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Up for Air
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.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2019
240 people are currently reading
2509 people want to read
About the author
Laurie Morrison
10 books113 followersLaurie Morrison is the coauthor of Every Shiny Thing and the author of Up for Air, Saint Ivy, Coming Up Short, Keeping Pace, and Where Ella Went (coming April 14, 2026). Laurie’s books have received starred reviews and been chosen as Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections and finalists for state award lists. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and she lives with her family in Philadelphia, PA, where she teaches middle school language arts. You can visit her website at lauriemorrisonwrites.com
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April 19, 2019
Annabelle is psyched when she's put on the high school swim team—even though she's 13 and going into eighth grade. It's almost enough to ignore that she's not doing so great in school. And then Connor notices her. Conner, who's in high school and has beautiful peridot-green eyes. Connor, who is definitely flirting with her. Or is he?
I really enjoyed this upper MG/low YA novel about a girl who is gifted in swimming but struggles in school due to a learning disability. Even though Annabelle has everything sorted out in the pool, outside of the water she's struggling to adapt, survive and make that awkward transition from kid to adult, which is especially difficult when her body has developed earlier than her peers.
It perfectly captures the feelings of when an older boy looks at you—really looks at you—and pays attention and is flirty. Annabelle's emotions are so perfectly conveyed, as she feels grown up when Connor is giving her attention and complimenting her swimming ability, and frustrated at the older girls who not-so-subtly try to protect her, since she thinks that they keep emphasizing that she is a kid/child/so young, when she wants to feel grown-up around her crush. And the emotional turmoil and downhill roller coaster ride that comes with the realization that the boy didn't care at all, but was just flirting and toying with your emotions.
There's a lot of Annabelle becoming independent and kind-of rebelling against her parents, her falling for a boy without understanding the nuances behind his actions, and her realization that friendship isn't a competition or a stacked list of who-is-failing-more or who is smarter.
Annabelle faces a lot of challenges and suffers from a lot of childhood anxiety and insecurities about...well, everything. Because didn't we all over-analyze everything as early teens and stress over every little interaction, particularly when it came to belonging...or being left out?
This novel is appropriate for upper-MG readers and those readers ready to move on from MG novels but not quite willing to step into YA. It bridges the gap quite nicely between MG and YA. There is a scene in the novel that has underage drinking (Annabelle does not drink) and there is discussion of an eating disorder and alcoholism, but the topics are presented well, along with the revolving theme of recovery and the complications of divorced parents, step-parents and the concept of family.
While I wish that the second half of the book focused more on swimming and less on Connor, and that Annabelle got her head out of her ass a little sooner, I'm happy that ultimately she realizes that 1) he's an asshole and 2) being brave means coming back after a mistake.
You can survive shame and embarrassment.
It just takes a while to recover.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this upper MG/low YA novel about a girl who is gifted in swimming but struggles in school due to a learning disability. Even though Annabelle has everything sorted out in the pool, outside of the water she's struggling to adapt, survive and make that awkward transition from kid to adult, which is especially difficult when her body has developed earlier than her peers.
It perfectly captures the feelings of when an older boy looks at you—really looks at you—and pays attention and is flirty. Annabelle's emotions are so perfectly conveyed, as she feels grown up when Connor is giving her attention and complimenting her swimming ability, and frustrated at the older girls who not-so-subtly try to protect her, since she thinks that they keep emphasizing that she is a kid/child/so young, when she wants to feel grown-up around her crush. And the emotional turmoil and downhill roller coaster ride that comes with the realization that the boy didn't care at all, but was just flirting and toying with your emotions.
There's a lot of Annabelle becoming independent and kind-of rebelling against her parents, her falling for a boy without understanding the nuances behind his actions, and her realization that friendship isn't a competition or a stacked list of who-is-failing-more or who is smarter.
Annabelle faces a lot of challenges and suffers from a lot of childhood anxiety and insecurities about...well, everything. Because didn't we all over-analyze everything as early teens and stress over every little interaction, particularly when it came to belonging...or being left out?
This novel is appropriate for upper-MG readers and those readers ready to move on from MG novels but not quite willing to step into YA. It bridges the gap quite nicely between MG and YA. There is a scene in the novel that has underage drinking (Annabelle does not drink) and there is discussion of an eating disorder and alcoholism, but the topics are presented well, along with the revolving theme of recovery and the complications of divorced parents, step-parents and the concept of family.
While I wish that the second half of the book focused more on swimming and less on Connor, and that Annabelle got her head out of her ass a little sooner, I'm happy that ultimately she realizes that 1) he's an asshole and 2) being brave means coming back after a mistake.
You can survive shame and embarrassment.
It just takes a while to recover.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
March 24, 2019
(free review copy) MIDDLE SCHOOL PERFECTION. Yup, middle school, not middle grade. This one is about an almost-8th-grader and there is a whole lot of content about romantic feelings and inclusion of some alcohol consumption - I won't be buying this for my elementary library but it's a must-purchase for middle schools. This story brought me back to my own swim team days, my earliest crushes on high school lifeguards and all of the trauma that middle school relationships can be. The setting was idyllic but also realistic, the eating disorder representation was spot-on, the blended family storyline was so authentic and the learning disability representation was also perfect. My 13 YO daughter has been trying to steal this from me and I'm so excited to finally hand it to her. This book is amazing and I'm so thankful that the author provided me with a review copy.
