Žuvele, nerk!

by Charli Howard, Inga Tuliševskaitė (Translator)

– Plaukimas tikrai nelieknina. Pažiūrėk, kokia stora Mo… – pradėjo Kloja, bet prikando liežuvį.
Visos staiga nuščiuvo, o aš neiškart sumojau, apie ką ji kalba. Kloja kalbėjo apie mane…
Kloja visada tokia. Niekada nesusimąsto apie kitų jausmus. Kasdien tauška apie berniukus, atseit, vidurinėje jau būtina turėti vaikiną. Vaikiną?! Nesąmonė! Aš visai nenoriu bučiuoti berniukų. Labiausiai trokštu pasinerti į gaivų baseino vandenį ir laisvai plaukti… Bet vasaros atostogos greit baigsis. Šiemet pirmieji metai vidurinėje. O varge, laukia tikras pragaras…

Genres: Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Young Adult, Sports

160 pages, Hardcover

First published July 5, 2018

Reviews

[Liepa · Rating 5 out of 5]

a book that I think all girls should read before teenage years

I imagined I was an Olympian, who will win a gold medal soon. Hundreds of people in stadium are shouting my name. Mo-lly! Mo-lly! Mo-lly! Mo-lly! Soon I understood what's actually being shouted. JUMP, WHALE, JUMP!

Molly is in her final year of primary school, future scares her so much. She's living with grandparents, misses her real mom, hangs out with manipulating best friend, around which, she can't be her own self. Only in swim pool she blossoms and believes in herself🤍

This was a very nice and cute read, even if Molly is younger and the writing style is more for pre-teens, it was still so much worth it and I could actually relate to this! Would recommend if you want something simple, short and thoughtful! Grows self confidence and love, understanding for others and bravery for being yourself<333




pre read: remembered I have to give this back to my friend in two weeks (school read again)
Tbr: LOVE the cover, but traslated name is "Fishy, dive!"💀😭

[Giedre Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knyga jaunesniems paaugliams. Labiau subalansuota mergaitėms, bet, aišku, ne pro šalį paskaityti ir berniukams, o taip pat ir visiems tėveliams, kad prisimintų, kas tokiame amžiuje vaikams rūpi, kuo jie gyvena ir vadovaujasi. O pasakojama būtent apie tą tarpsnį, kada paaugliams prasideda aktualūs išvaizdos klausimai, kai norima prieš draugus pasirodyti kietais, o tas kietumas suprantamas ir pasireiškia patyčiomis bei savo tikrųjų norų ir pomėgių slėpimu (nes jie yra kitokie negu tarp paauglių priimti standartai), kada prasideda draugų skirstymas, ir žmogus vertinamas pagal tai, kokiais drabužiais jis apsirengęs, kokį mobiliaką turi ar kokį vakarėlį surengė. Dar labai įdomi pagrindinės herojės, jos mamos, senelių ir jų tarpusavio santykių linija. Skaudu skaityti, kaip Molė tikisi mamos meilės ir dėmesio, o mama visiškai nesubrendusi, neišsilaksčiusi ir jai labiau rūpi vyrai nei dukra. Žodžiu, knyga tikrai nenuvylė, pakankamai lengvai skaitosi. Nors ir kabinama nemažai svarbių temų, bet tai padaryta pakankamai paprastai, neįmantriai ir suprantamai.

[BooksForTopics]

'Splash' is an enjoyable story that captures the stage of dawning adolescence and the awakening of self-consciousness that often arrives around that time. Molly is in Year 6 and the biggest thing on the minds of her classmates is the transition to secondary school and how to fit in well there. Molly’s best friend Chloe, who is strategically thinking about how to protect the popularity status of their friendship group ready for their new school, becomes increasingly unkind and demanding. While Molly is a talented swimmer with Olympic ambitions, Chloe insists that swimming is for babies and that Molly must quit. At the same time, Chloe teases Molly about her body shape and her food habits, making Molly feel self-conscious for the first time about being seen in her swimming costume.
Feeling lonely and unhappy about her body, Molly trains for swimming in secret and worries about what her peers might be thinking about her body shape. When Molly’s estranged Mum appears on the scene after years of absence, Molly is forced to figure out a way of staying true to her dreams, being happy in her own body and managing the expectations and demands of everyone around her.
I recommend this to Years 5/6+, and it is really important to have books like this that validate feelings about body image that are such a normal experience for many young people. I also really liked that Molly’s enjoyment of swimming demonstrates how positive taking part in sport can be. What comes through strongly is the way in which swimming provides a healthy physical outlet as Molly processes her emotions and how being part of a team improves her self-esteem.
Splash is a fresh and relevant narrative that dives into the hugely important theme of body image as well as the transition to secondary school, friendship, parental absence and the benefits of sport.
Please note that teachers reading this aloud may wish to omit particular phrases used that are considered offensive language by some.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy of this book. Full review to appear on our website nearer the time of publication.

