Swimming with the Sharks

by Debbie Reed Fischer

Five-foot eleven. Freckled. Flat as a surfboard. Peyton Grady sees her role on the varsity cheer squad as the only thing keeping her off the social sidelines at wealthy Beachwood Preparatory Academy. It's her umbilical cord to cool-and it's constantly in danger of getting cut. As a base, it's Peyton's duty to be stepped on-literally-by cheer queen Lexie Court. So when Lexie hatches a fierce hazing campaign against the frumpy new girl, Peyton has no choice but to support her flier. Soon the pranks become sadistically cruel, even criminal. Suddenly, Peyton has more to lose than her new-found Alpha celebrity. Will she gamble her entire future for "the good of the squad?
"Debbie Reed Fischer's sizzling take on girl hazing and cheer pressure mixes the perfect ration of humor to anger for a compelling, un-put-downable read." Alex Flinn, author of Breathing Underwater.

Genres: Young Adult

264 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

Debbie Reed Fischer is the award-winning author of novels for teens and tweens. Her latest middle grade novel This is not the Abby Show (Random House/ Delacorte) won the Royal Palm Literary Award, and was twice honored as a PJ Library selection in 2017 and 2020. Abby Show has been compared to Jack Gantos’s Joey Pigza series (Publisher’s Weekly), as well as Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Renee Russell’s The Dork Diaries series (Booklist). Kveller.com selected Abby Show for its Beyond Judy Blume: Must-Reads for Jewish Girls list. Debbie has been teaching writing workshops as well as speaking on author panels, at schools and literary conferences for many years. In addition to writing novels, Debbie has contributed to anthologies, non-fiction books, magazines, newspapers, and TV scripts. A graduate of the University of Miami, Debbie has a degree in Screenwriting and worked for many years as an agent for film and TV, then as a middle and high school English teacher before achieving her dream of becoming an author. Her short story This is What I'll Tell You, will be in the forthcoming anthology Coming of Age, published by Whitman, set for release in March 2022, with a portion of the proceeds donated to organizations fighting antisemitism. www.debbiereedfischer.com

Reviews

[reiley · Rating 1 out of 5]

picked this book up as a joke and that’s all it turned out to be

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Cana Rensberger for TeensReadToo.com

Peyton Grady has finally made it to the varsity cheerleading squad and Alpha status at Beachwood Preparatory Academy, and only her BFF, Maya, knows her carefully guarded secret - that she's a scholarship student. So why would Peyton risk being seen talking to the school misfits?

Ellika Garrett is the new jumbo-sized cheerleader whose mother bought her a spot on the squad with a hefty donation to the school. Peyton wonders just how far she'll have to go to make Ellika understand that she does not want to be her friend. Who wants a weepy-eyed walrus looking over your shoulder when you're trying to get the attention of Von Cohen, the hottest guy in school? Every time Peyton gets up the nerve to ask him to the Sadie Hawkin's dance, Ellika appears and chases Von away.

Luckily, Von doesn't give up easily. Everyone can see he's totally into Peyton and it's not long before she finally has her first real boyfriend, a definite plus on the Alpha girl scale. But how will she explain to him about Compular? Yes, even wealthy prep schools have those super-smart nerdy guys who brag about outrageous things nobody believes. Peyton can't avoid Compular. If he doesn't tutor her in Trig, she could lose her scholarship.

As Peyton teeter-totters on the brink of social elitism, Lexie, the captain of the squad, tips the balance. Peyton, along with the other varsity cheerleaders, are expected to contribute ideas to a hazing list that becomes crueler with each idea. The point is to make Ellika so miserable that she'll quit the team. In her quest to be one of the Alpha girls, Peyton has already sacrificed her friendship with Maya. What else will she destroy, who else will she step on, to get on top? Can she really do this to Ellika? To herself?

SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS by Debbie Reed Fischer is an incredible book. It's a page-turner that is as difficult to put down as it is to read. Are there teens out there that are really this cruel? What would you, the reader, be willing to sacrifice to have it all?

I can tell you as a teacher of teens for twenty years that, without question, there are teens who have an adult persona and a totally different peer persona. This book will force you to take a look at yourself and those around you. I believe this book will inspire its readers to stand up for what they believe is right. For that reason, and because the characters have stayed with me so vividly, I'm giving SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS the coveted Gold Star Award for Excellence.

My thirteen-year-old theatre vagabond-band geek-cheerleader daughter grabbed this book before I could read it and read it in a day. She raved about it. Then my almost fifteen-year-old band geek-football playing-student council representative son saw "sharks" in the title and picked it up, also finishing it in a day. They both loved it. I can't think of too many books on this topic that resonate with boys as well as girls.