December 14, 2023
I was attracted to this middle school novel due to the theme of swimming being an important part of Annabelle coming of age. Although it certainly had swimming in the mix, it was mostly about Annabelle's choices and how they impacted upon her and her friends and family. This was entertaining, but fell short for me as swimming virtually saved my life in high school and university when nothing else seemed to be working for me. Just ok, 3 stars.
The quote from the book also rang true for me as I was the only Yankee fan in a family of solid Boston Red Sox fanatics. Always a fun topic growing up in Southern New England.
'The truth was, she’d loved to watch baseball with her dad when she was younger. But her dad was a Yankees fan, so she’d been one, too. And she knew better than to admit that in Red Sox territory.'
Morrison, Laurie. Up for Air (p. 103). Harry N. Abrams. Kindle Edition.
The quote from the book also rang true for me as I was the only Yankee fan in a family of solid Boston Red Sox fanatics. Always a fun topic growing up in Southern New England.
'The truth was, she’d loved to watch baseball with her dad when she was younger. But her dad was a Yankees fan, so she’d been one, too. And she knew better than to admit that in Red Sox territory.'
Morrison, Laurie. Up for Air (p. 103). Harry N. Abrams. Kindle Edition.
November 16, 2018
I rarely ask an author for a copy of an ARC, but I really wanted to read Laurie’s upcoming book, UP FOR AIR. I loved EVERY SHINY THING, which she co-wrote with Cordelia Jensen, and I couldn’t wait to read Annabelle’s story because I knew it was about a swimmer, and it was an upper middle grade read.
What I loved about this book: UP FOR AIR addresses a lot of issues very relatable to middle schoolers. Annabelle struggles at school. She and her best friends, Jeremy and Mia, hit new territory in their relationship. Her dad reaches out to her years after dropping out of her life. Although Annabelle is going into Gr. 8 in the fall, she’s asked to join the summer high school swim team. There’s a thrill that comes from being with older kids, and especially drawing the attention of an older boy. The story is presented in a way that respects the transitions that Annabelle faces, while remaining middle grade and not YA. It feels mature, but a book I’d be comfortable handing to an 11-14 year old reader. Laurie’s experience as a former middle school teacher, and her understanding of this age group, shines through very clearly for me.
I would dearly love to see more books that speak to the upper middle grade crowd (SO DONE by Paula Chase is another example that I thoroughly enjoyed this year). I watched my own daughter struggle with the transition from middle grade to young adult lit, and wish there had been more books like this with mature topics, but told with a middle grade voice. I hope you’ll consider UP FOR AIR (released Feb 2019) if you have a reader at this stage.
What I loved about this book: UP FOR AIR addresses a lot of issues very relatable to middle schoolers. Annabelle struggles at school. She and her best friends, Jeremy and Mia, hit new territory in their relationship. Her dad reaches out to her years after dropping out of her life. Although Annabelle is going into Gr. 8 in the fall, she’s asked to join the summer high school swim team. There’s a thrill that comes from being with older kids, and especially drawing the attention of an older boy. The story is presented in a way that respects the transitions that Annabelle faces, while remaining middle grade and not YA. It feels mature, but a book I’d be comfortable handing to an 11-14 year old reader. Laurie’s experience as a former middle school teacher, and her understanding of this age group, shines through very clearly for me.
I would dearly love to see more books that speak to the upper middle grade crowd (SO DONE by Paula Chase is another example that I thoroughly enjoyed this year). I watched my own daughter struggle with the transition from middle grade to young adult lit, and wish there had been more books like this with mature topics, but told with a middle grade voice. I hope you’ll consider UP FOR AIR (released Feb 2019) if you have a reader at this stage.
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December 21, 2018Thanks to the @KidLitExchange network for the review copy of this book--all opinions are my own.
Up for Air is an exceptional book for middle grade readers who are ready to transition to more mature books but aren't quite ready for YA. Like Annabelle, a rising 8th grader who is joining the high school swim team, readers who feel stuck in the in-between of being a little kid and a teen will relate to this book. Laurie Morrison writes a compelling picture of a girl who is trying to find where she fits.
She often feels left out because she's not successful like her mom & step-dad, she doesn't get the best grades, and now she's the only middle schooler on the high school swim team. Her mom and step-dad have never had in trouble in school and her friends all seem to easily make good grades. Annabelle has learning accommodations in her classes, gets more time to take tests, and gets extra help but she still isn't making the best grades. She knows she just learns differently from other kids but sometimes she can't help feeling down about herself. She has to spend the summer with a tutor and hates that she has to work so hard. Throughout the novel, she starts to see herself in a new light though. She knows that while she may learn differently from other kids, she's still smart and capable in her own way.
Her dad, an alcoholic who has been out of her life for years, has reemerged and wants to make amends for the past. Annabelle also knows that her dad struggled in school too and worries that her mom resents that Annabelle takes after him. Annabelle has to deal with so many of her relationships being in flux. It's confusing to deal with the emotions that come along with her dad wanting to be part of her life again. She loves her step-father and sometimes thinks it would be easier if he was her "real" dad. She also loves her best friends Jeremy and Mia, but finds herself wanting to spend more time with the older kids on the high school swim team. Annabelle has to learn about balance and accepting change.
This book addresses an audience that needs more books written for them--young teens! Annabelle feels like a real 8th grader who wants to be grown up but isn't quite ready for all that it entails. Many readers who feel like Annabelle want books that reflect that stage of life and this book gives them the space to explore fitting in with older kids. Annabelle develops a crush on 15 year old boy, Connor, on her swim team and thinks he may like her too. Older readers will immediately recognize that Connor is just a flirt but it will take Annabelle a little longer to come to that conclusion and her naiveté feels genuine.
