Up for Air
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- Create Date：2021-04-25 09:51:49
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Laurie Morrison
- ISBN：1419751425
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Summary
Dive into the paperback of this middle-grade novel about competitive swimming， changing friendships， and finding your place
Thirteen-year-old Annabelle struggles in school， no matter how hard she tries。 But as soon as she dives into the pool， she’s unstoppable。 She’s the fastest girl on the middle school swim team， and when she’s asked to join the high school team over the summer， everything changes。 Suddenly， she’s got new friends， and a high school boy starts treating her like she’s somebody special—and Annabelle thinks she’ll finally stand out in a good way。 She’ll do anything to fit in and help the team make it to the Labor Day Invitational， even if it means blowing off her old friends。 But after a prank goes wrong， Annabelle is abandoned by the older boy and can’t swim。 Who is she without the one thing she’s good at？ Heartwarming and relatable， Up for Air is a story about where we find our self-worth。
Thirteen-year-old Annabelle struggles in school， no matter how hard she tries。 But as soon as she dives into the pool， she’s unstoppable。 She’s the fastest girl on the middle school swim team， and when she’s asked to join the high school team over the summer， everything changes。 Suddenly， she’s got new friends， and a high school boy starts treating her like she’s somebody special—and Annabelle thinks she’ll finally stand out in a good way。 She’ll do anything to fit in and help the team make it to the Labor Day Invitational， even if it means blowing off her old friends。 But after a prank goes wrong， Annabelle is abandoned by the older boy and can’t swim。 Who is she without the one thing she’s good at？ Heartwarming and relatable， Up for Air is a story about where we find our self-worth。
Reviews
Ms。 Stephens
，
A 6th-grader who loves swimming got this book （on my rec， not knowing anything about it besides its starred Kirkus review）。 He couldn't get into it， so donated it to my classroom。 I decided to read it before putting it into circulation。 I also couldn't get into it。 Just not a compelling or interesting narrator， and I wasn't interested in her flirtations， either。 A 6th-grader who loves swimming got this book （on my rec， not knowing anything about it besides its starred Kirkus review）。 He couldn't get into it， so donated it to my classroom。 I decided to read it before putting it into circulation。 I also couldn't get into it。 Just not a compelling or interesting narrator， and I wasn't interested in her flirtations， either。 。。。more
Historic Hummingbird
，
I'm sorry but this is book isn't that good。 Like she thinks she can do anything just because she's in the High School Swim Team？ Or that just because a boy flirts with her doesn't mean that he's her boyfriend！ I just- Just this book was kinda annoying to me！ But that doesn't mean you shouldn't read it。 It's still a really writer！ I'm sorry but this is book isn't that good。 Like she thinks she can do anything just because she's in the High School Swim Team？ Or that just because a boy flirts with her doesn't mean that he's her boyfriend！ I just- Just this book was kinda annoying to me！ But that doesn't mean you shouldn't read it。 It's still a really writer！ 。。。more
Scarlet Rose
，
Um sorry but this was not something I liked reading that much。 Jeremy was my favorite character out of this， besides Eliza and Kayla。 Did not trust Connor at all， did not really like the MC。 Like。 At all。 Sorry （:
Nora T E
，
12 hours。 In the span of 12 hours， I finished this book。 Struggles。 Challenging。 Complicated。 All things teachers and administrators have said to Lucy because of her learning disabilities。 Struggles。 Challenging。 Complicated。 All things that frustrate Lucy because she can't help those things。 But none of that matters when she's under the water。 Feeling the cool， clear ripples slide across her smooth， slick skin。 The rest of the loud world being drowned out and it's just Lucy。 But when she's invi 12 hours。 In the span of 12 hours， I finished this book。 Struggles。 Challenging。 Complicated。 All things teachers and administrators have said to Lucy because of her learning disabilities。 Struggles。 Challenging。 Complicated。 All things that frustrate Lucy because she can't help those things。 But none of that matters when she's under the water。 Feeling the cool， clear ripples slide across her smooth， slick skin。 The rest of the loud world being drowned out and it's just Lucy。 But when she's invited to join the high school swimming team， she just feels the water。 She tries to hear everything outside the pool。 So how can she get back to the way things were？ Maybe she has to take a second and go back up for air。 。。。more
