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Cymbeline Igloo
Boy Underwater
Boy Underwater is a heartbreaking story about family, friends and secrets. And it’s very, very funny.
Cymbeline (yes, really!) has never been swimming – not ever, not once – so he’s a bit nervous at the prospect of his first school swimming lesson ever. But how hard could it be? He’s Googled front crawl and he’s found his dad’s old pair of trunks. He’s totally ready for this.
But he’s not ready for an accident at the pool to reveal a family mystery that turns his life completely upside down. Only Cym and his friends can solve it because, as usual, the grown-ups aren’t telling them anything.
For the answers you really need, sometimes you have to go deep...
Cymbeline (yes, really!) has never been swimming – not ever, not once – so he’s a bit nervous at the prospect of his first school swimming lesson ever. But how hard could it be? He’s Googled front crawl and he’s found his dad’s old pair of trunks. He’s totally ready for this.
But he’s not ready for an accident at the pool to reveal a family mystery that turns his life completely upside down. Only Cym and his friends can solve it because, as usual, the grown-ups aren’t telling them anything.
For the answers you really need, sometimes you have to go deep...
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2018
89 people are currently reading
1454 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
June 9, 2018
Such an ambitious narrative and plot for a book aimed at younger readers, but written so beautifully with a tragic comedy that leaves you tearing through every page hungry for answers - just like Cymbeline.
February 14, 2021
Si original. Si touchant. Si beau. J’ai adoré.
May 4, 2021
j’ai beaucoup aimé ma lecture. Cymbeline, j’aurais voulu le consoler, lui faire comprendre que les choses allaient s’arranger un jour ou l’autre. j’en ai voulu à sa mère de disparaître comme cela et en ai voulu à sa tante qui n’a pas voulu s’occuper de lui comme il le méritait et j’ai finalement compris et j’ai trouvé ça touchant, beau et triste sans bon sens. un beau livre jeunesse à découvrir qui met de l’avant la famille, les hauts et les bas de l’amitié, la solidarité et l’amour.
February 17, 2020
This book is THE reason why I love middle-grade reads so much.
It was simple, sweet, beautiful and with meaning. There is nothing else to add. Maybe just 'read it already?'.
It was simple, sweet, beautiful and with meaning. There is nothing else to add. Maybe just 'read it already?'.
May 27, 2025
I found myself enjoying this novel. At the start it felt a little patronising for young people, and it really is aimed at 7-9 year olds I think, but even so I sometimes felt the author was trying a bit too hard to connect with younger readers. I need to ask some younger readers if they feel that way. After a while I let go of this reservation and the story itself was rather lovely. I think it could be quite upsetting for some young readers though. I will put the triggers below because they are spoilers. I would therefore be careful who I recommend this to.
The ending was a bit too neat and I felt we were being given the morals of the story, when any good reader would work them out for themselves. And here I go back to 'Skellig', by David Almond, who is also writing about a boy in distress but let's the reader work it out for themselves. I wish more writers would trust their readers to do some thinking.
SPOILERS COMING
Spoilers coming.....
Cymbeline's Mum suffers from depression; she is hospitalised and Cymbeline doesn't understand what is happening. This is not so uncommon an experience and I actually think it should be written about more. However, she appears to be wanting to commit suicide towards the end, and Cymbeline goes in search of her and witnesses her walking into water. I think this could be very distressing indeed for some young readers, and I was quite disturbed by it. It all comes good but there is an upsetting scene....
The ending was a bit too neat and I felt we were being given the morals of the story, when any good reader would work them out for themselves. And here I go back to 'Skellig', by David Almond, who is also writing about a boy in distress but let's the reader work it out for themselves. I wish more writers would trust their readers to do some thinking.
SPOILERS COMING
Spoilers coming.....
Cymbeline's Mum suffers from depression; she is hospitalised and Cymbeline doesn't understand what is happening. This is not so uncommon an experience and I actually think it should be written about more. However, she appears to be wanting to commit suicide towards the end, and Cymbeline goes in search of her and witnesses her walking into water. I think this could be very distressing indeed for some young readers, and I was quite disturbed by it. It all comes good but there is an upsetting scene....
April 7, 2021
This is my new favourite children's novel for KS2.
It tugs on your heartstrings, following the story of Cymbeline who lives happily with mum until one day when is pushed into the swimming pool at school and everyone discovers that he cannot swim. After this near-death experience his Mum turns up at the pool in hysterics, yelling at the coach and teacher for failing to look after him. Things begin to change as Cym wakes up the next day to his Uncle Bill getting him sorted for school and asks after his Mum. He is constantly left in the dark as the adults around him keep secrets and my heart ached for wanting to give him the support he so clearly needed.