Up For Air covers a lot--relationships with parents and step-parents, growing up, first crushes, and learning disabilities but Laurie Morrison puts it all together so well. This is a must buy for all middle school collections and public libraries.
Up for Air is an exceptional book for middle grade readers who are ready to transition to more mature books but aren't quite ready for YA. Like Annabelle, a rising 8th grader who is joining the high school swim team, readers who feel stuck in the in-between of being a little kid and a teen will relate to this book. Laurie Morrison writes a compelling picture of a girl who is trying to find where she fits.
She often feels left out because she's not successful like her mom & step-dad, she doesn't get the best grades, and now she's the only middle schooler on the high school swim team. Her mom and step-dad have never had in trouble in school and her friends all seem to easily make good grades. Annabelle has learning accommodations in her classes, gets more time to take tests, and gets extra help but she still isn't making the best grades. She knows she just learns differently from other kids but sometimes she can't help feeling down about herself. She has to spend the summer with a tutor and hates that she has to work so hard. Throughout the novel, she starts to see herself in a new light though. She knows that while she may learn differently from other kids, she's still smart and capable in her own way.
Her dad, an alcoholic who has been out of her life for years, has reemerged and wants to make amends for the past. Annabelle also knows that her dad struggled in school too and worries that her mom resents that Annabelle takes after him. Annabelle has to deal with so many of her relationships being in flux. It's confusing to deal with the emotions that come along with her dad wanting to be part of her life again. She loves her step-father and sometimes thinks it would be easier if he was her "real" dad. She also loves her best friends Jeremy and Mia, but finds herself wanting to spend more time with the older kids on the high school swim team. Annabelle has to learn about balance and accepting change.
This book addresses an audience that needs more books written for them--young teens! Annabelle feels like a real 8th grader who wants to be grown up but isn't quite ready for all that it entails. Many readers who feel like Annabelle want books that reflect that stage of life and this book gives them the space to explore fitting in with older kids. Annabelle develops a crush on 15 year old boy, Connor, on her swim team and thinks he may like her too. Older readers will immediately recognize that Connor is just a flirt but it will take Annabelle a little longer to come to that conclusion and her naiveté feels genuine.
Up For Air covers a lot--relationships with parents and step-parents, growing up, first crushes, and learning disabilities but Laurie Morrison puts it all together so well. This is a must buy for all middle school collections and public libraries.
December 8, 2018
Thanks to the publisher for an e-galley! Annabelle is a fantastic swimmer who happens to have learning difficulties. She’s happy to finally be getting something right when she’s moved up to the high school team in the summer. However, things get a bit complicated when an older boy starts showing her attention and her estranged father seems to want to return to her life.
In UP FOR AIR, Laurie Morrison perfectly captures the issues of competitive female friendships, the desire to be liked and accepted by an older crowd, and the search for identity.
This book is so well written with such a strong, unforgettable voice. I enjoyed the deft way the author tackles all the teenage issues, family struggles, and the way Annabelle works to figure out who she really is. I can’t wait for more people to read this one!
In UP FOR AIR, Laurie Morrison perfectly captures the issues of competitive female friendships, the desire to be liked and accepted by an older crowd, and the search for identity.
This book is so well written with such a strong, unforgettable voice. I enjoyed the deft way the author tackles all the teenage issues, family struggles, and the way Annabelle works to figure out who she really is. I can’t wait for more people to read this one!
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March 21, 2021No 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?
What is your weakness? What are you going to do with it? Overcome or accept?
July 10, 2020
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.
Middle schoolers looking for something edgy will love this.
February 6, 2021
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!
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!
May 15, 2019
Although many ages can relate to this book, it is the perfect book for middle school students. There is nothing so mature that I would be concerned about my youngest students reading this book, but Anabelle is in the summer before her 8th grade year, and her longing to be accepted by the high school crowd is a feeling that will appeal to my oldest students.
Embarrassed by accommodations, and frustrated when they don't seem to be enough either, school is a struggle for Anabelle. In the pool, she feels different. In the pool she is in control and she is strong. In the pool, Anabelle is setting records.
When Anabelle is asked to swim up with the high school team to help them in the mixed relay, her excitement for the opportunity to prove herself gets distracted by the two-years-older boy who she is crushing on showing her more attention. Struggling to fit in with the older teens has Anabelle hurting her own friends, disobeying her parents, and spiraling downward. How will she find her way through the mess she has made to come up for air?
What I loved: The message. Knowing who your true friends and family are makes all the difference. Anyone can comeback and grow from mistakes. The setting. I want to live on Gray Island. The swimming. This is a popular sport with my students and I am excited to add a book about it to our library.
#LitReviewCrew
Embarrassed by accommodations, and frustrated when they don't seem to be enough either, school is a struggle for Anabelle. In the pool, she feels different. In the pool she is in control and she is strong. In the pool, Anabelle is setting records.
When Anabelle is asked to swim up with the high school team to help them in the mixed relay, her excitement for the opportunity to prove herself gets distracted by the two-years-older boy who she is crushing on showing her more attention. Struggling to fit in with the older teens has Anabelle hurting her own friends, disobeying her parents, and spiraling downward. How will she find her way through the mess she has made to come up for air?
What I loved: The message. Knowing who your true friends and family are makes all the difference. Anyone can comeback and grow from mistakes. The setting. I want to live on Gray Island. The swimming. This is a popular sport with my students and I am excited to add a book about it to our library.
