Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas

A splashy, contemporary middle grade graphic novel from bestselling comics creator Johnnie Christmas!

Bree can't wait for her first day at her new middle school, Enith Brigitha, home to the Mighty Manateesuntil she's stuck with the only elective that fits her schedule, the dreaded Swim 101. The thought of swimming makes Bree more than a little queasy, yet she's forced to dive headfirst into one of her greatest fears. Lucky for her, Etta, an elderly occupant of her apartment building and former swim team captain, is willing to help.

With Etta's training and a lot of hard work, Bree suddenly finds her swim-crazed community counting on her to turn the school's failing team around. But that's easier said than done, especially when their rival, the prestigious Holyoke Prep, has everything they need to leave the Mighty Manatees in their wake.

Can Bree defy the odds and guide her team to a state championship, or have the Manatees swum their last lap for good? (From HarperCollins)

• Johnnie Christmas's graphic novel Swim Team is buoyed by themes of community, perseverance and overcoming fear
• Johnnie Christmas brings Margaret Atwood's cat/bird/human vision to life
• Illustrator Johnnie Christmas on the weight of experiencing police harassment in Florida as a child
• Meet the illustrator bringing Margaret Atwood's dystopian comic world to life
• 12 Canadian books to give the sports fan this holiday season

Johnnie Christmas is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, raised in Florida and currently based in Vancouver. Heis the creator of comicslikeFirebug,ShelteredandPisces. He is the illustrator ofAngel Catbird,a graphic novel serieswritten by novelistMargaretAtwoodabout acat/bird/human superhero.

Why Johnnie Christmas wrote Swim Team

"When I was five years old, I almost drowned in a pool. And that stayed with me and it informed my relationship with the water since then. It wasn't until I was an adult thatI started taking swim classes.

When I was five years old, I almost drowned in a pool. And that stayed with me and it informed my relationship with the water since then.- Johnnie Christmas

"Butat the time, I thought it was my fault as a kid.I don't build swimming pools I don't have access to that. Who controls the access? Who decides which neighbourhoods pools are placed in?Where I lived growing up in Miami, Florida that was out of my control.

"I wanted to write a book for young readers who are probably in the same situation because unfortunately, at least in the States, access isn't what it should be.

"I wanted to have something for those readers to see themselves reflected and to possiblysee that if they do have access to a pool, there's a road for them."

Read his full interview with CBC Books.

More interviews with JohnnieChristmas

Meet the illustrator bringing Margaret Atwood's dystopian comic world to life

8 years ago

Duration 2:50

Discover how Vancouver-based comic book artist Johnnie Christmas rekindled his passion for comic arts and found a collaborator in the beloved author.

More books by Johnnie Christmas