Dora
，
No one is perfect。 No one can be perfect。 No one will be perfect。 Annabelle， the protagonist is gifted in swimming。 But， outside of the pool， she is also a student who struggles even when she puts in all her effort in learning。 Because of her poor performance in school， Annabelle felt frustrated; she lost hope in herself and questioned where she belonged。 Yet， after receiving help from others and exploring more about her life， she was able to find out who she was in the water and accept who she No one is perfect。 No one can be perfect。 No one will be perfect。 Annabelle， the protagonist is gifted in swimming。 But， outside of the pool， she is also a student who struggles even when she puts in all her effort in learning。 Because of her poor performance in school， Annabelle felt frustrated; she lost hope in herself and questioned where she belonged。 Yet， after receiving help from others and exploring more about her life， she was able to find out who she was in the water and accept who she was out of water。 I feel like this is important for all of us to know。 Maybe at some point， we will question our existent and feel useless。 This is normal。 Yet we have to understand that everyone has strengths and weaknesses。 It is best to overcome your weakness but if it is not achievable， accept it。 What is your weakness？ What are you going to do with it？ Overcome or accept？ 。。。more
Chalida
，
I have been looking for middle grade books that cover alcoholic parents and this one does with Annabelle's father。 Some scenes of her father drunk and forgetful when she was younger are presented here。 Most of this book focuses on Annabelle growing up。 She's developing more quickly than her friends， she's interested in an older boy， she's making bad decisions。 I saw a lot of myself in Annabelle and I kept wanting to tell her， "Don't do that！" but I could easily see my middle school self engaging I have been looking for middle grade books that cover alcoholic parents and this one does with Annabelle's father。 Some scenes of her father drunk and forgetful when she was younger are presented here。 Most of this book focuses on Annabelle growing up。 She's developing more quickly than her friends， she's interested in an older boy， she's making bad decisions。 I saw a lot of myself in Annabelle and I kept wanting to tell her， "Don't do that！" but I could easily see my middle school self engaging the same way--- acting on my insecurities， reading too much into things and acting somewhat pathetically to be liked or chosen。 My more mature self can recognize bad behavior but I struggled reading it。 It would be good to read with students to talk through some of Annabelle's scenarios。 。。。more
Nerdy Nedy Book Dragon
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I was hesitant to read this book because the main character's name is Annabelle （I watched the movie， the doll freaks me out） but I did， and I really liked it。 This book showed the importance of not pushing yourself too hard in sports， but also that you do not have to try to be like everyone else， and do what they do， but be yourself。 The main character learns that even though she likes it with the older high school kids， she wants to be with friends she can better count on。 This book also goes I was hesitant to read this book because the main character's name is Annabelle （I watched the movie， the doll freaks me out） but I did， and I really liked it。 This book showed the importance of not pushing yourself too hard in sports， but also that you do not have to try to be like everyone else， and do what they do， but be yourself。 The main character learns that even though she likes it with the older high school kids， she wants to be with friends she can better count on。 This book also goes into a divorced family and I think I speak for anyone who has read this book when I say， I DID NOT EXPECT THE PART WHERE SHE GOES TO SEE HER DAD， WHO ALMOST TOOK HER HOME FROM HER SWIM PRACTICE DRUNK！ Why would she go to see him she has a perfectly good dad at home。This book was very good ！ Read it！ 。。。more
Ana
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I enjoyed this book so much， it only took me a day。 At first， i was a little bored， but in the middle， it got really good。 I loved following Annabelle through her adventures in the high school swimming team， getting her heart broken by Connor， and traveling to Boston to see her dad。 Overall， this was a very good middle grade book。
Juanita
，