[Indrė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puiki knyga gal labiau skirta mergaitėms/paauglėms - apie draugystes, patyčias, savęs priėmimą, artimųjų palaikymą, kai vėl ir vėl tenka nusivilti žmonėmis... Labai rekomenduoju paskaityti dukroms !

[Gretos knygos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esu visiškai tikra, kad istorijos, kurias aš skaičiau paauglystėje, skiriasi kaip diena ir naktis nuo tų, kurios yra rašomos šiandien. Tuomet istorijose vyravo lauko žaidimai, draugystės, sveika konkurencija, o dabar kalbama apie populiarumą, diskriminaciją, skaudžias ir dideles problemas šeimoje. Ar manau, kad viskas per porą dešimtmečių pasikeitė? Ir taip, ir ne. Bet itin smalsu patikrinti, kas čia įvyko per visus tuos metus.

Molė yra talentinga plaukikė. Mergaitė priklauso populiariai merginų grupelei mokykloje, gyvena su seneliais, nes jos mama verslininkė, todėl visiškai neturi laiko pasimatyti su dukra. Molei reikia pasirinkti – brangus draugas, ar populiarumas? Talentas ir plaukimas, ar draugių pripažinimas?

Imdama knygą į rankas tikėjausi paaugliškai naivios istorijos, o galiausiai knyga man tikrai patiko. Žavėjo Molės santykis su seneliais, jos savianalizė. Skaitydama kraupau suvokusi, kiek daug vaikų atsisako savo svajonių vien dėl baimės: o ką apie mane pagalvos kiti? Ar to, kad šaipysis.

Mane iš proto varo požiūris, kad mokykla praeis. Kad vaikai žiaurūs. Kad visada ras iš ko šaipytis. Na ne. Po velnių, ne. Kaip vaikus auklėsim, taip jie ir elgsis. Jei mokysime, kalbėsimės, aiškinsim... tikėtina, kad net sulaukę paauglystės liks žmonėmis, o ne antžmogiais, priverčiančiais kitus jaustis be proto blogai. Žinau, kad viskas yra sudėtingiau, bet juk vaikai yra tėvų atspindys, o aš manau, kad patyčių galima išvengti kalbantis, diskutuojant, motyvuojant ir palaikant.

Gražūs šios knygelės siužeto vingiai, knygoje nebuvo daug ir garsių moralų, tačiau čia jie aiškūs ir lengvai atkapstomi tarp eilučių. Knygoje pateikiami tikslūs ir tikroviški pavyzdžiai, galima gauti didelę motyvacijos dozę ir pasisemti įkvėpimo kovai dėl savo svajonių. Rekomenduoju paaugliams nuo 12 metų ir tėvams, auginantiems tokio amžiaus vaikus.

Susitikime instagrame:
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Visas apžvalgas rasite čia:
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Leidyklos dovana.

[Denise Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is a story that every Child ages 9-11 needs to read, it deals with bullying, self confidence and believing in yourself no matter what.
Molly is 11 and will soon be moving on to secondary where she is desperate to fit in. She has four girlfriends that she hangs out with but one of them, her best friend Chloe can sometimes seem more like an enemy than a friend.
Molly also loves to swim and is very good at it but Chloe seems to think swimming is lame and as Molly always seeks Chloe’s approval she is not sure whether to continue with the hobby she loves the most!
Add to this an absent mother who suddenly reappears In Molly’s life, it seems that everything is starting to get so complicated.
I really loved this book and I think that whilst the message seemed fairly obvious to me as a grown up, believing in yourself and standing your ground is a very important lesson for children to learn especially with girls. There is more and more pressure put on girls by friends and the media about the importance of our outward appearance,something that Molly struggles with throughout the book as kids around her call her fat. It’s crucial to understand that people come in all shapes and sizes especially athletes, swimmers in particular can be quite muscular as it takes a lot of strength to swim that fast.
I also loved the characters in this book Molly herself seems like a really intelligent sweet little girl if only she would believe in herself more and her other friends also seemed very nice and supportive. Without spoiling the story entirely I also like how Moll’s relationship with Chloe ended it made sense to have this happen, I really don’t want to spoil it so maybe you should read it and see what happens!

