Head Above Water

High school junior Skye Johnson faces so many challenges that it's no wonder she has trouble keeping her head above water. She must knock some time off her personal best in the 200 freestyle in order to qualify for the state swimming competition, she's being pursued by a hunky football star, and she bears the brunt of the responsibility for the care of Sunny, her 19-year-old Down syndrome brother while her single mom is at work. Unfortunately, like the protagonist, the author tackles too much here. Scenes of Skye swimming and her interactions with Sunny are the most fully developed, but a subplot about Skye's boyfriend's attempt to rape her gets superficial treatment. Further complications arise when Sunny wants to take swimming lessons and ends up qualifying for the Special Olympics, scheduled for the same day as the state championship. Only a glimpse of the strength of the adult/protagonist interactions that made Rottman's Hero so compelling is evident in Skye's interactions with her mother and her swim coach. Consequently, the conclusion is too quick and tidy a wrap-up of many complex issues. Ages 12-16. (Oct.)