The author did a great job of capturing the voice and thought process of a middle school girl。 Annabelle is not a little kid and not quite as mature as an older teenager and trying to figure it all out。 I've read/listened to so many books where the characters seem much older or younger than the age they're supposed to be but this rang true as thirteen year old girl。 This is very age level appropriate content for a middle school aged reader but complex enough to be appreciated by an older audienc The author did a great job of capturing the voice and thought process of a middle school girl。 Annabelle is not a little kid and not quite as mature as an older teenager and trying to figure it all out。 I've read/listened to so many books where the characters seem much older or younger than the age they're supposed to be but this rang true as thirteen year old girl。 This is very age level appropriate content for a middle school aged reader but complex enough to be appreciated by an older audience。 Watching Annabelle struggle with all her angst and confusion that goes along with being that age reminded me why I'm so glad I'm not 13 anymore。 Without giving away too much she at one point falls for a high school boy and I'm just thinking bless her heart this cannot end well but can see where id be optimistic about it if I was her age。 。。。more
Thunder chan
，
Wow wow wow！Reading this book， I could really relate to Annabelle。 It almost felt like I was in Annabelle's shoes！ At the first relay part， I could physically feel the adrenaline of waiting for Annabelle's turn to jump in and kill it！ Well。。。I'm weird， as some people may already know， so sometimes I smell books。 Sometimes they smell old and vintage， or like freshly cut wood， or sometimes chemically ink。 I decided to smell this book。 Maybe I was just imagining things， but I could SMELL THE POOL W Wow wow wow！Reading this book， I could really relate to Annabelle。 It almost felt like I was in Annabelle's shoes！ At the first relay part， I could physically feel the adrenaline of waiting for Annabelle's turn to jump in and kill it！ Well。。。I'm weird， as some people may already know， so sometimes I smell books。 Sometimes they smell old and vintage， or like freshly cut wood， or sometimes chemically ink。 I decided to smell this book。 Maybe I was just imagining things， but I could SMELL THE POOL WITH THE CHLORINE！！！！！！ Now that's good storytelling。Another way that I felt like I was in Annabelle's shoes was mainly the first encounter with Connor where he asked for her number。 I felt the smallest hint of butterflies in my stomach！ Yes， I would recommend this book to my friends！ 。。。more
Susan Somersall
，
This book wasn't for me。 I found it hard to relate to Annabelle。 The book is primarily for middle school aged and I did like the ending where Annabelle took charge of what took place during her summer。 Getting to that ending， for me was painful。 The book is not difficult to read and would be great for middle school aged and students that struggle with academics。 This book wasn't for me。 I found it hard to relate to Annabelle。 The book is primarily for middle school aged and I did like the ending where Annabelle took charge of what took place during her summer。 Getting to that ending， for me was painful。 The book is not difficult to read and would be great for middle school aged and students that struggle with academics。 。。。more
Addie
，
Really great :）
Melissa
，
Great read for middle school; making mistakes， misunderstandings， extra chances and making things right！
Tara
，
There is a such a need for books in that sweet spot between MG and YA and Up for Air did not disappoint in filling that need for me。 Poor Anabelle just wants to be good at something and when she finds that something on the swim team， she takes it and runs （well， freestyles） with it。 She thinks she fits in well with the older crowd because of her swim talents and her body developed early， but her learning disability doesn't wash away in the water and she is unsure how to react when a boy likes he There is a such a need for books in that sweet spot between MG and YA and Up for Air did not disappoint in filling that need for me。 Poor Anabelle just wants to be good at something and when she finds that something on the swim team， she takes it and runs （well， freestyles） with it。 She thinks she fits in well with the older crowd because of her swim talents and her body developed early， but her learning disability doesn't wash away in the water and she is unsure how to react when a boy likes her （or how to tell if he's genuine and a good guy）。 Annabelle's story transitions the middle grade reader into young adult very well and is an enjoyable and satisfying read。 。。。more
Lynn
，