I had the pleasure of reviewing Debbie Reed Fischer's debut novel, BRALESS IN WONDERLAND, and was thrilled to found out I would also get the opportunity to review SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS. I was not disappointed. Well done, Ms. Fischer. You have earned yourself a gold star! Thank you for a terrific read!

[Cana Rensberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peyton Grady has finally made it to the varsity cheerleading squad and Alpha status at Beachwood preparatory Academy and only her BFF Maya knows her carefully guarded secret, that she’s a scholarship student. So why would Peyton risk being seen talking to the school misfits?

Ellika Garrett is the new jumbo-sized cheerleader whose mother bought her a spot on the squad with a hefty donation to the school. Peyton wonders just how far she’ll have to go to make Ellika understand that she does not want to be her friend. Who wants a weepy-eyed walrus looking over your shoulder when you’re trying to get the attention of Von Cohen, the hottest guy in school? Every time Peyton gets the nerve up to ask him to the Sadie Hawkin’s dance, Ellika appears and chases Von away.

Luckily, Von doesn’t give up easily. Everyone can see he’s totally into Peyton and it’s not long before she finally has her first real boyfriend, a definite plus on the Alpha girl scale. But how will she explain to him about Compular? Yes, even wealthy prep schools have those super smart nerdy guys who brag about outrageous things nobody believes. Peyton can’t avoid Compular. If he doesn’t tutor her in Trig, she could lose her scholarship.

As Peyton teeter-totters on the brink of social elitism, Lexie, the captain of the squad, tips the balance. Peyton, along with the other varsity cheerleaders, are expected to contribute ideas to a hazing list that becomes crueler with each idea. The point is to make Ellika so miserable that she’ll quit the team. In her quest to be one of the Alpha girls, Peyton has already sacrificed her friendship with Maya. What else will she destroy, who else will she step on, to get on top? Can she really do this to Ellika? To herself?

SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS by Debbie Reed Fischer is an incredible book. It’s a page turner that is as difficult to put down as it is to read. Are there teens out there that are really this cruel? What would you, the reader, be willing to sacrifice to have it all?

I can tell you as a teacher of teens for 20 years that, without question, there are teens who have an adult persona and a totally different peer persona. This book will force you to take a look at yourself and those around you. I believe this book will inspire its readers to stand up for what they believe is right. For that reason, and because the characters have stayed with me so vividly, I’m giving SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS the coveted Gold Star.

My thirteen-year-old theatre vagabond-band geek-cheerleader daughter grabbed this book before I could read it and read it in a day. She raved about it. Then my almost fifteen-year-old band geek-football playing-student council representative son saw “sharks” in the title and picked it up, also finishing it in a day. They both loved it. I can’t think of too many books on this topic that resonate with boys as well as girls.

I had the pleasure of reviewing Debbie Reed Fischer’s debut novel, BRALESS IN WONDERLAND, and was thrilled to found out I would also get the opportunity to review SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS. I was not disappointed. Well done, Ms. Fischer. You have earned yourself a gold star! Thank you for a terrific read!

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

The list is titled Top Ten Guys Who Are Still Virgins. Dorkowitz tops it off at number one, of course.

I didn't care for this one. I'll be honest. It's a book about mean girls--mean cheerleaders to be exact--who go to great lengths to torture the newest cheerleader, Ellika, and 'persuade' her into quitting. Why is she on the team to begin with? Her family is rich, they made a very large contribution to the school--to the gym I believe--and this was one of the stipulations: a place for their chunky/plus-size daughter on the varsity cheering squad. Our narrator, Peyton Grady, goes along with Operation Smellika--in fact she commits several of these cruelties personally--including smashing Ellika's glasses to pieces. It isn't until bones get broken and heads get concussed that Peyton sees the bigger picture and decides to break the pact. And even then it's a tough decision for her.

I suppose we're supposed to 'like' Peyton. This bystander who silently questions but still acts and goes along with the others on the team. Peyton has a conscience, but she's choosing to not listen to what her instincts are telling her. Peyton is clueless about many things. Things that the reader won't be. It's easy to predict each twist and turn in this one. Only Peyton and Ellika seem not to see the truth that's right in front of their faces.