It will take four amazing friends, a kind receptionist and an old car to solve the mystery of what is going on with Cym's mother, her disappearance from the hospital and the discovery of a huge secret that has been buried for many years.
The title of the book is so clever because the protagonist is both literally and metaphorically drowning throughout the novel, such great craft. A story of friendship, bravery and kindness.
It tugs on your heartstrings, following the story of Cymbeline who lives happily with mum until one day when is pushed into the swimming pool at school and everyone discovers that he cannot swim. After this near-death experience his Mum turns up at the pool in hysterics, yelling at the coach and teacher for failing to look after him. Things begin to change as Cym wakes up the next day to his Uncle Bill getting him sorted for school and asks after his Mum. He is constantly left in the dark as the adults around him keep secrets and my heart ached for wanting to give him the support he so clearly needed.
It will take four amazing friends, a kind receptionist and an old car to solve the mystery of what is going on with Cym's mother, her disappearance from the hospital and the discovery of a huge secret that has been buried for many years.
The title of the book is so clever because the protagonist is both literally and metaphorically drowning throughout the novel, such great craft. A story of friendship, bravery and kindness.
July 4, 2024
a heart-warming and heartbreaking story 💙
May 5, 2021
Une lecture touchante 💙 Cymbeline est un personnage si attachant, le genre de personnage auquel on a juste envie de faire un gros calin et dire ça va aller 🥺💗 J'avoue que je m'attendais à un gros coup de coeur pour ce livre, en raison de mes grandes attentes et la moyenne qu'on lui a attribuée sur goodreads. Je crois que j'aurais apprécié davantage cette lecture, si j'avais lu la version originale en anglais. 🙂
February 1, 2023
Einfach nur schön und herzig! Bin begeistert :D
February 1, 2023
Surprising!
October 30, 2020
Cymbeline, who has never been swimming but is extremely good at other sports, thinks he will be able to swim and that it can’t be difficult. When his school announces that he will be starting swimming lessons, he boasts to the class bully that he is an epic swimmer. His overconfidence is rewarded with an accident – and an embarrassing one at that. However, worse than this, his mother appears to experience some form of breakdown as a result.
The book gradually reveals the answers, as Cymbeline uncovers some dark secrets hidden in his family’s past, which involve the father he’s always known to have died. The book highlights the immense flaws of grown-ups, for example when they try to conceal important truths from young people. It also underlines the potential potency of post-traumatic stress disorder. All this is wrapped up in a surprisingly light-hearted and readable package, with a humorous young narrator.
The book gradually reveals the answers, as Cymbeline uncovers some dark secrets hidden in his family’s past, which involve the father he’s always known to have died. The book highlights the immense flaws of grown-ups, for example when they try to conceal important truths from young people. It also underlines the potential potency of post-traumatic stress disorder. All this is wrapped up in a surprisingly light-hearted and readable package, with a humorous young narrator.
May 24, 2020
Wenn du neun Jahre alt bist, Cymbeline Iglu heißt, nicht schwimmen kannst und den Klassenfiesling gegen dich hast.. dann hast du schon halb verloren.
Und doch hat Cym seinen Humor nicht verloren. Er lebt mit seiner Mom in London, spielt mit seinem besten Freund Lance Fußball und eigentlich ist fast alles bestens. Bis zum Tag als in der Schule Schwimmunterricht ansteht.... Das dies nicht der schlimmste Moment seines Lebens sein wird, ahnt Cym dort noch nicht.
Was mit einer witzigen Schulgeschichte rund um Freundschaft, Mobbing und Pubertät beginnt, schlittert ganz schnell in eine ernsthafte Familientragödie mit viel Tränen, psychischen Erkrankungen und einer aufregenden Jagd nach der Wahrheit. Trotzdem schafft es der Autor die Stimmung immer oben zu halten und einem des öfteren ein Lachen zu bereiten.
Eine sehr gelungenes Buch für Kinder und Erwachsene ab 10 Jahren.
Und doch hat Cym seinen Humor nicht verloren. Er lebt mit seiner Mom in London, spielt mit seinem besten Freund Lance Fußball und eigentlich ist fast alles bestens. Bis zum Tag als in der Schule Schwimmunterricht ansteht.... Das dies nicht der schlimmste Moment seines Lebens sein wird, ahnt Cym dort noch nicht.
Was mit einer witzigen Schulgeschichte rund um Freundschaft, Mobbing und Pubertät beginnt, schlittert ganz schnell in eine ernsthafte Familientragödie mit viel Tränen, psychischen Erkrankungen und einer aufregenden Jagd nach der Wahrheit. Trotzdem schafft es der Autor die Stimmung immer oben zu halten und einem des öfteren ein Lachen zu bereiten.
