What do you think?
Rate this book
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
About the author
Jamie Sumner
13 books272 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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. :)
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.
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 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.
October 24, 2023
My little sister's review (Laly, 11)
Summary in free verse:
12 miles,
6 hours,
Mother gone
Tully must brave
The Godfather swim
The life of a girl named Tully revolves around swimming. Her mother is the swim coach for her swim team. But her mother left her recently, and Tully thinks it is her fault. To get her mother back, Tully believes she must complete the Godfather swim - a twelve-mile swim. With her friend Arch's assistance, Tully must break the record for the youngest person to achieve the legendary Godfather swim. That might convince her mother to come back.
Thank you, @simonkids #simonkidscrew, for sending me this compelling ARC written in verse. This book will be released on April 9, 2024. Sorry guys, it will be long before you discover this beauty.
This book shows how sometimes people can come and go, and you don't have control over this. Tully has a strong relationship with the water; she trusts it and lets it carry her, like a close friend or a mother.
The book is divided by the swim hours, which raises the tension.
Tully is a very relatable character, which sometimes reminds me of myself because she is stubborn and perseverant and won't let go of the people she loves dearly. Her best friend, Arch, is introverted and caring. He is the type of friend that will always be there for you.
Give this lyrical book in free verse to all readers who like stories filled with heart and real-life experiences.
Happy Reading, Laly ❤️ 📚 🌊
Summary in free verse:
12 miles,
6 hours,
Mother gone
Tully must brave
The Godfather swim
The life of a girl named Tully revolves around swimming. Her mother is the swim coach for her swim team. But her mother left her recently, and Tully thinks it is her fault. To get her mother back, Tully believes she must complete the Godfather swim - a twelve-mile swim. With her friend Arch's assistance, Tully must break the record for the youngest person to achieve the legendary Godfather swim. That might convince her mother to come back.
Thank you, @simonkids #simonkidscrew, for sending me this compelling ARC written in verse. This book will be released on April 9, 2024. Sorry guys, it will be long before you discover this beauty.
This book shows how sometimes people can come and go, and you don't have control over this. Tully has a strong relationship with the water; she trusts it and lets it carry her, like a close friend or a mother.
The book is divided by the swim hours, which raises the tension.
Tully is a very relatable character, which sometimes reminds me of myself because she is stubborn and perseverant and won't let go of the people she loves dearly. Her best friend, Arch, is introverted and caring. He is the type of friend that will always be there for you.
Give this lyrical book in free verse to all readers who like stories filled with heart and real-life experiences.
Happy Reading, Laly ❤️ 📚 🌊
February 28, 2024
Jamie Sumner does it again! This novel-in-verse explores both family and friendship as Tully attempts to swim the width of Lake Tahoe (12 miles) in an effort to get her mother's attention. Tully and her mother had been planning to tackle the swim together, but her mother left, with no explanation, months ago. Tully is sure, if she sets the record for the youngest person to complete the swim, that will garner her so much attention her mother will return. Life-long friend, Arch, kayaks along to provide snacks, pacing, and, most importantly, document her record-breaking swim. Sumner skillfully weaves background for Arch and Tully into Tully's train of thought as she tackles the swim mile by mile. Swimming, it turns out, is the most straightforward part of her endeavor. Their parents don't know what they are up to and stormy weather threatens to upend Tully's success. Pushing herself to her physical limits, and battling the elements, forces Tully to confront the truth about her mother's struggles with depression and her own feelings of abandonment. Readers will both cheer on, and worry for, Tully. Deep Water is a moving story that will open the door to discussions about mental health challenges.
March 25, 2024
Thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced copy to read and review.
Tully’s been training to swim the Godfather, a 12 mile open water swim in Lake Tahoe, and become the youngest person to do so. It was a swim she & her mom planned on training for together before her mom left with nothing but a note that read, “Searching for me, XO.” Since then, Tully’s been determined to make her mom SEE her and reunite their family by secretly training to do this swim with her best friend Arch as her support team.
The novel in verse is told in hours as Tully crosses the lake. It takes readers on a roller coaster of emotions as Tully flashes back to memories of her mom’s history with depression, Tully’s history with her supportive dad, and Tully’s friendship with Arch.
Themes of abandonment, determination, bravery, friendship, and hope. First time I’ve seen acknowledgments also written in verse, and I loved that!
Favorite lines:
Page 88:
I say life’s hard enough
and we are all bodies trying not to bump into
one another,
so let everybody do their own thing
and leave them alone.
Page 93:
Mother Nature gives me a break
at the end of mile 6.
The clouds part,
and the sun shakes out her golden hair,
scattering light and heat
across my shoulders/neck/back.