#LitReviewCrew
May 28, 2019
What it’s about: Annabelle is not doing well in middle school, no matter how hard she tries. But she is an amazing swimmer, and the high school swim team coach has noticed, inviting Annabelle to join the team. It's just what Annabelle needs to build up her confidence after a rough academic year. Plus, the cutest boy in town is on the high school swim team, and now he's talking to Annabelle!
But things get confusing for Annabelle as she tries to navigate the new relationships she may be forming, her middle school friendships (which are shifting and changing around her), and the possibility of reuniting with her dad, who left a long time ago.
What I thought: My favorite part of this book was that Annabelle gets recognized for her achievements outside of the academic sphere, and gets to build up some of her identity as she realizes that grades are not the only thing that matter in the world. It's a message I wish more of my middle and high school students would take to heart!
Why I rated it like I did: The writing was smooth, and from a teacher's perspective, there are good messages for readers to absorb through Annabelle's journey. There were places that felt a little slow, but the story mostly moved along.
But things get confusing for Annabelle as she tries to navigate the new relationships she may be forming, her middle school friendships (which are shifting and changing around her), and the possibility of reuniting with her dad, who left a long time ago.
What I thought: My favorite part of this book was that Annabelle gets recognized for her achievements outside of the academic sphere, and gets to build up some of her identity as she realizes that grades are not the only thing that matter in the world. It's a message I wish more of my middle and high school students would take to heart!
Why I rated it like I did: The writing was smooth, and from a teacher's perspective, there are good messages for readers to absorb through Annabelle's journey. There were places that felt a little slow, but the story mostly moved along.
October 21, 2022
Up for Air failed to create it's desired impact on me unfortunately.
I could not connect with the main character Annabelle at all and had to remind myself at times that I was reading the story of a 13 year old and as such should not be critical of her choices. This shouldn't have happened at all and any book with a child MC should be written in such a way imo that we lose ourselves in that childhood nostalgia.
I even got annoyed by her a couple of times just because it felt like she wasn't even trying or giving her mom a real chance. It just wasn't for me.
I could not connect with the main character Annabelle at all and had to remind myself at times that I was reading the story of a 13 year old and as such should not be critical of her choices. This shouldn't have happened at all and any book with a child MC should be written in such a way imo that we lose ourselves in that childhood nostalgia.
I even got annoyed by her a couple of times just because it felt like she wasn't even trying or giving her mom a real chance. It just wasn't for me.
March 10, 2019
I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of UP FOR AIR, and holy bananas, could I relate to poor Annabelle. From her struggles in school, to feeling on the fringes of everyone else's lives, to her friend-troubles and her first real crush, it was so authentic and real. I couldn't recommend it enough!
April 7, 2021
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!
November 13, 2018
Morrison grabs readers from the very first page with a character that is utterly relatable. Rising eighth grader Annabelle struggles in the classroom. She feels like she doesn't quite fit in with her super-successful mother and stepfather, and as much as her stepfather is there for her, she yearns for a connection with her father, who she hasn't seen in years. The one place Annabelle feels at home is in the pool, where she excels. She's so good, in fact, that this summer she's been asked to swim with the high schoolers. Cue: excitement. Also, cue: a little bit of nerves.
The thing is, Annabelle's one of those girls who has "developed" and she's getting attention from one of the cute high school swimmers, who's started texting her. Does he like *really* like her? What's going on? If only she felt she could trust her close friends with all that she has going on.
Morrison absolutely gets the world of middle school: the concerns, the complicated social dynamics, all of it -- and it all comes into play here in a way that's entirely true to life and cringe-worthy. Like any kid would in her situation, Annabelle makes mistakes. And she struggles to see all that she's good at. It's all too easy for her to notice her weaknesses, and miss her strengths. My heart broke for Annabelle at so many points in this poignant, eminently readable book.
I devoured this book, barely coming up for air, and I think so many middle school readers will too.
The thing is, Annabelle's one of those girls who has "developed" and she's getting attention from one of the cute high school swimmers, who's started texting her. Does he like *really* like her? What's going on? If only she felt she could trust her close friends with all that she has going on.
Morrison absolutely gets the world of middle school: the concerns, the complicated social dynamics, all of it -- and it all comes into play here in a way that's entirely true to life and cringe-worthy. Like any kid would in her situation, Annabelle makes mistakes. And she struggles to see all that she's good at. It's all too easy for her to notice her weaknesses, and miss her strengths. My heart broke for Annabelle at so many points in this poignant, eminently readable book.
I devoured this book, barely coming up for air, and I think so many middle school readers will too.
August 7, 2019
A wonderfully written upper middle grade. Teachers & parents take note: if you have a kid struggling with changing self and shifting friendships, hand them this story! I loved it.
November 24, 2018
Having a competitive swimmer and being a swimmer myself made this book so fun to read. There are not too many books about swimming so loved the little details in this one.
Love the cover, but it does give the appearance that the book leans towards the younger end of middle grade fiction. This is definitely a book got middle school readers.
Love the cover, but it does give the appearance that the book leans towards the younger end of middle grade fiction. This is definitely a book got middle school readers.
April 27, 2019
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Annabelle spent all of 7th grade struggling to achieve academically. Her mother, step father, and best friends all seemed to succeed with ease, while even with accommodations, tutoring, and extra studying, Annabelle could not do better than Cs. Summer, however, was where she shined.
Inside the pool, Annabelle was able to close off the rest of the world and excel. After breaking almost all the under-14 pool record, the high school swim coach offered her a spot on the team. Annabelle was flattered, excited, and a little scared, but what she didn't realize was how being on the team would change her whole summer.
