Review by Frank Plowright
Swim Team is one of a growing number of young adult graphic novels taking as its topic someone moving into a new area and the problems of settling into a new school (see recommendations). However creator Johnnie Christmas is smart enough to differentiate his project by ensuring the settling in period for middle school aged Bree isn’t characterised by bullying, and hangs it around the idea that to this day a significant proportion of African Americans cannot swim.
This is explained as a lack of opportunities during the racist 20th century segregation process meaning learning stalled, and wasn’t therefore encouraged in later generations. Bree has transferred to a school where the swimming team is prized, but she can’t swim. At first she attempts to avoid classes with predictable results, but this is an uplifting story taken in some surprising directions.
Christmas is as creative with the art as with the plot. One character is very fond of doing jigsaw puzzles, and Christmas takes this as a visual theme for historical incidents. The idea of missing pieces works well in conveying the missed opportunities. The clear and attractive cover illustration has real personality, and while Christmas keeps the art simple, the same skill is applied to the internal pages.
He also circumnavigates a frequent failing of young adult graphic novels showing everything falling into place for the good kid. He stresses from the start that Bree works hard, and her avoiding swimming is very much out of character. Once she makes up her mind to learn she’s diligent and has help from a surprising source. Neither is this a graphic novel where the sports theme is all encompassing. Christmas uses it to explore topics such as bullying coaches and the closure of pools, but devotes equal time to Bree’s friendship with Clara and her relationship with her father. It makes for a rounded experience, as does the smart foreshadowing.
As the cover stickers show, Swim Team ranked high on award nominations and it’s an uplifting experience with the ending the only really predictable moment. On the other hand, to head in a different direction would be even worse, disappointing readers at the last hurdle.