Annabelle is just about to end her seventh grade year， and even though she gets more time on essays than others and that she works hard to prepare， she isn't surprised when most of her grades are Cs。 Her mother says she's proud of her， but Annabelle really feels like everyone just feels sorry for her。 Being in water is the only time she really feels comfortable and alive， so when she is asked to move up to the high school swim team for the summer， she looks forward to more time in the water， esp Annabelle is just about to end her seventh grade year， and even though she gets more time on essays than others and that she works hard to prepare， she isn't surprised when most of her grades are Cs。 Her mother says she's proud of her， but Annabelle really feels like everyone just feels sorry for her。 Being in water is the only time she really feels comfortable and alive， so when she is asked to move up to the high school swim team for the summer， she looks forward to more time in the water， especially since she gets to practice with the older kids， including Conner， who seems to be paying more attention to her than ever before。 Will moving to the high school team， mean losing her friends from the middle school team？ Will the reappearance of her real father in her life make her feel more like she has somewhere to belong？ These are just some of the challenges Annabelle faces in this story。The real strength of Up for Air is the way all of the emotions of the characters are spot on。 Annabelle's struggles with loneliness， isolation， insecurity， and misunderstanding are all presented in a realistic way， showing what most girls feel during adolescence。 Overall an excellent middle grade book。 。。。more
Michele
，
LOVED this book！ I highly recommend！ Laurie Morrison's story captured me from the beginning， I flew through this book。 This story had an amazing voice。 Great for 5th through 7th grader。 LOVED this book！ I highly recommend！ Laurie Morrison's story captured me from the beginning， I flew through this book。 This story had an amazing voice。 Great for 5th through 7th grader。 。。。more
Melissa Mcavoy
，
This is one of those books that sat forlornly on my shelf for a year but eventually won me over。 It is always great to have books that involve kids who love sport and this one included the complexity of a young teen with a learning difference。 It was great to see how her skill swimming both helped her self- identity and was an achilles heel。 A seventh grader， rising 8， She gets bumped up to the high school team where the flirty attentions of a high school boy turn her head with some problematic This is one of those books that sat forlornly on my shelf for a year but eventually won me over。 It is always great to have books that involve kids who love sport and this one included the complexity of a young teen with a learning difference。 It was great to see how her skill swimming both helped her self- identity and was an achilles heel。 A seventh grader， rising 8， She gets bumped up to the high school team where the flirty attentions of a high school boy turn her head with some problematic consequences。 All the predictable bad choices seemed absolutely true， believable and understandable。 My daughter was reading Proust next to me on the beach as I read Up for Air， and while I had a rueful moment contemplating the discrepancy of heft my book also did a great job bringing me back to a very uncomfortable time-period。 I could feel in my flesh the self-pity， confusion， self-aggrandizement and self-disparagement， neediness and anticipation of early adolescence。 A great choice for seventh graders as they peer into the future。 。。。more
Mandy
，
Contemporary realistic fiction that straddles the line between middle grade and young adult。 Annabelle is a competitive swimmer that lives in an island community near Boston。 She has an unspecified learning disability that results in mediocre grades at school despite extra tutoring。 So when she gets asked to swim up with the high school team over the summer， it's a boost to her confidence。 Annabelle can handle herself in the pool， but has more trouble handling the social interactions outside the Contemporary realistic fiction that straddles the line between middle grade and young adult。 Annabelle is a competitive swimmer that lives in an island community near Boston。 She has an unspecified learning disability that results in mediocre grades at school despite extra tutoring。 So when she gets asked to swim up with the high school team over the summer， it's a boost to her confidence。 Annabelle can handle herself in the pool， but has more trouble handling the social interactions outside the pool。 When a moment of peer pressure results in an injury that prevents her from swimming Annabelle has to reevaluate her priorities， her friendships， and her summer plans。This book does a great job of illustrating the dangers of hanging with an older crowd without delving in too deep。 Annabelle witnesses others vaping and drinking， she deals with a serial flirt that she mistakes as being genuinely interested， and a teammate is recovering from an eating disorder。 But she never gets unwanted physical attention or does any drugs herself， keeping this book appropriate for the middle school audience。 。。。more