Up for Air was a fantastic entry into the upper middle grades field. Morrison navigated that complicated in-between so well. Annabelle went from being the top of her middle school team and crowd, to the bottom of the high school set. She was thrust into a whole lot of new and more mature situations, and didn't always make the best choices for herself. It was sometimes tough watching Annabelle make these bad decisions, but she definitely came out more knowing and resilient.
At one point during the book, Annabelle suffered an injury, and was unable to swim. From there, it was sort of a downward spiral for her, which really broke my heart. It was easy to see how important swimming was to Annabelle, but it was also obvious that she tied her self-worth to her swimming excellence. Without having that opportunity to standout in the pool, she began to drown in a sea of insecurity. Morrison did such an incredible job wrapping me in Annabelle's emotions, and they came across as so authentic, as well as being really relatable. My love for Annabelle was a sure thing from the very beginning of this tale, and I was right there rooting for her the entire time. I liked that she misstepped, but kept moving forward. Failures are often stepping stones to success, and it was great the way Morrison utilized Annabelle's setbacks in this story.
Yes, this summer was filled with a lot of ups and downs for Annabelle. She suffered quite a few setbacks and some heartbreak, but she also forged some great friendships, renewed a friendship, and reevaluated yet another. She learned a lot about herself, her parents, and her step-father. There are a few especially lovely moments shared with her mother towards the end, where they reveal important truths to each other, and I was particularly happy with the way mom came to terms with Annabelle's scholastic future.
Overall: An honest look at that challenging in-between time we face in our early teens, which was filled with bumps and bad decisions, but ultimately an experience that left Annabelle stronger and wiser.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Annabelle spent all of 7th grade struggling to achieve academically. Her mother, step father, and best friends all seemed to succeed with ease, while even with accommodations, tutoring, and extra studying, Annabelle could not do better than Cs. Summer, however, was where she shined.
Inside the pool, Annabelle was able to close off the rest of the world and excel. After breaking almost all the under-14 pool record, the high school swim coach offered her a spot on the team. Annabelle was flattered, excited, and a little scared, but what she didn't realize was how being on the team would change her whole summer.
Up for Air was a fantastic entry into the upper middle grades field. Morrison navigated that complicated in-between so well. Annabelle went from being the top of her middle school team and crowd, to the bottom of the high school set. She was thrust into a whole lot of new and more mature situations, and didn't always make the best choices for herself. It was sometimes tough watching Annabelle make these bad decisions, but she definitely came out more knowing and resilient.
At one point during the book, Annabelle suffered an injury, and was unable to swim. From there, it was sort of a downward spiral for her, which really broke my heart. It was easy to see how important swimming was to Annabelle, but it was also obvious that she tied her self-worth to her swimming excellence. Without having that opportunity to standout in the pool, she began to drown in a sea of insecurity. Morrison did such an incredible job wrapping me in Annabelle's emotions, and they came across as so authentic, as well as being really relatable. My love for Annabelle was a sure thing from the very beginning of this tale, and I was right there rooting for her the entire time. I liked that she misstepped, but kept moving forward. Failures are often stepping stones to success, and it was great the way Morrison utilized Annabelle's setbacks in this story.
Yes, this summer was filled with a lot of ups and downs for Annabelle. She suffered quite a few setbacks and some heartbreak, but she also forged some great friendships, renewed a friendship, and reevaluated yet another. She learned a lot about herself, her parents, and her step-father. There are a few especially lovely moments shared with her mother towards the end, where they reveal important truths to each other, and I was particularly happy with the way mom came to terms with Annabelle's scholastic future.
Overall: An honest look at that challenging in-between time we face in our early teens, which was filled with bumps and bad decisions, but ultimately an experience that left Annabelle stronger and wiser.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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May 7, 2019Thirteen-year-old Annabelle is the fastest swimmer on her middle school swim team, but she struggles terribly with her academic school work. She has tutors and special learning plans with her school administrators to keep her grades as high as possible. Clearly, she’s not enjoying anything about school outside of swimming. Now that she’s been invited onto the high school swim team, she’s feeling a bit more confident in her skin. She’s particularly interested in Connor, an older high school boy who has definitely noticed that she is no longer the little “hummingbird” he knew, before. Annabelle enjoys the way he looks at her rapidly developing body and she is willing to go the extra mile just to get more of his attention.
Annabelle’s experiences and desires were spot-on for her age — she is clearly someone who wants to grow up more quickly than she should, but does this mean she must leave behind her younger friends? She faces mature high school topics as she learns about her friend’s eating disorder and attends a beach party where everyone is drinking alcohol. However, Annabelle reaps painful lessons after making some impulsive decisions. And as we so often learn during adolescence, the pain may be exactly what is needed to get her focus back on track.
I really enjoyed Up For Air and think it will be an especially great title during the upcoming summer months with so much swimming and beach visits. There’s been a bit of recent discussion in Teacher-Librarian circles about those readers (usually around 8th to 9th grade) whose reading interests are often too old for middle grade literature and yet they’re not quite mature enough for young adult literature. This book will be a really good bridge for these readers — providing a small window into realistic high school experiences without diving too deeply. For that reason, I would say it's appropriate for both middle school AND high school libraries.