Eine sehr gelungenes Buch für Kinder und Erwachsene ab 10 Jahren.
July 12, 2025
3.5/5
یه کتاب ساده و قشنگ برای سنین کودک درباره زندگی روزمره پسری به اسم سیمبلین که با مادرش زندگی میکنه و در مدرسه با دوستان و همکلاسیهاش با اتفاقاتی روبهرو میشه و یه روز بیدار میشه و میبینه مادرش توی خونه نیست و میفهمه به دلیاعمشکلات روانی در بيمارستانه و توی این مدت پیش خالهش و بچههای خالهش میمونه.
ارتباط اتفاقی که در مدرسه در کلاس شنا در استخر افتاده، با گذشته سیمبلین، موضوع اصلی کتابه. گذشتهای که آخر کتاب متوجه میشیم.
داستان خیلی سادهست و بیشتر به ارتباطات مدرسه و همسنوسالهاشون و افکار سیمبلین پرداخته. برای همین برای سنین کودک و دبستانی میتونه قشنگ و آموزنده باشه.
یه کتاب ساده و قشنگ برای سنین کودک درباره زندگی روزمره پسری به اسم سیمبلین که با مادرش زندگی میکنه و در مدرسه با دوستان و همکلاسیهاش با اتفاقاتی روبهرو میشه و یه روز بیدار میشه و میبینه مادرش توی خونه نیست و میفهمه به دلیاعمشکلات روانی در بيمارستانه و توی این مدت پیش خالهش و بچههای خالهش میمونه.
ارتباط اتفاقی که در مدرسه در کلاس شنا در استخر افتاده، با گذشته سیمبلین، موضوع اصلی کتابه. گذشتهای که آخر کتاب متوجه میشیم.
داستان خیلی سادهست و بیشتر به ارتباطات مدرسه و همسنوسالهاشون و افکار سیمبلین پرداخته. برای همین برای سنین کودک و دبستانی میتونه قشنگ و آموزنده باشه.
July 6, 2018
Baron's writing is very appealing - humorous and observant. He sees the world from the eyes of a young boy without coming across as condescending. However, I found his direct appeals to the reader at the beginning of the book unnecessary and feel that, as with me, this may merely interfere with the flow of the story for many young readers.
Any young reader (and many adults remembering their childhood years) can easily relate to many of the events and emotions the main character experiences, although the main problem he has to face and solve may not be so usual for most.
A well written and entertaining book that should appeal to most young readers, including boys.
(Thank you NetGalley for this copy).
Any young reader (and many adults remembering their childhood years) can easily relate to many of the events and emotions the main character experiences, although the main problem he has to face and solve may not be so usual for most.
A well written and entertaining book that should appeal to most young readers, including boys.
(Thank you NetGalley for this copy).
January 25, 2019
A wonderful story that made me cry on multiple occasions, though there were parts that were a bit lesser.
Meet Cymbeline a boy who has NEVER swum before. Yes, that is quite a shocker to me. I live in a country with tons of water and generally you are taught from early on how to swim. So I was shocked that he couldn't. Later on when we find out what happened I was still wondering why the hell the mother never got her kid to learn how to swim. Here is a BIG spoiler on the ending, so don't click on the spoiler tag.
Instead of being honest about his swimming abilities he lies and so start the events of this book.
Because we can already see that Cymbeline's mom isn't that stable due to whatever happened in the past. She bursts out in crying at times, locks herself up in her room, but what happens at the swimming pool to Cymbeline? It breaks her completely and we see her get further and further adrift. My heart hurt, not just for her, but also for Cymbeline. Because he doesn't have a clue what is going on. He just knows his mom hurts, that she has her moments, that his plushie is important to her.
The author really wrote the what is going on pretty well. Cymbeline is totally oblivious to what is going on and so we as the readers are oblivious to what happens as well. We really go on a journey with Cymbeline as he tries to figure out what is going on with his family, why his mom is this way, what happened to his dad. Thankfully, I was so happy for this, he is not alone in his journey. He gets help from two friends, Veronique (he likes her, really likes her) and another classmate who quickly becomes his friend.
I felt sorry for Cymbeline he had to live with his aunt and uncle and he just doesn't want that. He wants to be with his mom. Plus, his aunt is at times quite distant, his uncle is barely there, and his nephew and niece are totally different from what he remembered.
I had a quick inkling that the marriage between aunt and uncle wasn't exactly a happy one. And I can imagine, he is constantly away leaving her to care for the kids. :| I also knew soon that the lemonade definitely meant something else, especially since it meant for her to hang on the couch all the time.