[Seawood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an uncorrected proof from Nosy Crow. This does not affect my review.
This is the story of Molly, a Y6 girl with secret ambitions to swim like a champion. Why secret? Because her best friend Chloe says it's babyish...and that Molly is fat.

Splash is being promoted as a body image story, which will definitely strike a chord with lots of readers. That issue is handled carefully and is not a deep dive into body dysmorphism or eating disorders, more a look at the way these things can start just from a few comments, at ages adults hate to consider. I warmed to Molly and her lovely family straight away, and she is lucky that her family don't have any hangups about weight.

For both myself and my daughter (Y7), though, it was the excellent demonstration of "relational aggression" that stood out for us - aka mean girls. It's certainly not just a high school thing, I've seen it in much younger girls in the classroom - but as my daughter says, it can be particularly hard in Y6. Friends who know us intimately also know our deep loves and deep insecurities and these can become weapons - sometimes deliberately, sometimes inadvertently when they need to lash out. She wishes she'd had it last year before starting high school, and I would recommend it for Y5-6 as a supportive read for transition worries and friendship difficulties. I'll be buying a copy for our school library as I'll be keeping the proof for my younger daughter!

For parents I'd recommend Odd Girl Out by Rachel Simmons as a supportive book to read alongside Splash.

[Amy (Golden Books Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her fiction debut, Charli Howard tells the story of Molly, a girl in her last year of primary school, who is desperate to succeed in the swimming competition she is training for, but also desperate to keep her hobby and ambitions from her so-called best friend Chloe, who has made her feel unconfident about her weight and essentially forbidden her to swim on the basis that it`s uncool. At the same time, her long-lost mum reappears, which turns her home life upside down as well as that at school. I related quite a lot to some of Molly`s feelings, particularly her fear of starting high school, and I felt so upset for her while reading, to the point that I was crying during a couple of scenes. At the same time, I thought she was incredibly strong, and while she makes mistakes, she`s very likeable and I loved getting to see her overcome the various things she`s facing. Some of the side cast, particularly Molly`s grandparents, and fellow swimmers Alice and Ed, were absolutely lovely, and their presence/the way they treat Molly in comparison to her mum and Chloe added some very sweet moments that made this even more enjoyable than it would have been without them. I also felt like the topics raised were sensitively handled, and I know I`d have found it very reassuring to read when I was Molly`s age, and still felt that way quite a bit even now. Absolutely perfect for fans of Cathy Cassidy. 4.5/5

[Karen Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who am I to judge a children's novel about learning to be comfortable in your own skin and standing up to your bullies?

The story was a little cliched and the plot was a little too straightforward for my liking. I could predict the way the story would end but is it such a bad thing? I don't want the protagonist to suffer and lose her confidence! So seeing her take a stand and finally discover her inner strength while being surrounded by people who love her is not only the expected ending but the right one. I don't care how cheesy it is!

Swimmers aren't fat or anything. I think they're absolutely strong and beautiful. It's heartbreaking to think that there are little girls who feel they're built wrong or shaped weird simply because they have broad shoulders, strong arms and stocky legs.

I liked how Molly eventually learns that some parents just don't have to be in your life even if they're your birth parents. Her mother does not have some god-given right over her because she doesn't even act like a parent most of the time. I think this book would be a positive, empowering and inspiring read for lots of little girls and teach them about healthy parent-child boundaries as well.

[Orláith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Splash is author Charli Howard's debut children's novel. It tells the story of 11 year old Molly who wants nothing more than to be a great swimmer and to make sure her best friend stays her best friend as they move to secondary school.