Tully’s been training to swim the Godfather, a 12 mile open water swim in Lake Tahoe, and become the youngest person to do so. It was a swim she & her mom planned on training for together before her mom left with nothing but a note that read, “Searching for me, XO.” Since then, Tully’s been determined to make her mom SEE her and reunite their family by secretly training to do this swim with her best friend Arch as her support team.
The novel in verse is told in hours as Tully crosses the lake. It takes readers on a roller coaster of emotions as Tully flashes back to memories of her mom’s history with depression, Tully’s history with her supportive dad, and Tully’s friendship with Arch.
Themes of abandonment, determination, bravery, friendship, and hope. First time I’ve seen acknowledgments also written in verse, and I loved that!
Favorite lines:
Page 88:
I say life’s hard enough
and we are all bodies trying not to bump into
one another,
so let everybody do their own thing
and leave them alone.
Page 93:
Mother Nature gives me a break
at the end of mile 6.
The clouds part,
and the sun shakes out her golden hair,
scattering light and heat
across my shoulders/neck/back.
March 28, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
This is another one of those stories that gives a glimpse into the experiences of another person and hopefully builds a little bit of empathy each time it is read.
This is the story of Tully who is doing The Godfather swim across Lake Tahoe. 12 miles… In doing this, she is hoping to document it so that her mom, who has left, will see it and finally see her as worthy. What the reader gets in this story is a look into the mind of a 12 year old girl who is hurting deeply. The novel in verse flows easily and helps me to understand why Tully is risking so much to complete this dangerous and seemingly impossible task. I cried for Tully in so many places as the water wrung out all she was feeling as she swam mile after mile.
I have long been a fan of Sumner and applaud her for taking a risk in writing a new format. I’m sure for her that was as harrowing and frightening as Tully’s swim. I loved seeing into Tully’s soul. I loved the friendship between her and Arch, even when things became very difficult. I’m so glad this story found its way into the world and I cannot wait to get it into the hands of my readers.
This is another one of those stories that gives a glimpse into the experiences of another person and hopefully builds a little bit of empathy each time it is read.
This is the story of Tully who is doing The Godfather swim across Lake Tahoe. 12 miles… In doing this, she is hoping to document it so that her mom, who has left, will see it and finally see her as worthy. What the reader gets in this story is a look into the mind of a 12 year old girl who is hurting deeply. The novel in verse flows easily and helps me to understand why Tully is risking so much to complete this dangerous and seemingly impossible task. I cried for Tully in so many places as the water wrung out all she was feeling as she swam mile after mile.
I have long been a fan of Sumner and applaud her for taking a risk in writing a new format. I’m sure for her that was as harrowing and frightening as Tully’s swim. I loved seeing into Tully’s soul. I loved the friendship between her and Arch, even when things became very difficult. I’m so glad this story found its way into the world and I cannot wait to get it into the hands of my readers.
April 23, 2024
Record-breaking swimmer Tully Birch has developed magical theory of what she can do to bring her mother home. As a marathon swimmer, she seems out to cross the open waters of Lake Tahoe to break the record as the youngest swimmer ever to complete the "godfather" span. Her best friend Arch is her support partner, but no one else knows. The absence of her manic/depressive mother and her work-obsessed grieving father leave Tully determined to "fix" everything by making nthe news, getting her mother's attention, and bringing her family together again.
This verse novel is as steadily flowing and powerful as the waves and currents of the open lake, allowing Tully to maintain her plan and control much of the time while facing internal waves of emotional processing.
Her many years of strict discipline break down as she is faced with immense danger to herself and her selfless loyal friend. The eventual outcome is satisfying while suspenseful, realistic and reassuring to mTully and to readers.
The poems are mainly free verse, though some are shape poems, rhymed, and other notable forms. The text is highly accessible since the 200 pages are mainly white space, storytelling compels the verses, and both Tully and Arch are fully realized characters with whom readers will connect.
This verse novel is as steadily flowing and powerful as the waves and currents of the open lake, allowing Tully to maintain her plan and control much of the time while facing internal waves of emotional processing.
Her many years of strict discipline break down as she is faced with immense danger to herself and her selfless loyal friend. The eventual outcome is satisfying while suspenseful, realistic and reassuring to mTully and to readers.
The poems are mainly free verse, though some are shape poems, rhymed, and other notable forms. The text is highly accessible since the 200 pages are mainly white space, storytelling compels the verses, and both Tully and Arch are fully realized characters with whom readers will connect.
