Breathing Underwater
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Product Description
Review
`Excellent story ... from an author who, notably, has written unpatronisingly and sensitively about teenager's feelings'
--The Bookseller
--The Bookseller
Review
`A truly inspirational book'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Freya's life has been turned upside-down since her brother died in a boating accident the previous year. Now she's returned to the remote island where the accident happened, to stay with her grandparents. Freya's looking for answers as she tries to make sense of the tragedy that's overwhelming her family, and on the island, Freya feels her brother's presence everywhere. Slowly she begins to work through her grief.
This is a beautifully written and thoughtfully crafted novel, which is both moving and poignant. Set across two time frames, this summer and last summer, it explains the events leading up to Joe's accident and what's happened to the family since. Although at first Freya's grief is overwhelming, over the course of the summer she makes new friends, falls in love and even sees her brother again. Is he real or a ghost? Freya's not entirely sure, but takes great comfort from it. This story addresses how death affects people, but also how you can move forward after a loss, with the lingering feeling being one of hope.
This is a beautifully written and thoughtfully crafted novel, which is both moving and poignant. Set across two time frames, this summer and last summer, it explains the events leading up to Joe's accident and what's happened to the family since. Although at first Freya's grief is overwhelming, over the course of the summer she makes new friends, falls in love and even sees her brother again. Is he real or a ghost? Freya's not entirely sure, but takes great comfort from it. This story addresses how death affects people, but also how you can move forward after a loss, with the lingering feeling being one of hope.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Breathing Underwater is a coming of age story of sorts, which also deals with loss, grief and the power of friendships. It's about fourteen year old Freya, a girl still trying to process her older brother's death which occured the year before. With the help of new friends and familiar family, she sets out to remember her brother for his life, rather than his death.
I really enjoyed this book; it was beautifully written, and possessed a poignancy that I think can often be hard to capture on the page. Each character had personality and history, and each stood out in one way or another. If I had one complaint, it would be that I occasionally thought Freya acted older than fourteen. Her maturity made me think she should have been sixteen or seventeen, though maybe her circumstance just made her more level-headed and rational.
The way Freya deals with her brother's death is inspiring and hopeful, and the inclusion of new friends and old surroundings was a brilliant way to help her get her life back together. I also liked that there was no huge emphasis on romance; I love romance in books, but sometimes it's just nice to read something a little bit different. Although the story touches on some serious topics, it's also an uplifting tale of overcoming and moving on from your worst nightmare. I think the cover best describes Freya's character: bright and colourful, with a lot of life ahead of her. It really stood out to me, and I think it'll definitely appeal to a lot of YA readers.
The quote on the cover says 'Julia Green is a writer to watch', and I agree. I'll definitely be looking out for more from her in the future, and I hope her next book will be just as good as this one.
I really enjoyed this book; it was beautifully written, and possessed a poignancy that I think can often be hard to capture on the page. Each character had personality and history, and each stood out in one way or another. If I had one complaint, it would be that I occasionally thought Freya acted older than fourteen. Her maturity made me think she should have been sixteen or seventeen, though maybe her circumstance just made her more level-headed and rational.
The way Freya deals with her brother's death is inspiring and hopeful, and the inclusion of new friends and old surroundings was a brilliant way to help her get her life back together. I also liked that there was no huge emphasis on romance; I love romance in books, but sometimes it's just nice to read something a little bit different. Although the story touches on some serious topics, it's also an uplifting tale of overcoming and moving on from your worst nightmare. I think the cover best describes Freya's character: bright and colourful, with a lot of life ahead of her. It really stood out to me, and I think it'll definitely appeal to a lot of YA readers.
The quote on the cover says 'Julia Green is a writer to watch', and I agree. I'll definitely be looking out for more from her in the future, and I hope her next book will be just as good as this one.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
On first glance Breathing Underwater appears to be another feel good teenage summer romance with the sandy beach and clear aqua blue of the sea. In reality it has a lot more depth to it.
It is not the kind of book that has a complicated plot and any exciting twists and turns that jump out for your attention but it shines in its own particular way. Not much happens in the course of the book in an event way but that the end I could see a clear and dramatic change in Freya and the other characters around her which is what this book is all about.
The main character and voice of the story is Freya,a young fourteen girl old girl who is suffering with the grief of the loss of her older brother a year on from the accident. Coming back to the island where it happened has mixed feelings for her, she likes the way that she can feel her brother there and remember the times they spent together there but it also brings back the painful memories of what happened that summer and how he changed so suddenly.
Freya comes across as a quiet and fragile character at times and it was easy to sympathise with her. Despite this, she also has a strong and bright side that helps her to cope. As well as coping with her thoughts and feelings about Joe, she is growing up and finding her true self and dealing with insecurities, first love and the power and complications of friendship.
