Review | Up For Air

Summary: Up for Air

Annabelle is a fantastic swimmer who happens to have learning difficulties. She’s happy to finally be getting something right when she’s moved up to the high school team in the summer. However, things get a bit complicated when an older boy starts showing her attention and her estranged father seems to want to return to her life.

The Good

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Up for Air is so well written — with such a strong, unforgettable voice. I enjoyed the deft way the author tackles all the teenage issues, family struggles, and the way Annabelle works to figure out who she really is. Author Morrison addresses many important themes in this middle-grade novel. Annabelle has real learning difficulties and readers will see her struggle to maintain a sense of self-worth as she navigates this. She struggles through tests and is understandably embarrassed to be the last one to finish every time. We also see how this in turn affects her friendships.

Another impossible-to-ignore angle is the family drama she faces — dealing with her estranged father. However, the most achingly familiar issue Annabelle works through is the admiration from an older boy. I felt helpless and frustrated watching her walk into a no-good situation, and readers will feel every dilemma she has. 

Trigger Warning: One of the minor characters is recovering from an eating disorder. There’s nothing graphic, but she still finds eating a challenge.

Overall: Up for Air

In Up for Air, Laurie Morrison perfectly captures the issues of competitive female friendships, the desire to be liked and accepted by an older crowd, and the search for identity. This book is so special to me, because it’s one of those middle-grade books that handles difficult topics, but is still such a pageturner. I would highly recommend Up for Air for lovers of books about learning difficulties, swimming, and family troubles.

@LaurieLMorrison perfectly captures the issues of competitive female friendships, the desire to be liked and accepted by an older crowd, and the search for identity. @abramskids Click To Tweet

Disclaimer: I received a copy of Up for Air from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

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Have you read this book or anything by Laurie Morrison? What did you think? What are your favorite sports-related books? I’d love to know!