Ellika. I have a hard time in believing in Ellika as a character. Yes, I feel sorry for her--in a way--but I have a hard time believing she could be so stupid or naive. Ellika is used to being teased, used to being called names, so why she goes and seeks out the popular crowd is beyond me. She's a new student, and she wants to 'buy' her way into the 'in' crowd? She thinks it will work? That she'll suddenly become popular? become accepted? That she'll be like that girl in the movies--the ugly duckling who transforms herself into the most popular, beautiful girl in the school. The fact that she perseveres no matter how much abuse--physical, mental, emotional--is piled onto her by her teammates...that she doesn't quit the team, that she doesn't tell her parents, that she doesn't want to change schools, etc. That she honestly believes that she can outlast and outwit the cheerleaders. That if she endures the pain, the torment, the abuse, that by the end of the school year she'll have made it, made new friends, found a place to belong. Why would she want to "belong" in the first place? Why would she want these bullies to be her friends? Why does she seek out their acceptance knowing how cruel and mean and stupid they all are? I have a hard time believing that anyone could ever welcome that much abuse into their lives.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, I've got to say, just makes me sick. Reading over 200 pages worth of stupidity, hazing, and insecurity made me want to put the book down constantly. The ending, I've got to say, pretty much saved the book.

Pros: The writing style is pretty good. If she were to write something that didn't make my blood boil (a.k.a. hazing, picking on the non-in-crowd, etc.), I probably would have enjoyed this book a lot more. I also liked how the main character FINALLY gathers up the courage to turn the squad in, and somewhat fix the mistakes she has made.

Cons: Oh, Jesus. This book just makes me angry. I know that hazing and such goes on in the world of high-school (and in college, too), but to the extent that it went on was way too much. I had a hard time believing that A- no teachers or administrators noticed what was going on, or B- that Ellika OR Peyton would let the hazing and abuse go on for so long without breaking down and/or telling somebody. It's kind of pathetic. Being that it's a private school, you would think that the behavior and discipline would be much better than, say, a regular high school. If anything were to be pulled like that where I live, they would be sent straight to jail, they wouldn't be able to walk the stage when they graduate, etc. Also, the main character doesn't seem likeable at all to me. She has no spine at all, follows Lexie like a lap-dog, and abandons her only real friend to "become popular" and "do it for the squad". I just want to reach into that book and slap her silly. Not only is Peyton pathetic, all of the characters in the story seem pretty unbelievable/pathetic themselves.

Judgement: This novel I could have happily lived without. If you like drama, predictable stories, and unrealistic characters, then this book is for you. If not, I say go pick up another book.

Again, the ending of the story and the writing style pretty much saved this book. 3/5 stars.

[Abby Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peyton's got it all made this year. She's on the varsity cheerleading squad and the Alphas are paying attention to her. So what if she has to blow off her best friend now and then? The squad comes first, right? But when frumpy new girl Ellika Garret is put on the squad because of her parents' sizable donation to the school, the Alphas are determined to make her quit... no matter what. Peyton knows it's wrong, but she's wanted her whole life to be an Alpha... she can't turn her back on them now! But will being an Alpha be all it's cracked up to be?

A fluffy read with a little bit of an edge. It's maybe not the most original story in the whole world, but it was entertaining and I wanted to see how Peyton would deal with her situation. I liked Peyton as a character and some of the villains weren't totally one-dimensional. Recommended for fans of Clique, Gossip Girl, etc.

[BookChic Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this is Fischer's second novel, and I own both this and her first one, this is the first one I read, and it's made me eager to get to her first, Braless in Wonderland, if this one is any indication of how great of a writer she is. Peyton is a wonderfully flawed and believable character, and the issues that are dealt with in this novel will most likely resonate with anyone who's seen, or been a victim of, bullying in their own school or heard about it happening at another school. The secondary characters are all three-dimensional and have much more happening beneath the surface, especially that of head bully Lexie. The book is a fairly quick read, and one that will have you turning the pages quickly to see what happens next, and will have you waiting eagerly for Fischer's next book.

[Jodi Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a perfect balance of humor and anger as it delves into the secret world of cheerleader hazing. The story’s narrator, Peyton, invites the reader to witness the bullying of another girl along with her. As the bullying escalates, she is forced to confront whether being a part of the socially elite is worth sacrificing her own identity and beliefs. The peer pressure and cruel hazing is heartbreaking, and will remind many of Judy Blume’s Blubber with its ability to stay in the mind long after the book is read.

[Mari Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the characters being somewhat thinly written and a slow plot in the first half of the book, this book still kept my interest. The subject and the writing are edgy enough to compel you to keep going. I found the main character and her wishy washy morals to be irritating but this could just be a function of me as an adult reading a YA novel. Teens may be more sympathetic to her trials and bad decisions.

[Laen Ghiloni · Rating 5 out of 5]

No sugar coating here. Honest look at how teens behave. If you're tired of those books about the almost perfect teens who only make that one small forgivable mistake and learn their lesson in a swarm of tears and apologies, you'll find this one a little more true to life.

[Jennifer Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its a really good book!

[Anne Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the book being very predictable, the narrator is entertaining and the ending is satisfying. The bullying in the book is fairly brutal.

Tags:
Bullying, high school, popularity, cliques

[Laura]

It was a good book werid but

[Erinn Scheneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like it a lot it was really good. I never wanted to put the book down.