The way that she is portrayed and the book is written is beautiful, nothing is exaggerated and Freya's emotions were captured in a touching way that is often hard to convey in words.
I loved the island setting because it helped to lighten the book up and inject some summer fun into it, the descriptions of basking in the sun, sailing races, the clear blue of the sea, barbecues on the beach and star gazing with all the other children and teenagers at the campsite were wonderful.
I liked the way that the book had chapters of flashbacks to the summer before which helped me to get to know Joe's character and understand what happened better. Sometimes flashbacks ruin the effect of a story by cutting it up but these complimented the story and fitted hand in hand with the main narrative.
The only thing that I found a little unrealistic was a scene near the end when Freya feels Joe's spirit physically helping her. However, this is such a small point and did not detract from my enjoyment of the book at all.
This is the second Julia Green book I have read and it turns out that this is her debut and I read her second book first unintentionally. I loved this one just as much and I can see how she has developed as an author in Drawing With Light. I can't wait to read more from her!
My favourite quote from the book: "Energy fizzes along every nerve and muscle in my body. I keep my breathing steady: in, out, long breaths that take the air deep inside, a flow along my blood . . . The water, deep and clean and cold, washes through my mind, cleansing me of thought, until that's all there is: water. Clear and open and free."
Verdict: Breathing Underwater explores teenage grief with sensitivity and poignancy with a message of inspiration as well as describing a sun soaked summer beautifully-fans of young adult books will find it a breath of fresh air.
It is not the kind of book that has a complicated plot and any exciting twists and turns that jump out for your attention but it shines in its own particular way. Not much happens in the course of the book in an event way but that the end I could see a clear and dramatic change in Freya and the other characters around her which is what this book is all about.
The main character and voice of the story is Freya,a young fourteen girl old girl who is suffering with the grief of the loss of her older brother a year on from the accident. Coming back to the island where it happened has mixed feelings for her, she likes the way that she can feel her brother there and remember the times they spent together there but it also brings back the painful memories of what happened that summer and how he changed so suddenly.
Freya comes across as a quiet and fragile character at times and it was easy to sympathise with her. Despite this, she also has a strong and bright side that helps her to cope. As well as coping with her thoughts and feelings about Joe, she is growing up and finding her true self and dealing with insecurities, first love and the power and complications of friendship.
The way that she is portrayed and the book is written is beautiful, nothing is exaggerated and Freya's emotions were captured in a touching way that is often hard to convey in words.
I loved the island setting because it helped to lighten the book up and inject some summer fun into it, the descriptions of basking in the sun, sailing races, the clear blue of the sea, barbecues on the beach and star gazing with all the other children and teenagers at the campsite were wonderful.
I liked the way that the book had chapters of flashbacks to the summer before which helped me to get to know Joe's character and understand what happened better. Sometimes flashbacks ruin the effect of a story by cutting it up but these complimented the story and fitted hand in hand with the main narrative.
The only thing that I found a little unrealistic was a scene near the end when Freya feels Joe's spirit physically helping her. However, this is such a small point and did not detract from my enjoyment of the book at all.
This is the second Julia Green book I have read and it turns out that this is her debut and I read her second book first unintentionally. I loved this one just as much and I can see how she has developed as an author in Drawing With Light. I can't wait to read more from her!
My favourite quote from the book: "Energy fizzes along every nerve and muscle in my body. I keep my breathing steady: in, out, long breaths that take the air deep inside, a flow along my blood . . . The water, deep and clean and cold, washes through my mind, cleansing me of thought, until that's all there is: water. Clear and open and free."
Verdict: Breathing Underwater explores teenage grief with sensitivity and poignancy with a message of inspiration as well as describing a sun soaked summer beautifully-fans of young adult books will find it a breath of fresh air.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Nice summer read
Freya is 14 when she revisits the island where her older brother Joe died a year before. You wouldn't really guess from the pastel airy-dreamy cover of this book that this is a... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Els De Clercq
Breathing Underwater
From the cover, this book does look like it is going to a lovely, light-hearted summer read but it also has much more to it than that. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Fiction_Fan
A lovely thoughtprovoking book
Have just finished Breathing Underwater and wanted to let everyone know how much I enjoyed it. When I was contemplating buying it I read a review that said it was a young adult... Read more
Published 13 months ago by J. Kilbride
Magical
A beautiful, magical book. The setting is so vivid, the story and characters are so compelling, and the atmosphere is so strong. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Stephanie Samphire
Stunning and sensitive fiction
I absolutely loved this book! It made me laugh and cry, and it also made me want to visit the Scilly Isles (where it's set). Read more
Published on 23 Jun 2009 by L. R. Christopher
unforgettable
This book was very different from most books I've read. It was beautifully written and the main character, Freya, was very clearly portrayed. Read more
Published on 7 May 2009 by Chicklish
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