January 13, 2024
I sat down to read a few pages as soon as I received an advanced copy of Jamie Sumner’s Deep Water, and suddenly there was no chance I was going to put it down without finishing it. This is a novel in verse telling a story of determination, abandonment, loyalty, & forgiveness - and the rollercoaster of feelings that the main character goes through will break your heart and fill you with hope. I loved that even the acknowledgments are written in verse, and shoutouts to Lisa Fipps & Chris Baron are included. (No wonder this book is so fabulous when these are the kind of helpers the book had!)
So much love for this #mglit. 🌊
- - - - -
“People say depression is:
lying in bed
not washing your hair
losing your appetite
crying all the time.
But for my mom, depression is:
never
ever
ever
ever
stopping.
I guess she ran in place so long
there was nothing left to do
but
leave.”
——-
“Arch made his self-portrait
out of metal.
I didn't make one at all,
because I am only
just learning who I want to be.”
———
“I am the water.”
So much love for this #mglit. 🌊
- - - - -
“People say depression is:
lying in bed
not washing your hair
losing your appetite
crying all the time.
But for my mom, depression is:
never
ever
ever
ever
stopping.
I guess she ran in place so long
there was nothing left to do
but
leave.”
——-
“Arch made his self-portrait
out of metal.
I didn't make one at all,
because I am only
just learning who I want to be.”
———
“I am the water.”
May 19, 2024
Deep Water is an amazing novel in verse about mental illness and how it affects the people around you. Tully is 12 and a swimmer. She love to swim, but mostly does it so her mom will be proud of her and not go into another blue period. One night, Tully’s mom leaves in the middle of the night leaving a note saying she has to find herself. Tully believes if she swims the Godfather swim in Lake Tahoe, that her mom will see it and come back to them. She enlists her best friend Arch to help her. After a storm comes up while Tully is in the middle of her swim, Arch has to decide if he keeps his promise to Tully or tells their parents where they are.
Tully wrestles with her feeling of not being enough for her mom to stay, and who she is without her mom there. Like all of Jamie Sumners books, Deep Water takes a look at a hard subject and makes it relatable to middle grade readers. Her books are not to be missed! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Tully wrestles with her feeling of not being enough for her mom to stay, and who she is without her mom there. Like all of Jamie Sumners books, Deep Water takes a look at a hard subject and makes it relatable to middle grade readers. Her books are not to be missed! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 23, 2024
Six hours. One marathon swim.
🏊🏻
Tully has a mission: to be the youngest person to complete the Godfather swim at Lake Tahoe. She’s doing it to get her mother’s attention; the mother who went off her medicine and abandoned their family. Tully thinks if she can complete this swim she will get her mother’s attention out in the world and it will make her come home. But when a storm threatens her trip and her best friend can’t protect her, she is in the fight for her life.
🏊🏻
I can always count on @jamiesumner_author to bring the emotion with her MG books and Deep Water was no exception. Told in novel in verse format this story was impactful, insightful and emotional. The audiobook narration was also very well done. I can see many students connecting to Tully’s experience.
CW: mental health issues, depression, parental abandonment
3.75 ⭐️
🏊🏻
Tully has a mission: to be the youngest person to complete the Godfather swim at Lake Tahoe. She’s doing it to get her mother’s attention; the mother who went off her medicine and abandoned their family. Tully thinks if she can complete this swim she will get her mother’s attention out in the world and it will make her come home. But when a storm threatens her trip and her best friend can’t protect her, she is in the fight for her life.
🏊🏻
I can always count on @jamiesumner_author to bring the emotion with her MG books and Deep Water was no exception. Told in novel in verse format this story was impactful, insightful and emotional. The audiobook narration was also very well done. I can see many students connecting to Tully’s experience.
CW: mental health issues, depression, parental abandonment
3.75 ⭐️
November 29, 2023
"Deep Water" shines a light on how mental health issues don't just affect the person with the mental health issues but also the people in their lives, especially children.
Tully believed she could bring her mom back if she did this one special swimming event that she was going to do with her mom before she left. Tully does a lot of 'deep thinking' as she is swimming to her goal to the next shoreline. The reader gets to 'hear' how she is processing all the events that lead up to the present day.
Hopefully, this book can help others who may be going through similar situations.
I love Jamie Sumner's books and they are a must-have for every library!
@jamiesumner_ #DeepWater
#SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarians #ReadABook #Books #Read #MGReads MGBooks #MGLit #KidLit #ElemLit
Tully believed she could bring her mom back if she did this one special swimming event that she was going to do with her mom before she left. Tully does a lot of 'deep thinking' as she is swimming to her goal to the next shoreline. The reader gets to 'hear' how she is processing all the events that lead up to the present day.
Hopefully, this book can help others who may be going through similar situations.
I love Jamie Sumner's books and they are a must-have for every library!