Things get more hectic as Cymbeline's birthday approaches. His mother disappears and a frantic search begins, Cymbeline gets more stressed and sad, and I was just heartbroken. That poor little boy. My heart broke even further when he said, to a room full of adults and friends, that it was a special day, and they asked why and he told them it was his birthday. I was crying at that moment because it was just so sad. Here we have a little boy, all alone, just wanting his mum, and then he realises what day it is and that he probably won't be with his mom on this special day.
The author really wrote the mystery of what is going on really well. I actually hadn't expected THAT to be what happened, and I do wonder why no one else had the guts to tell him. I get that he is 9 years old, but come on, this is his family. This is important. At least try to tell him. If he doesn't understand you can always explain some more when he is older.
I loved how Cymbeline was written. So many times I wonder if a character is really that age, and it is hard to write little kids, but the author truly wrote a great 9-year old.
I had a laugh how he censored the curse words he heard and put a place/football thing instead of the curse.
Veronique? I was kind of hesitant about this girl, I have had one too many perfect smart girls in books and mostly they are obnoxious and pretentious. However, Veronique? Oh my, I just adore that girl! She was sweet, she was smart, but she NEVER rubbed it in, or made it seem like someone was lesser than her. And boy, that was a relief. She was so sweet towards Cymbeline, though I had a laugh at what she told him when he was still in stress about the whole everyone saw my penis during swimming-experience. And then later on when she asked about kissing. That was just awww and made me laugh!
The only thing I didn't like, and this is truly the only thing, was the disconnection, or at least I would call it that. Near the end of the story we find out what is going on, why his mom is acting the way she did. I was really in the moment in those parts, I was crying when we found out. I was so so sad. However, instead of continuing the story normally we suddenly switch to I don't how long later when Cymbeline is swimming and has had his swimming lessons. And then we switch back to those sad moments again, but sorry, I was out of it. The moment was ruined for me. And that is a shame. We have waited so long for this moment, it is such an important one, and I just don't get why the author thought to just switch to a time after it. It is the one reason why I was considering to rate this book less, but eventually decided not to as the rest of the story was just AMAZING.
Phew, I think I could talk more about this book, but I think I hit most of the points I wanted to discuss. This was an amazing book and I just adored it so so so much. It was a beautiful, heartbreaking book, and really be sure to have tissues at hand when you read this one.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Meet Cymbeline a boy who has NEVER swum before. Yes, that is quite a shocker to me. I live in a country with tons of water and generally you are taught from early on how to swim. So I was shocked that he couldn't. Later on when we find out what happened I was still wondering why the hell the mother never got her kid to learn how to swim. Here is a BIG spoiler on the ending, so don't click on the spoiler tag.
Instead of being honest about his swimming abilities he lies and so start the events of this book.
Because we can already see that Cymbeline's mom isn't that stable due to whatever happened in the past. She bursts out in crying at times, locks herself up in her room, but what happens at the swimming pool to Cymbeline? It breaks her completely and we see her get further and further adrift. My heart hurt, not just for her, but also for Cymbeline. Because he doesn't have a clue what is going on. He just knows his mom hurts, that she has her moments, that his plushie is important to her.
The author really wrote the what is going on pretty well. Cymbeline is totally oblivious to what is going on and so we as the readers are oblivious to what happens as well. We really go on a journey with Cymbeline as he tries to figure out what is going on with his family, why his mom is this way, what happened to his dad. Thankfully, I was so happy for this, he is not alone in his journey. He gets help from two friends, Veronique (he likes her, really likes her) and another classmate who quickly becomes his friend.
I felt sorry for Cymbeline he had to live with his aunt and uncle and he just doesn't want that. He wants to be with his mom. Plus, his aunt is at times quite distant, his uncle is barely there, and his nephew and niece are totally different from what he remembered.
I had a quick inkling that the marriage between aunt and uncle wasn't exactly a happy one. And I can imagine, he is constantly away leaving her to care for the kids. :| I also knew soon that the lemonade definitely meant something else, especially since it meant for her to hang on the couch all the time.
Things get more hectic as Cymbeline's birthday approaches. His mother disappears and a frantic search begins, Cymbeline gets more stressed and sad, and I was just heartbroken. That poor little boy. My heart broke even further when he said, to a room full of adults and friends, that it was a special day, and they asked why and he told them it was his birthday. I was crying at that moment because it was just so sad. Here we have a little boy, all alone, just wanting his mum, and then he realises what day it is and that he probably won't be with his mom on this special day.
