leaves the family several times including the last time that is more permanent than the others. Tully's mom went from sad and closed-off to overworking herself and running and ultimately woke Tully in the middle of the night ready to take off on an adventure. When Tully, half asleep goes back to bed, mom leaves, and never returns. Tully thinks that if she completes this Godfather swim that somehow, someway her mother will see it and love her enough to come back.
This emotional story is as unique as it is expected fare for a middle grade audience (and not in a demeaning way). Working through emotional trauma (with the help of a therapist) and through swimming and her friend Arch is profound. I liked swimming as the sport/hobby, I liked Arch and Tully's friendship, I liked the setting. It all conspires to create the right tone for age relevant discussions on feelings, emotional support, friendship, and grit.
"Because I'm not like you! / I don't wake up wanting to punch the world in the face! / He paused. The crack of silence / filled up like a glass under the tap / with his sadness and madness / at a problem that was not mine / and should never have been. / My whole body went limp. / "I'm sorry, Arch."
The book is basically the swim through each hour however Tully is working through the past in which her mother, going through depression leaves the family several times including the last time that is more permanent than the others. Tully's mom went from sad and closed-off to overworking herself and running and ultimately woke Tully in the middle of the night ready to take off on an adventure. When Tully, half asleep goes back to bed, mom leaves, and never returns. Tully thinks that if she completes this Godfather swim that somehow, someway her mother will see it and love her enough to come back.
This emotional story is as unique as it is expected fare for a middle grade audience (and not in a demeaning way). Working through emotional trauma (with the help of a therapist) and through swimming and her friend Arch is profound. I liked swimming as the sport/hobby, I liked Arch and Tully's friendship, I liked the setting. It all conspires to create the right tone for age relevant discussions on feelings, emotional support, friendship, and grit.
"Because I'm not like you! / I don't wake up wanting to punch the world in the face! / He paused. The crack of silence / filled up like a glass under the tap / with his sadness and madness / at a problem that was not mine / and should never have been. / My whole body went limp. / "I'm sorry, Arch."
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