Mrs。 Tongate
，
A must-read for all middle school female athletes， especially swimmers！ Quote:p。278 When she finally came up for air， she could hear the waves' steady rolling and Mitch's arms and legs splashing behind her， and then she was back underwater， blocking out everything but herself and propelling her body forward， out toward the infinite horizon。 A must-read for all middle school female athletes， especially swimmers！ Quote:p。278 When she finally came up for air， she could hear the waves' steady rolling and Mitch's arms and legs splashing behind her， and then she was back underwater， blocking out everything but herself and propelling her body forward， out toward the infinite horizon。 。。。more
Ms。 B
，
The cover says it well， "Annabelle can't admit she's in her overhead。" What happens when an almost 8th grader hangs out with high schoolers for the summer？Middle schoolers looking for something edgy will love this。 （view spoiler）[The reader will realize what's really happening long before Annabelle。 （hide spoiler）] The cover says it well， "Annabelle can't admit she's in her overhead。" What happens when an almost 8th grader hangs out with high schoolers for the summer？Middle schoolers looking for something edgy will love this。 （view spoiler）[The reader will realize what's really happening long before Annabelle。 （hide spoiler）] 。。。more
Kendall
，
This book was quite enjoyable！ It's super realistic and the main character seems like a real life person！ She learns what a real friend is and she learns a lot from the mistakes she makes！ I really liked this book！ This book was quite enjoyable！ It's super realistic and the main character seems like a real life person！ She learns what a real friend is and she learns a lot from the mistakes she makes！ I really liked this book！ 。。。more
Holly
，
My son had to read this for 6th grade English Language Arts class as a social issue topic。 He could not relate to the story at all so I read this along with him to explain what social issues Annabelle was having and why they were important to understand。 The story centers around Annabelle who thinks she messes everything up and thinks that everyone is disappointed in her。 Annabelle has low self esteem and is socially awkward with her classmates and her small group of friends。 She is so good at s My son had to read this for 6th grade English Language Arts class as a social issue topic。 He could not relate to the story at all so I read this along with him to explain what social issues Annabelle was having and why they were important to understand。 The story centers around Annabelle who thinks she messes everything up and thinks that everyone is disappointed in her。 Annabelle has low self esteem and is socially awkward with her classmates and her small group of friends。 She is so good at swimming that she gets invited to swim in the high school league。 This causes Annabelle to catch the attention of her crush， a high school boy named Connor， whose attention she misinterprets。 Annabelle struggles with being treated like a kid when she feels grown-up。 She is conflicted with not knowing who her real friends are and she is trying to decide whether to reconnect with her father that she hasn't seen since the fourth grade。 There is a lot going on in this short book。 It reminded me of the horrors of middle school friendships and the angst of wanting to be grown-up。 It is a good story for middle schoolers who can relate to the topics。 。。。more
Lance Kuhn
，
The grass is always greener。。。Annabelle is not satisfied with who she is。 Who is？ But she is willing to do something about it！ OK， not always the right thing， and for a period of time， almost never the right thing。 But in her quest to be the new her， she does discover who she really is， and who she needs to be。 So the experimentation， though rough， was worth the end result: to be content with who she is， but net yet satisfied with the finished product。 This story is a good notice to tweens and t The grass is always greener。。。Annabelle is not satisfied with who she is。 Who is？ But she is willing to do something about it！ OK， not always the right thing， and for a period of time， almost never the right thing。 But in her quest to be the new her， she does discover who she really is， and who she needs to be。 So the experimentation， though rough， was worth the end result: to be content with who she is， but net yet satisfied with the finished product。 This story is a good notice to tweens and teens about how easily things can go awry， and a good reminder to adults to never assume we are a finished product。 。。。more
Ari （Books。 Libraries。 Also， cats。）
，
