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!
SELECTION Junior Library Guild Selection
"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 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." —Publishers Weekly
"As charming as its young hero." —Kirkus Reviews
“Julia’s Korean heritage is woven seamlessly throughout the book, and the short chapters are perfect for developing readers who want a full story alongside elementary-school antics, childlike dialogue, and good characters.” —BookList
"[D]elivers a meaningful message about resilience, the value of patience and flexibility, and the benefits of teamwork and community building." —The Horn Book
"Author and narrator complementarily celebrate tenacity with vivacity and charm." —School Library Journal
"[H]umour, great dialogue, and a passion for something that is loved are included . . . a good choice to read aloud in a classroom and would lead to great discussions. Highly recommended." —CM: Canadian Review of Materials
ANGELA AHN is a former teacher and librarian. She is the author of several children's books, including Krista Kim-Bap and Peter Lee's Notes from the Field, which was shortlisted for the Governor General's Award and the OLA Silver Birch Award, and was named a USBBY Outstanding International Book. She lives in Vancouver, BC, with her family.
View titles by Angela Ahn
JULIE KIM is an author and illustrator living in Seattle, USA. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, her illustrations have been featured in several children's books, including My Special Space and Mysterious Spinners. Her authorial debut, Where's Halmoni?, has received several starred reviews. Its sequel Where's Joon? was published in October 2023.
View titles by Julie Kim
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!
Awards
SELECTION Junior Library Guild Selection
Praise
"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 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." —Publishers Weekly
"As charming as its young hero." —Kirkus Reviews
“Julia’s Korean heritage is woven seamlessly throughout the book, and the short chapters are perfect for developing readers who want a full story alongside elementary-school antics, childlike dialogue, and good characters.” —BookList
"[D]elivers a meaningful message about resilience, the value of patience and flexibility, and the benefits of teamwork and community building." —The Horn Book
"Author and narrator complementarily celebrate tenacity with vivacity and charm." —School Library Journal
"[H]umour, great dialogue, and a passion for something that is loved are included . . . a good choice to read aloud in a classroom and would lead to great discussions. Highly recommended." —CM: Canadian Review of Materials
Author
ANGELA AHN is a former teacher and librarian. She is the author of several children's books, including Krista Kim-Bap and Peter Lee's Notes from the Field, which was shortlisted for the Governor General's Award and the OLA Silver Birch Award, and was named a USBBY Outstanding International Book. She lives in Vancouver, BC, with her family.
View titles by Angela Ahn
JULIE KIM is an author and illustrator living in Seattle, USA. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, her illustrations have been featured in several children's books, including My Special Space and Mysterious Spinners. Her authorial debut, Where's Halmoni?, has received several starred reviews. Its sequel Where's Joon? was published in October 2023.
View titles by Julie Kim