My thanks to Amulet Books and NetGalley for offering an e-ARC so that I could provide an honest review. This title will release on May 7th -- go order it now. I doubt it will stay on the shelves! For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
Annabelle’s experiences and desires were spot-on for her age — she is clearly someone who wants to grow up more quickly than she should, but does this mean she must leave behind her younger friends? She faces mature high school topics as she learns about her friend’s eating disorder and attends a beach party where everyone is drinking alcohol. However, Annabelle reaps painful lessons after making some impulsive decisions. And as we so often learn during adolescence, the pain may be exactly what is needed to get her focus back on track.
I really enjoyed Up For Air and think it will be an especially great title during the upcoming summer months with so much swimming and beach visits. There’s been a bit of recent discussion in Teacher-Librarian circles about those readers (usually around 8th to 9th grade) whose reading interests are often too old for middle grade literature and yet they’re not quite mature enough for young adult literature. This book will be a really good bridge for these readers — providing a small window into realistic high school experiences without diving too deeply. For that reason, I would say it's appropriate for both middle school AND high school libraries.
My thanks to Amulet Books and NetGalley for offering an e-ARC so that I could provide an honest review. This title will release on May 7th -- go order it now. I doubt it will stay on the shelves! For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
April 23, 2019
Let me start off by saying that I’m pretty stingy with my stars. 3.5 stars should be considered an endorsement from me!
I really enjoyed Up For Air by Laurie Morrison and think it is the kind of book I wish I had found when I was an Upper Middle Grade-aged reader! While some of the ‘lessons’ of the book felt a little forced to me, I loved the honesty of the depiction of teenage girls and their myriad feelings. There is a lot of ‘girl power’ in this book but it doesn’t overlook the fact that girls who grow up to be strong women often do so through surviving a lot of pain!
Up for Air is the story of Annabelle, a 13 year old who is going into the 8th grade. She’s a talented swimmer but faces a lot of challenges in the classroom. Through her story, we learn a lot about what it feels like to struggle with learning…the hard work, frustration, embarrassment and shame that comes with doing everything you can to succeed and continuing to ‘fall short’ of your own expectations. Annabelle is completely comfortable in the pool and wishes she could find that level of confidence elsewhere in her life.
Annabelle is also an ‘early bloomer.’ She’s developing into a woman before everyone’s eyes and beginning to draw a lot of attention from guys and girls alike. We watch her deal with the experience of being placed in situations (like the high school swim team) where her body is ready but her emotional maturity may not be. Connor is on the high school swim team and Annabelle is smitten…as we watch, she navigates her first crush and all of the baggage that comes with it. The Annabelle-Connor story is prominent in the book and serves to make Up for Air more appropriate for the Upper Middle Grade reader rather than the 8-10 year old set.
Morrison does an amazing job of portraying what is feels like to be 13. 32 years later, I still recognized much of Annabelle’s joy, worry and humiliation. Because of Morrison’s ‘spot on’ writing, I could again feel those feelings in my bones…I can only imagine that that experience would be incredibly reassuring to a current middle schooler.
Family drama also ensues in this book: Annabelle’s parents are divorced and her dad is an alcoholic. Annabelle is torn between the new blended family that she lives in and loves and a yearning for the father that she hasn’t seen in many years. Watching that experience play out for Annabelle is also both uncomfortable and enlightening.
There’s a lot of insight into the middle/high school girl dynamic as well. It was no surprise to me to learn, in the acknowledgements, that Morrison used to be a middle school teacher: she absolutely nails the interactions between girls at that age. This, however, is where the book also became difficult for me: it felt like Morrison tried a bit too hard to infuse ‘lessons’ into the narrative. As an example, one passage in particular (about Janine, Annabelle’s tutor and her experience as a person of color) felt like it was inserted into an otherwise innocuous experience between the two girls as a way to be ‘inclusive’ or teach a ‘lesson’ about discrimination. I felt ‘preached to’ in a way that could have been avoided if the topic had been folded more naturally into the story. I respect Morrison’s desire to use this platform to educate young readers but suspect that they will see through the ‘set up’ easily, which might lead that lesson to be less impactful.
Overall, I truly enjoyed Annabelle’s story. Morrison’s characters are well-drawn, especially the young people. There’s no doubt that she knows her stuff when it comes to the teenage psyche. This book provides great insight for parents into what might be happening in their teenager’s mind and serves as a acknowledgement for young people that they are not alone in their experiences. At 292 pages, it’s a quick read that is well worth the investment.
I really enjoyed Up For Air by Laurie Morrison and think it is the kind of book I wish I had found when I was an Upper Middle Grade-aged reader! While some of the ‘lessons’ of the book felt a little forced to me, I loved the honesty of the depiction of teenage girls and their myriad feelings. There is a lot of ‘girl power’ in this book but it doesn’t overlook the fact that girls who grow up to be strong women often do so through surviving a lot of pain!
Up for Air is the story of Annabelle, a 13 year old who is going into the 8th grade. She’s a talented swimmer but faces a lot of challenges in the classroom. Through her story, we learn a lot about what it feels like to struggle with learning…the hard work, frustration, embarrassment and shame that comes with doing everything you can to succeed and continuing to ‘fall short’ of your own expectations. Annabelle is completely comfortable in the pool and wishes she could find that level of confidence elsewhere in her life.
Annabelle is also an ‘early bloomer.’ She’s developing into a woman before everyone’s eyes and beginning to draw a lot of attention from guys and girls alike. We watch her deal with the experience of being placed in situations (like the high school swim team) where her body is ready but her emotional maturity may not be. Connor is on the high school swim team and Annabelle is smitten…as we watch, she navigates her first crush and all of the baggage that comes with it. The Annabelle-Connor story is prominent in the book and serves to make Up for Air more appropriate for the Upper Middle Grade reader rather than the 8-10 year old set.