As it is written by Charli Howard, a body-positive "plus-size" model, body dysmorphia is a running theme throughout the book. It also deals with bullying and how bullies aren't always strangers or bigger than you, sometimes they can be a very close friend.

Splash is aimed at kids 10 years and up, so it's quite a quick read yet it doesn't "dumb down" the main topics as can be quite common in children's literature.

I'm looking forward to passing it along to my niece as I'm sure she will enjoy it a lot.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a free copy of Splash.

[Viktorija Bertašienė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knyga šiuolaikiniam jaunimui, su jautria tema - patyčios. Rekomenduočiau knygą pereinamojo amžiaus vaikams, kurie iš vaikų tampa paaugliais ir mano viską žinantys. Įtaigiai papasakota istorija apie mergaitę, kuri nori plaukti, bet bendraamžiams tai neatrodo "šaunu". Ji jautri ir pamokanti, kad kartais nekreipdamas dėmesio į kitus gali pasiekti tai, apie ką kartais tik tyliai išdrįsdavai pasvajoti.

[Olesia Melnik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dość ciekawa książka dla nastolatka, sporo przeczyć i myśli którzy napewno stosują się każdego. Łatwo się czyta. Odczuwałam wszystkie emocje Molly. Spodobało się że to historia o zwykłej dziewczynce która przeżywa różne emocje i potrzebuje czasu na rozumienie dla czego tak się zachowuje. To daje jeszcze raz zrozumieć że to przeżywają wszyscy i to jest normalnie, wątpienia, wstyd, strach, złość, wina.

[Mayken Brunings · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very nice story about friendship and family and choosing what really matters.
If I was a little disappointed with it, it was because I'd picked it up because of the swimming aspect (cover and back copy) which then turned out much smaller than I'd expected and could almost have been replaced by some other sports. But ti was a nice read.

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stelline
È un libro che ho letto in poco ed è adatto alle bambine, alle ragazzine e alle ragazze insicure e indecise (cioè io😅). Per quel che mi riguarda non c'è niente che non va. La Howard è stata molto brava a descrivere Molly, la nostra protagonista, le sue sensazioni e le sue emozioni.
Vi consiglio di leggerlo. Anche se siete persone forti e sicure, imparerete lo stesso qualcosa😉

[Lara Facchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una storia diretta e pulita, che parla a ragazzi e ragazze preadolescenti: le difficoltà legate ai cambiamenti del proprio corpo, l'incapacità di comunicare con adulti infantili ed anaffettivi, la necessità di circondarsi di amici onesti e di scoprire le proprie risorse, nonostante tutto. Davvero un bel libro.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all children between 9 and 12 years old. Tackles issues of bullying, home life, mental health and body image.

This book made me relate to my own childhood and brought back painful memories. The moral is strong however and the writing is en pointe!

[Bea Turvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful children's book about fitting in.
Many different subjects are tackled: bullying, peer pressure, self-esteem and abandonment, being the main ones.
A great book full of encouragement for children struggling with friendships and break-ups.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from school and I loved it so much that I read it in a week!i love the message as I have been going through a lot of insecurities and not liking my body shape or weight and this just kind of spoke to me and made me more positive about my body✨I would recommend for ages 10+

[Mig le · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is for children ages 10-11? It touches a topic on bullying and how it effects a child also family problems. I think its a great book for kids but i personally think that teens won’t enjoy it. Just my opinion though :)))

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from my local library and it was so inspirational When I first got it I could not put it down. It helped me with my self-confidence at the time. Thank your Charli Howard from writing such an amazing book.

[Olivia Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

i thought it was really fun and i enjoyed it

[Reader2006 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a great, quick read that encourages body confidence and the importand of family and friensgip. Would recomend to 11-13 year olds.

[Bronwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - will always remember it.

[Mrs Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a book for Year 6 kids. The issues tackled are something they are always experiencing. Loved it from start to finish.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of my favourite books and I loved it.

[Orla Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definetly read if your like 10

[Karolina33 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.2/5

[Raven Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book it tackles the issues so well and in a way that is really digestible for children plus it really helped me work through some things when i was younger

[Mash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is great. There is lots of unexpected twists in it which is amazing. My favorite bit is when everyone gets revenge on Chloe

[Emily Klarner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Finished in a week and thoroughly enjoyed a nice easy read!