The author really wrote the mystery of what is going on really well. I actually hadn't expected THAT to be what happened, and I do wonder why no one else had the guts to tell him. I get that he is 9 years old, but come on, this is his family. This is important. At least try to tell him. If he doesn't understand you can always explain some more when he is older.
I loved how Cymbeline was written. So many times I wonder if a character is really that age, and it is hard to write little kids, but the author truly wrote a great 9-year old.
I had a laugh how he censored the curse words he heard and put a place/football thing instead of the curse.
Veronique? I was kind of hesitant about this girl, I have had one too many perfect smart girls in books and mostly they are obnoxious and pretentious. However, Veronique? Oh my, I just adore that girl! She was sweet, she was smart, but she NEVER rubbed it in, or made it seem like someone was lesser than her. And boy, that was a relief. She was so sweet towards Cymbeline, though I had a laugh at what she told him when he was still in stress about the whole everyone saw my penis during swimming-experience. And then later on when she asked about kissing. That was just awww and made me laugh!
The only thing I didn't like, and this is truly the only thing, was the disconnection, or at least I would call it that. Near the end of the story we find out what is going on, why his mom is acting the way she did. I was really in the moment in those parts, I was crying when we found out. I was so so sad. However, instead of continuing the story normally we suddenly switch to I don't how long later when Cymbeline is swimming and has had his swimming lessons. And then we switch back to those sad moments again, but sorry, I was out of it. The moment was ruined for me. And that is a shame. We have waited so long for this moment, it is such an important one, and I just don't get why the author thought to just switch to a time after it. It is the one reason why I was considering to rate this book less, but eventually decided not to as the rest of the story was just AMAZING.
Phew, I think I could talk more about this book, but I think I hit most of the points I wanted to discuss. This was an amazing book and I just adored it so so so much. It was a beautiful, heartbreaking book, and really be sure to have tissues at hand when you read this one.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
March 5, 2020
Cymbeline kann nicht schwimmen. Seine Mutter hat es ihm einfach nie beigebracht. War also klar, dass in der ersten Schulschwimmstunde eine kleine Katastrophe passieren musste, die seine Welt und die seiner alleinerziehenden Mutter total aus den Angeln reißt.
Mir gefällt die Aufmachung des Buches richtig gut. Es schimmert wunderbar metallisch und auch die gelbe Kontrastfarbe ist ein richtig Hingucker. Im Inneren des Buches findet man auch ein paar schwarz-weiß Illustrationen.
Was direkt positiv auffällt, ist der tolle Erzählstil des Autors. Er ist witzig und pointiert. Das Buch ist somit gleichermaßen für Kinder aber auch für Erwachsene geschrieben. Wobei ich es erst ab 11 oder 12 Jahren empfehlen würde, denn die Geschichte steckt voller ernster und wichtiger Themen, die aus Cyms Sicht geschildert werden. Das mildert sie zwar ein wenig ab, dennoch war ich überrascht von der Ernsthaftigkeit des Buches.
Cym ist ein cleveres Kerlchen. Er hat zwar nicht so viele Freunde und eckt manchmal an, dennoch lässt er sich niemals unterkriegen und das mochte ich an ihm. Seine Beobachtungsgabe ist speziell und das macht das Buch interessant.
Die Geschichte ist mit 220 Seiten recht kurz und ich dachte eigentlich, ich wüsste von Anfang an, was passieren wird. Doch der Autor konnte mich am Ende unerwarteterweise überraschen. Das fand ich super. Leider hatte mich die Geschichte aber nicht 100%ig packen können. Ohne dass ich dieses Gefühl an einem bestimmten Punkt festmachen könnte. Manchmal ist das einfach so.
"Freischwimmen" von Adam Baron erzählt die Geschichte von Cymbeline, der ein außergewöhnliches und aufgewecktes Kerlchen ist. Dabei ist das Buch kein reines Kinderbuch, sondern glänzt mit einem pointierten und cleveren Schreibstil, der gut zu unterhalten weiß.
Mir gefällt die Aufmachung des Buches richtig gut. Es schimmert wunderbar metallisch und auch die gelbe Kontrastfarbe ist ein richtig Hingucker. Im Inneren des Buches findet man auch ein paar schwarz-weiß Illustrationen.
Was direkt positiv auffällt, ist der tolle Erzählstil des Autors. Er ist witzig und pointiert. Das Buch ist somit gleichermaßen für Kinder aber auch für Erwachsene geschrieben. Wobei ich es erst ab 11 oder 12 Jahren empfehlen würde, denn die Geschichte steckt voller ernster und wichtiger Themen, die aus Cyms Sicht geschildert werden. Das mildert sie zwar ein wenig ab, dennoch war ich überrascht von der Ernsthaftigkeit des Buches.