@jamiesumner_ #DeepWater
#SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarians #ReadABook #Books #Read #MGReads MGBooks #MGLit #KidLit #ElemLit
October 20, 2023
4.5 I never walk by or ignore books on swimming or books in verse because I know they are always about self-discovery and/or emotional.
Swimming demands great willpower and determination and the main character is struggling to deal with her mom's depression but she gets all the answers she needs white she swims across the lake (without authorization). I understand and create that kind of pushing forward and giving it all to see clearly not only what is important but to define character or realize how to improve.
I appreciate the book designer formatting some pages to have a visual impact with shapes and motion.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this e-ARC.
Swimming demands great willpower and determination and the main character is struggling to deal with her mom's depression but she gets all the answers she needs white she swims across the lake (without authorization). I understand and create that kind of pushing forward and giving it all to see clearly not only what is important but to define character or realize how to improve.
I appreciate the book designer formatting some pages to have a visual impact with shapes and motion.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this e-ARC.
May 13, 2024
In Jamie Sumner's novel in verse DEEP WATER, Tully navigates the rough waters of Lake Tahoe with the help of her best friend Arch. She's been training for a marathon swim with her mom. She hopes that completing this feat will capture the attention of her mom, who abandoned Tully and her father several months before, and lead to her return. An unanticipated storm threatens Tully's plans and puts her and Arch at risk. The book is a moving and fast-paced emotional story about loss, resilience, and the impact of mental illness on a family.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC to read and review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC to read and review.
May 13, 2024
I have loved every Jamie Sumner book I have read and this one is no exception. Told entirely in verse, it is the story of a girl swimming 12 miles across Lake Tahoe in the hopes that this accomplishment will somehow bring her mother back. It is tender thoughtful, exploring the concept of grief and how parental mental illness affects children and the family. Sydney’s mother suffers from depression and has left she and her father adrift, no pun intended. With each stroke in the water, Sydney contemplates what led up to her mother’s disappearance and dreams of a life when balance is regained. I loved Syds story, her strength and tenacity, and the well-developed cast of characters.
March 24, 2024
I like how the book was written, it was easy to read in that format. The title and cover are very eye catching. The story was a serious one. The ending was happy, but the book was just kind of depressing. In the end the main character still does not have her mother, even though her dad is there for her and very supportive. I would maybe use this book to show how one can write (in the shape of a raindrop, or wavy), but the content is not what I would use. I will suggest it to our guidance counselor.
March 30, 2024
Tully Birch believes that if she can make the "Godfather" swim across Lake Tahoe with her best friend Arch filming it, her mother will be proud of her and come back. Her mother had mental health issues, discontinued her medication, and left Tully and her father. This swim is both a physical struggle and an emotional one, as Tully fights the lake, the weather, exhaustion, and the memories of her mother. Written in powerful free verse poetry, this book packs a punch. Highly recommended for grades 4 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
May 9, 2024
This is a great choice for a fiction book and is intended for middle-aged readers. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars. When Rill Kriger’s family disappeared, she was left with only a note that says, “Don’t look for us.” But Rill, a former journalist, can’t let it go. Against all advice, she digs into the mystery, following the trail to a lake where dark secrets lurk under the surface. This book was very interesting to read because it was very different from others, I have read so far but I would say this would be a great choice in the library.
January 22, 2024
Thank you @SimonKids for this wonderful ARC written in verse on how a girl deals with the grief of her mom leaving her life, due to how she has dealt with ongoing depression, by braving the waters of Lake Tahoe to break the record for the youngest person to complete the famous “Godfather” swim. Loved this narrative and how Tully is determined to complete this swim to somehow show her Mom who is still out there that she has completed this milestone, in hopes that her mother will return.
May 5, 2024
I enjoyed this, but wanted more background on her relationship with Arch and his loyalty. This could have been done in a flashback and added just a little bit to the book. I liked the way the book was set up and will be interested in seeing how the actual book is layer out. Great audiobook and the cover is fabulous, in part because Tully looks like an actual 12-year-old instead of a 3rd grader which is a problem with many middle school book covers. Will definitely purchase.
October 17, 2023
Tully is brave and ambitious, she also knows she misses her mother who has mental health struggles; has run off on another of her adventures, again. This emotional story about the importance of family, friendship and learning that perfection has many different definitions. This race to set a new record is crafted in thoughtful heartfelt prose.
March 27, 2024
This novel on verse tells of Tully’s attempt to complete The Godfather, a 12 mile swim she was supposed to complete with her mother before her mother left with only a short note. Tully is determined to complete this swim in hopes that her mother will hear of it and return. She reveals part of the backstory as she swims.
DRC provided by NetGalley.
DRC provided by NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews