Waiting to Dive

by Karen Rivers

Carly is nine-going-on-ten and she loves to dive - dive from the rocks at her family's cabin in the Gulf Islands, dive from the boards at the pool where she and her friends belong to the Dolphins Diving Club. She loves the feeling of floating up into the air and then dropping cleanly into the water with hardly a splash. She loves the feeling that she gets when everything goes just right. Then Carly invites her best friend Montana to spend the weekend at the cabin. They play on the beach, build forts and explore the island, waiting for the tide to get high enough so that they can dive off the rocks. And then when it does, Montana dives too deeply and hits her head on a submerged log. And Carly's world suddenly changes. Waiting to Dive is a sensitive, amusing, realistic account of a child's attempt to deal with tragedy. Carly is given to much exaggeration, dislikes her step-brother and -sister, has not yet come to terms with her father's death, and wears her emotions on her sleeve - in short, she is a very real young girl. The story she tells will resonate with young readers.

Genres: Childrens

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2001

About the author

Karen Rivers is too thrown by the "Date of Death" drop down that has appeared below her name in the editing section of this page to actually write anything about her life. When she recovers, this box will be filled with imperative biographical information and may include SECRETS and probably also a few LIES. Now she is going to sit back and anxiously track that "Date of Death" box in case a date suddenly appears, foretelling her imminent doom.

Reviews

[Horselover Horsegirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book. It's a cute story and the sibling drama is so easy for me to relate to - this was totally my family 20 years ago! But the story needs more going on. The main character is a little selfish and spoiled, and when her friend is hurt, she's still all bitter over her stepdad and kid sister. I think the writer was aiming to bring in family issues, but it didn't really work for me.

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good books for kids, probably boring for adults but I like the main character and think she's relatable.

[Alexa Rickaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen rivers has do it again.It was so hoof and nice to read.I couldn't put the book down.I took me 2 days to read it.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think that this book is good... i havent read the whole thing yet! but i really want to. but what i have read so far has been good!

[Keara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a really good book, it has a good moral for kids.I would recommend this book for kids ages 8 to 11.

[Kaamla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good! I would say that this is for 7 to 10 years old. But I'm not those ages and it was still interesting