Cym ist ein cleveres Kerlchen. Er hat zwar nicht so viele Freunde und eckt manchmal an, dennoch lässt er sich niemals unterkriegen und das mochte ich an ihm. Seine Beobachtungsgabe ist speziell und das macht das Buch interessant.
Die Geschichte ist mit 220 Seiten recht kurz und ich dachte eigentlich, ich wüsste von Anfang an, was passieren wird. Doch der Autor konnte mich am Ende unerwarteterweise überraschen. Das fand ich super. Leider hatte mich die Geschichte aber nicht 100%ig packen können. Ohne dass ich dieses Gefühl an einem bestimmten Punkt festmachen könnte. Manchmal ist das einfach so.
"Freischwimmen" von Adam Baron erzählt die Geschichte von Cymbeline, der ein außergewöhnliches und aufgewecktes Kerlchen ist. Dabei ist das Buch kein reines Kinderbuch, sondern glänzt mit einem pointierten und cleveren Schreibstil, der gut zu unterhalten weiß.
December 11, 2020
Che bella questa storia tanto tenera e tanto profonda allo stesso tempo!
A raccontarla è Cymbeline, un bambino di nove anni che non ha mai imparato a nuotare. Non perché non ci sia riuscito, ma perché la sua mamma, per chissà quale motivo, non vuole portarlo in piscina e inventa sempre qualche scusa.
Però un giorno accade che la classe di Cymbeline viene iscritta a un corso di nuoto e il nostro piccolo eroe si vanta di saper nuotare benissimo, ma, alla prova dei fatti, rimedia una ben misera figura. E ad amplificarla c'è poi la scenata che sua mamma fa davanti a tutti quando scopre l'accaduto. Come se le cose non fossero già abbastanza brutte, succede che il giorno dopo la mamma viene ricoverata e Cymbeline non si capacita di ciò che sta accadendo.
L'adozione del punto di vista del bambino si rivela una scelta vincente perché riusciamo a immedesimarci nelle situazioni che vive e a provare le sue stesse emozioni. A volte si sorride, altre proviamo angoscia e frustrazione nel non riuscire a capire certi comportamenti degli adulti.
Il romanzo è costruito quasi come un giallo in cui il mistero da risolvere è cosa fa star male la mamma di Cymbeline.
Lo stile di Adam Baron è molto fresco, immediato, adatto ad un pubblico giovane. Ma allo stesso tempo rivela, nella semplicità, una profondità di sentimenti e riflessioni che non ti aspetteresti.
Per un pubblico young, ma anche meno young.
A raccontarla è Cymbeline, un bambino di nove anni che non ha mai imparato a nuotare. Non perché non ci sia riuscito, ma perché la sua mamma, per chissà quale motivo, non vuole portarlo in piscina e inventa sempre qualche scusa.
Però un giorno accade che la classe di Cymbeline viene iscritta a un corso di nuoto e il nostro piccolo eroe si vanta di saper nuotare benissimo, ma, alla prova dei fatti, rimedia una ben misera figura. E ad amplificarla c'è poi la scenata che sua mamma fa davanti a tutti quando scopre l'accaduto. Come se le cose non fossero già abbastanza brutte, succede che il giorno dopo la mamma viene ricoverata e Cymbeline non si capacita di ciò che sta accadendo.
L'adozione del punto di vista del bambino si rivela una scelta vincente perché riusciamo a immedesimarci nelle situazioni che vive e a provare le sue stesse emozioni. A volte si sorride, altre proviamo angoscia e frustrazione nel non riuscire a capire certi comportamenti degli adulti.
Il romanzo è costruito quasi come un giallo in cui il mistero da risolvere è cosa fa star male la mamma di Cymbeline.
Lo stile di Adam Baron è molto fresco, immediato, adatto ad un pubblico giovane. Ma allo stesso tempo rivela, nella semplicità, una profondità di sentimenti e riflessioni che non ti aspetteresti.
Per un pubblico young, ma anche meno young.
March 30, 2023
De boodschap is oké, maar bepaalde situaties in het verhaal vond ik hier en daar wel wat makkelijk of snel. Was dit een verhaal over kinderen die zichzelf moeten redden of over volwassenen die iets (te veel bewust) laten liggen als ouder?
Ik snap dat deze schrijfstijl kinderen aanspreekt, maar voor mij voelde het te populair aan. Negenjarigen zijn slim, maar zó slim vond ik toch wel te. Verder prima vertaling, los van de erg vernederlandste woorden/begrippen/namen van tv-programma's.
Ik hoop vooral dat ouders met diepgaandere trauma's of andere mentale problemen hun kinderen serieuzer nemen en hen meenemen in situaties op een manier die aansluit bij het kind. Het is realiteit dat veel kinderen in Nederland en daarbuiten zichzelf grotendeels moeten zien te redden ook al ligt daar verantwoording bij de opvoeder. Ik had Timon in dit boek iets anders gegund en juist daarom irriteerde het mij ergens ook. Niet vanwege het boek en de verwerking, maar wel omdat het realiteit is en de moeder van Timon ook niet overal haar verantwoording nam. Al begrijp ik ook dat daar bij haar iets achter zat, maar toch.
Ik snap dat deze schrijfstijl kinderen aanspreekt, maar voor mij voelde het te populair aan. Negenjarigen zijn slim, maar zó slim vond ik toch wel te. Verder prima vertaling, los van de erg vernederlandste woorden/begrippen/namen van tv-programma's.
Ik hoop vooral dat ouders met diepgaandere trauma's of andere mentale problemen hun kinderen serieuzer nemen en hen meenemen in situaties op een manier die aansluit bij het kind. Het is realiteit dat veel kinderen in Nederland en daarbuiten zichzelf grotendeels moeten zien te redden ook al ligt daar verantwoording bij de opvoeder. Ik had Timon in dit boek iets anders gegund en juist daarom irriteerde het mij ergens ook. Niet vanwege het boek en de verwerking, maar wel omdat het realiteit is en de moeder van Timon ook niet overal haar verantwoording nam. Al begrijp ik ook dat daar bij haar iets achter zat, maar toch.
August 24, 2025
یه کتاب ساده و روون از ادبیات کودک و نوجوان با محوریت پسری به اسم سیمبلین که با مادر مجردش بزرگ شده و در کلاس استخر مدرسه روش نمیشه بگه تا حالا شنا نکرده.
ارتباط آب، شنا و اینکه مادرش روی این موضوع حساسه و باعث افسردگی مجددش میشه که راهی بیمارستان شه، داستان کتابه.
چی در گذشته سیمبلین بوده که مرتبط با آب بوده؟
کتاب درباره ارتباطات کودکان با همکلاسیهاشون، آشنایان و اقوام و همسایههاشونه و میتونه از نظر اجتماعی برای رده سنی کودک و نوجوان مفید باشه
ارتباط آب، شنا و اینکه مادرش روی این موضوع حساسه و باعث افسردگی مجددش میشه که راهی بیمارستان شه، داستان کتابه.
چی در گذشته سیمبلین بوده که مرتبط با آب بوده؟
کتاب درباره ارتباطات کودکان با همکلاسیهاشون، آشنایان و اقوام و همسایههاشونه و میتونه از نظر اجتماعی برای رده سنی کودک و نوجوان مفید باشه
June 3, 2021
Une belle surprise ce livre ! J’ai beaucoup aimé le narrateur et sa naïveté d’enfant qui m’a beaucoup fait penser au “Garçon au fond de la classe”. Je
Pensais avoir deviné la fin, mais non… on a su me surprendre. Un roman à lire, qui pourrait faire l’objet d’une lecture feuilleton en classe.
Pensais avoir deviné la fin, mais non… on a su me surprendre. Un roman à lire, qui pourrait faire l’objet d’une lecture feuilleton en classe.
May 15, 2024
This is such a wholesome book, it's such an easy read with an amazing story, it doesn't lack in any area and I would recommend to any age of reader. I usually don't read books like this, I'm more into teen fiction or old classics but I couldn't put this down.
It is an amazingly diverse story about different family situations and I enjoyed reading from a younger characters point of view.
Would highly recommend.
It is an amazingly diverse story about different family situations and I enjoyed reading from a younger characters point of view.
Would highly recommend.
April 3, 2022
CAWPILE rating: 3.43
actual rating: 2.5 ⭐️
actual rating: 2.5 ⭐️
January 10, 2019
Just a great book
May 29, 2018
I have to declare an interest because I bought this book for HaperCollins - I loved it at the time and I love it still. But the reason I feel able to post here is because of my 9 year old’s reaction when he read the proof recently. It has made him giggle and cry. He loved it too and he is not very easy to please.
April 22, 2018
I received this as a free ebook from Netgalley. This does not affect my review.
This is a really quirky, hard-to-categorise read. I'd put it around the top end of middle grade - more like 12yo territory rather than 9yo, even though the protagonist is only in Y4 himself. It's similar to books like The Light Jar, A Boy Called Hope and Bubble Boy; there's some hefty emotional content to deal with here, and it would be a book I would only hand to my maturer readers in Y6. In fact - and this in no way detracts from how much I liked the book - I think there is a mismatch between the character's age and the content which is a bit unsettling, flipping between very childlike and almost too mature. And I have met kids like that, actually, I think most primary staff do - children who have far too many adult issues to deal with because their adults are messed up. In book form, though, it makes Cymbeline a difficult character to get attached to, swinging from madcap, funny quest, to deeply serious mental health issues. There's some really deft writing here about family, friends and fitting in which is very nicely done, but overall I get the sense the book isn't quite sure what it wants to be or exactly who it's aimed at.