Morrison does an amazing job of portraying what is feels like to be 13. 32 years later, I still recognized much of Annabelle’s joy, worry and humiliation. Because of Morrison’s ‘spot on’ writing, I could again feel those feelings in my bones…I can only imagine that that experience would be incredibly reassuring to a current middle schooler.
Family drama also ensues in this book: Annabelle’s parents are divorced and her dad is an alcoholic. Annabelle is torn between the new blended family that she lives in and loves and a yearning for the father that she hasn’t seen in many years. Watching that experience play out for Annabelle is also both uncomfortable and enlightening.
There’s a lot of insight into the middle/high school girl dynamic as well. It was no surprise to me to learn, in the acknowledgements, that Morrison used to be a middle school teacher: she absolutely nails the interactions between girls at that age. This, however, is where the book also became difficult for me: it felt like Morrison tried a bit too hard to infuse ‘lessons’ into the narrative. As an example, one passage in particular (about Janine, Annabelle’s tutor and her experience as a person of color) felt like it was inserted into an otherwise innocuous experience between the two girls as a way to be ‘inclusive’ or teach a ‘lesson’ about discrimination. I felt ‘preached to’ in a way that could have been avoided if the topic had been folded more naturally into the story. I respect Morrison’s desire to use this platform to educate young readers but suspect that they will see through the ‘set up’ easily, which might lead that lesson to be less impactful.
Overall, I truly enjoyed Annabelle’s story. Morrison’s characters are well-drawn, especially the young people. There’s no doubt that she knows her stuff when it comes to the teenage psyche. This book provides great insight for parents into what might be happening in their teenager’s mind and serves as a acknowledgement for young people that they are not alone in their experiences. At 292 pages, it’s a quick read that is well worth the investment.
December 7, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for UP FOR AIR, which comes out next May. Thanks to author @laurielmorrison for sharing this book with #kidlitexchange! All opinions are my own.
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Oh, middle school. All the memories and emotions of my own middle school experience are still very fresh for me. Laurie Morrison has captured the angst and drama of the late middle school years just perfectly in UP FOR AIR, a book about competitive swimmer Annabelle in the summer before 8th grade. For one thing, Annabelle astutely observes that it's often easier to bond with others by being mean to someone and that sometimes friendships become competitive and toxic around this age. .
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Annabelle is struggling -- struggling in school, struggling in her relationships and struggling in her personal identity. She's permanently annoyed with her mom, in a competitive friendship with her best girl friend, Mia, and has complicated feelings about her father who isn't currently a part of her life. Swimming is the only place she feels she belongs, so when she's asked to join the high school team, she leaps at the chance...especially since she will get extra time with her crush, a high school boy who is flirtatious. Mia has a whole lot of drama going on; readers are guaranteed to relate to at least some part of her life. .
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The real strength of this book, however, and what kept me turning the pages, was the voice. Despite the fact that the book is written in the third person, Annabelle's emotions and feelings feel very accessible and intense. I cared about what happened to her and I know my student readers will, too. I read this book in less than a day and couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this for all middle school libraries. .
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Add this to your pre-order cart; UP FOR AIR comes out on 5/7/19! .
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Swipe to see the summary on the back. KLE members; this one is up for review-- go add your name if you want to review it, too! .
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#librariansofinstagram #librariesofinstagram #bookstagram #upforair #bookreview
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Oh, middle school. All the memories and emotions of my own middle school experience are still very fresh for me. Laurie Morrison has captured the angst and drama of the late middle school years just perfectly in UP FOR AIR, a book about competitive swimmer Annabelle in the summer before 8th grade. For one thing, Annabelle astutely observes that it's often easier to bond with others by being mean to someone and that sometimes friendships become competitive and toxic around this age. .
🏊♀️
🏊♀️
Annabelle is struggling -- struggling in school, struggling in her relationships and struggling in her personal identity. She's permanently annoyed with her mom, in a competitive friendship with her best girl friend, Mia, and has complicated feelings about her father who isn't currently a part of her life. Swimming is the only place she feels she belongs, so when she's asked to join the high school team, she leaps at the chance...especially since she will get extra time with her crush, a high school boy who is flirtatious. Mia has a whole lot of drama going on; readers are guaranteed to relate to at least some part of her life. .
🏊♀️
🏊♀️
The real strength of this book, however, and what kept me turning the pages, was the voice. Despite the fact that the book is written in the third person, Annabelle's emotions and feelings feel very accessible and intense. I cared about what happened to her and I know my student readers will, too. I read this book in less than a day and couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this for all middle school libraries. .
🏊♀️
🏊♀️
Add this to your pre-order cart; UP FOR AIR comes out on 5/7/19! .
🏊♀️
🏊♀️
Swipe to see the summary on the back. KLE members; this one is up for review-- go add your name if you want to review it, too! .
🏊♀️
🏊♀️
#librariansofinstagram #librariesofinstagram #bookstagram #upforair #bookreview
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May 7, 2020Read 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!
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!
June 26, 2019
Annabelle struggles in school but has an amazing talent for being a fast swimmer on their team. She feels undeserving of her school place due to her lack of academic achievements and her struggle to learn unlike her friends Mia and Jeremy.
Her crush Connor always pays her attention especially as she now swims with his high school aged friends as she's advanced at swimming.
With summer arriving she discovers a letter from her dad as well as an invitation that she should go see him sometime.
