Goldfish

Filled with slapstick antics, this lighthearted story of 15-year-old Louise Brown, a down-on-her-luck swimmer, deserves to make a splash with readers. Gangly and unpopular, Louise lives in Essex, England, with her divorced parents and older sister. After she loses her chance at Olympic stardom, she has to start a new school year without her best friend Hannah (who did qualify for Olympic training) and deal with her former coach, who treats her like a pariah. When three A-list guys from school recruit Louise to coach them in synchronized swimming in an attempt to get on Britain’s Hidden Talent, things go laughably wrong. Louise’s snarky sense of humor makes for highly entertaining reading (“I don’t know what they’re trying to do, I don’t know if it’s even got a name or if it’s just Drowning to Music”). Though the plot is straightforward, Luurtsema, in her first book for teens, provides plenty of humiliating moments and awkward gaffes to keep readers laughing. A touch of romance and a tested friendship round out a broadly enjoyable read. Ages 12–up. Agent: Hellie Ogden, Janklow & Nesbit. (June)