This is a really quirky, hard-to-categorise read. I'd put it around the top end of middle grade - more like 12yo territory rather than 9yo, even though the protagonist is only in Y4 himself. It's similar to books like The Light Jar, A Boy Called Hope and Bubble Boy; there's some hefty emotional content to deal with here, and it would be a book I would only hand to my maturer readers in Y6. In fact - and this in no way detracts from how much I liked the book - I think there is a mismatch between the character's age and the content which is a bit unsettling, flipping between very childlike and almost too mature. And I have met kids like that, actually, I think most primary staff do - children who have far too many adult issues to deal with because their adults are messed up. In book form, though, it makes Cymbeline a difficult character to get attached to, swinging from madcap, funny quest, to deeply serious mental health issues. There's some really deft writing here about family, friends and fitting in which is very nicely done, but overall I get the sense the book isn't quite sure what it wants to be or exactly who it's aimed at.
December 28, 2021
This is an odd story, told from the view point of a nine-year-old. Half of the book is a mystery of why the boy was never taught to swim, and the other half is what is going on with his mother, and why she is having a mental breakdown.
It is a bit confusing, as to where this is all going, and the second half was interesting, but putting the book all together, to me, was a disappointing mess.
The conclusion made no sense. Mostly because, if the events that lead up to the conclusion had occurred in the real world, there would have been more circumstances. Especially with the super smart friend, Veronique, who helps figure out all the other clues.
The lightheartedness of the narrator is the only thing that brings this up to a two star, rather than a one star. And the cover is quite beautiful. I would say something was lost in translation, but it is British English, that the original was written in, so that is no excuse.
Perhaps this book was just not meant for me, and that's fine.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
It is a bit confusing, as to where this is all going, and the second half was interesting, but putting the book all together, to me, was a disappointing mess.
The conclusion made no sense. Mostly because, if the events that lead up to the conclusion had occurred in the real world, there would have been more circumstances. Especially with the super smart friend, Veronique, who helps figure out all the other clues.
The lightheartedness of the narrator is the only thing that brings this up to a two star, rather than a one star. And the cover is quite beautiful. I would say something was lost in translation, but it is British English, that the original was written in, so that is no excuse.
Perhaps this book was just not meant for me, and that's fine.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
December 23, 2023
favourite character/s: cymbeline igloo (smith)
the plot of this book is so cool and actually wasn’t super predictable. the characters weren’t super loveable (the only name i remember is cymbeline) but i did like them. i read this in one night so you know the story line was a grab. this is a middle grade book but i honestly think alot of ages would enjoy this book. i really like the imagery and storyline, the mystery aspect and the relationships between the characters too. i didn’t love the book, but i did like it.
the plot of this book is so cool and actually wasn’t super predictable. the characters weren’t super loveable (the only name i remember is cymbeline) but i did like them. i read this in one night so you know the story line was a grab. this is a middle grade book but i honestly think alot of ages would enjoy this book. i really like the imagery and storyline, the mystery aspect and the relationships between the characters too. i didn’t love the book, but i did like it.
December 15, 2019
What was that.
So according to the internet and bookstore this is a children’s book but i disagree. While i think mental health representation is important to everyone i just don’t think this was the best way to do it. In the end i found the whole reveal to be...well sad. Just plain sad. It never occurred to me that *that* could be an explanation in a children’s book.
All i have to say now is: I don’t even know anymore.
So according to the internet and bookstore this is a children’s book but i disagree. While i think mental health representation is important to everyone i just don’t think this was the best way to do it. In the end i found the whole reveal to be...well sad. Just plain sad. It never occurred to me that *that* could be an explanation in a children’s book.
All i have to say now is: I don’t even know anymore.
November 14, 2019
Read it in two days. Cymbeline is such a distinctive and lovable character and his story is fast-paced and heartbreaking with lots of twists and turns. I loved him and his little posse, and the family tragedy at the heart of the book is dealt with beautifully. Such a good read. Couldn't put it down.
December 11, 2018
I clearly did not read the write up properly. I thought this was going to be some easy read magical mystery. Instead it is a story about mental illness through the eyes of a 9 year old.
Well written and quite interesting just not what I thought I was going to read
Well written and quite interesting just not what I thought I was going to read
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