The Big Swim - Softcover

Fagan, Cary

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0888999704 ISBN 13: 9780888999702

Publisher: Groundwood Books, 2011

Synopsis

When his parents send him to summer camp for the first time, Ethan has just three goals. First, to survive. Second, not to be hated. Third, not to be the worst at anything. Instead, Ethan's real challenge comes in the form of a new cabin mate. Zachary arrives at camp late, surrounded by a cloud of rumors. He refuses to be given a nickname, loves the music of an ancient rock 'n' roll singer called Buddy Holly, and doesn’t even seem upset when he is forced to miss the Big Swim, the legendary camp event where a select few try to swim across the lake and back. And unlike Ethan, Zach doesn’t seem to care what anybody thinks of him, even Amber Levine — the girl with an easy smile and a freckle on one knee.

About this title

About the Author:

Cary Fagan is an award-winning author of books for children and adults. He has won the City of Toronto Book Award, the Jewish Book Committee Prize for Fiction and a Mr. Christie Silver Medal, and he has been shortlisted for the Norma Fleck Award and the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. He is also the author of Mr. Karp's Last Glass, The Book of Big Brothers and Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas, a sequel to Mordecai Richler's classic. He lives in Toronto, ON.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 4-6 Ethan works hard to integrate himself into summer-camp routine. Much to his surprise, he makes friends easily and succeeds at not being the worst at any activity. Everything changes, though, when Zachary arrives, shrouded in a bad attitude and a mysterious past. He isn't interested in getting along, or even in participating in group activities. He tells Ethan that it's okay to want things for yourself, a philosophy that frees Ethan from some of his inhibitions. The setting is rich and the characters are interesting and fresh. Unfortunately, the plot never answers some of its biggest questions, such as the truth about Zach's past. The symbolism of the Big Swim event, in which campers try to swim to an island and back, but that Zach tries to do alone, is well played out, but other plot elements will leave readers with many questions. Wendy E. Dunn, Fort Worth Public Library, TX
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About this edition

• Publisher: Groundwood Books
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0888999704
• ISBN 13: 9780888999702
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128