The Water You're Swimming in - Paperback

by Rachel Schwartz Fagan (Author)

Noah is used to being a straight-A student, swim champ and all-around easy kid.

But things haven't been the same since Noah's older brother Jamie ran away to Halifax, leaving only a note behind. His parents spend every free second on the phone or driving to Halifax to try to find Jamie, and Noah is left trying to mask his anxiety and grief by pretending to be the perfect son who does everything right. But inside he feels like crying and gets a knot in his stomach whenever he thinks of Jamie.

Some warmth returns to their home when Grandma Aisling comes to stay, bringing her fiddle and her genius for making chocolate cake with her. At school, funny and kind Alysha joins his class and Noah has a new friend to distract him from his worries. When a swim competition is announced with the grand prize being a trip to Halifax, Noah knows he has to win it so he can go to Halifax himself--and get Jamie back.

The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Author Biography

Rachel Schwartz Fagan is a storyteller and Ontario certified teacher. She holds an MPhil in children's literature and her work has been longlisted for CANSCAIP's Writing for Children Competition. As a settler in Tkaronto, Rachel works in arts and education spaces and brings a passion for facilitating creativity and environmental stewardship. Rachel is an avid zinester, and her work was nominated for the Broken Pencil Zine Awards in 2018 and 2020. She is also an emerging textile artist. In her spare time, Rachel climbs on rocks, listens to the ocean and argues with her dog.