Read my original review on my blog！Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book— all opinions are my own。 Annabelle has been struggling through middle school and things have felt off with her best friend Mia lately， but when she’s invited to swim with the high school team over the summer， she finally feels like she has a place。 She’s winning races， making cool new friends， and getting attention from a cute high school boy。 But she finds herself having to make difficult Read my original review on my blog！Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book— all opinions are my own。 Annabelle has been struggling through middle school and things have felt off with her best friend Mia lately， but when she’s invited to swim with the high school team over the summer， she finally feels like she has a place。 She’s winning races， making cool new friends， and getting attention from a cute high school boy。 But she finds herself having to make difficult choices about her friends， her family， and what she’s willing to do to fit in。Up for Air is a charming， realistic coming of age book perfect for readers transitioning from middle grade fiction to YA。 Annabelle is on the cusp of eighth grade and is self-conscious about her body changing， experiencing her first crush， growing apart from her best friend， and worrying about not being good enough。 Annabelle struggles in school and this novel is full of reminders that everyone learns differently， and that it’s okay to seek resources， support， and accommodations。Laurie Morrison beautifully handles a number of complex themes around family， friendship， and self。 Annabelle has a positive， loving relationship with her stepfather; Her dad is a recovering alcoholic and Annabelle is trying to decide if she’s ready to have him in her life again。 Annabelle’s father’s addiction is presented in a destigmatizing way and he’s not portrayed as a “bad” parent。 The characters in this novel all feel so real， and I was so sad to say goodbye to Annabelle at the end of the book。 Young readers will relate to Annabelle’s fears of not being enough， and her desire to fit in while also being herself。 Up for Air deserves a spot in every MG collection！ 。。。more
El ESTANTE PIBO
，
Even if here friends left her and she struggles at school no matter how hard she tries， in the water she is unstoppable she is the fastest swimmer of her class， I mean ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL！！！And then everything changes when she enters the high school team ower summer。A high school boy treats her like if she was special and she got new friends。 She will do anything to compete but when a prank goes wrong she is abandones by an older boy and cant swim。 4 stars I liked it a lot ！！！
Nancy
，
I always read books before I put them in my classroom library。 My students are relatively conservative， so I am always careful to choose book that they would be comfortable with their children reading。 This book fits the bill perfectly。 It was interesting， fun， and a quick read。 The characters were well-developed and easy to like （or to not like）。 The story was realistic and I empathized with Anabelle and the plights she found herself in。 This is the perfect book for a 13-year old。
Katie Rowe
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Such a complex and challenging time adolescence is。 Annabelle is struggling everywhere--big time。 Everywhere except the pool， that is。
Alyssa （Books Take You Places）
，
Good lessons， very relatable for middle school readers。
Sandy Brehl
，
This contemporary story and these characters provide an empathetic and engaging exploration of early adolescent identity and transitions。 It's an inviting read for both genders， with a hint of romance， a huge dose of competition and sports， and strong insights into early-teen relationships。Resolution is realistic and will prompt discussions。 This contemporary story and these characters provide an empathetic and engaging exploration of early adolescent identity and transitions。 It's an inviting read for both genders， with a hint of romance， a huge dose of competition and sports， and strong insights into early-teen relationships。Resolution is realistic and will prompt discussions。 。。。more
Jessica
，
7th grade girl who is having a hard time with school but excels at swimming is asked to swim up with the high school team。 She mistakes the attention shown by a high school boy she has a crush on as liking her in return and ditches her real friends in the process， getting even further behind in her studies and putting herself in hot water with her parents。 I want Mady to read this book to see what she thinks of it but it was just not as substantive as I wanted it to be。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Up for Air
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Up for Air&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Up for Air&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0