However as summer gets off to a good start soon she's fallen out with friends, feels let down by the guys and winds up hurt and questioning her life completely feeling increasingly sad and pointless a lot of the time she to her lack of school skills.
Kayla her best friend Jeremy's sister who's been in treatment for anorexia and it helps Annabelle to see someone else who's struggling carrying on and dealing with life being strong even though it's tough.
I did enjoy this book but it wasn't as good as I hoped, instead i found it quite juvenile in the way that Annabelle behaves towards her crush and handles her school life wanting to get better but then not helping herself at all she just bugged me at times. However the book did do well at showing how an absent parent can lead you to acting out on impulse as she does as well as the inclusion in the book of a girl with anorexia as the book is sports focused.
Her crush Connor always pays her attention especially as she now swims with his high school aged friends as she's advanced at swimming.
With summer arriving she discovers a letter from her dad as well as an invitation that she should go see him sometime.
However as summer gets off to a good start soon she's fallen out with friends, feels let down by the guys and winds up hurt and questioning her life completely feeling increasingly sad and pointless a lot of the time she to her lack of school skills.
Kayla her best friend Jeremy's sister who's been in treatment for anorexia and it helps Annabelle to see someone else who's struggling carrying on and dealing with life being strong even though it's tough.
I did enjoy this book but it wasn't as good as I hoped, instead i found it quite juvenile in the way that Annabelle behaves towards her crush and handles her school life wanting to get better but then not helping herself at all she just bugged me at times. However the book did do well at showing how an absent parent can lead you to acting out on impulse as she does as well as the inclusion in the book of a girl with anorexia as the book is sports focused.
January 3, 2019
Thank you to the author and publisher for sharing an ARC of Annabelle’s story with our #bookexpedition group!
Up for Air centers around Annabelle, a seventh grader heading into summer. She’s looking forward to the break from school, which is difficult for her. She’s a fantastic swimmer who’s been asked to compete up with the high school team, and she couldn’t be more excited, especially after Connor, a 15 year old swimmer, starts to show her attention.
As the parent of a daughter the same age as Annabelle, I could definitely appreciate how the story deals with life’s happenings at this age: struggles in school, balancing evolving friendships with old ones, family relationships, and the search for personal identity.
While the cover may entice younger middle grade readers, I think this is a great text to introduce to older MG readers who are ready for the more mature themes that happen in the transition between middle school and high school.
Up for Air centers around Annabelle, a seventh grader heading into summer. She’s looking forward to the break from school, which is difficult for her. She’s a fantastic swimmer who’s been asked to compete up with the high school team, and she couldn’t be more excited, especially after Connor, a 15 year old swimmer, starts to show her attention.
As the parent of a daughter the same age as Annabelle, I could definitely appreciate how the story deals with life’s happenings at this age: struggles in school, balancing evolving friendships with old ones, family relationships, and the search for personal identity.
While the cover may entice younger middle grade readers, I think this is a great text to introduce to older MG readers who are ready for the more mature themes that happen in the transition between middle school and high school.
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March 24, 202112 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.
June 1, 2022
What stood out to me in this book was Annabelle's consistency with misreading the situation and making poor choices. Who among us hasn't been there!!! She was so anxious to fit in, to leave her academic struggles behind and enjoy a summer parlaying her super swimming ability into a romance with an inappropriately flirtatious older teammate. As Annabelle's mom and steadfast step-dad help her to get back on track, they have honest conversations about mistakes that were made by all of them. After a summer of misguided expectations and misunderstandings, Annabelle's parents understand her better and become better advocates for her, and she and her friends are ready to do the hard work that a true friendship requires.
February 18, 2019
For Annabelle, school is incredibly difficult for her. When she swims, she is totally in her element and really shines! When she gets asked to swim on the HS team as an 8th grader, it’s a great honor. But being on this team means she must spend time away from her studies and her friends. As she struggles with finding her place on the team and proving she belongs there, she lands herself in some hot water with her family. There are so many important life lessons in this #mglit book about friendships, family & being yourself. Annabelle’s determination in the face of difficulty is inspiring and I am grateful to Laurie for writing a book about a character with a learning disability! A must-have for classroom libraries!
May 31, 2021
I enjoyed this middle grade.
We meet Annabelle who has problems in school with learning difficulties - what they are specifically we are not told. She does excel at swimming. During the summer between 7th and 8th grade she is promoted to the high school swim team.
She finds it hard to fit in and misinterprets some of the signals from one of the boys. As the summer continues she becomes more and more anxious about not only her place in the team but her friendships with her two closest friends and her relationship with her mother. I did think her Mother was a bit harsh and non understanding in parts of the book.
We meet Annabelle who has problems in school with learning difficulties - what they are specifically we are not told. She does excel at swimming. During the summer between 7th and 8th grade she is promoted to the high school swim team.
She finds it hard to fit in and misinterprets some of the signals from one of the boys. As the summer continues she becomes more and more anxious about not only her place in the team but her friendships with her two closest friends and her relationship with her mother. I did think her Mother was a bit harsh and non understanding in parts of the book.
January 5, 2019
I finished this upper middle grade read today and really enjoyed its look at a girl struggling to with the transition between middle and high school. Annabelle seems to want to grow up a little faster than she should, and watching her thinking change as she navigates might be a good window for young readers and a mirror for older readers. 4.5 stars.
July 13, 2019
Annabelle is a middle schooler who excels at swimming, but struggles in school. She gets promoted to the high school team, but doesn't handle the pressures well of an advanced team or spending time with older teammates.
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