It is always a pleasure to write a review for John David Anderson, one of my favorite authors. With books like Posted, Sidekicked and Keep it Like a Secret, he continually delights me with each of his new books and his latest title, Dive, doesn’t disappoint.
This is the story of the angst of a young girl transitioning into not only a new school but also newly adolescent as well. Our main character, Kass is a middle schooler and an avid diving. Her parents want to give her the best possibilities in life so they scrape and save to send her to a private Catholic school, St. Lawrence, which also has an outstanding diving program.
Like any thirteen year old, there are troubles:
trouble with friends, trouble with diving and trouble with feeling like an outsider everywhere.
“It’s like I’m allowed but not welcome.”
Because of these insecurities, she is open to a friendship with a young boy scavenging in the dumpster behind her bus stop. When he asks her to help she hesitates but does talk to him. After this first encounter, Kass becomes enchanted with this stranger and purposely takes the bus home rather than being picked up by her mom, so she can see if he appears again.
As the days go on she does see him again – many times. She eventually finds out that his name is Miles; he is seventeen years old and does not attend school. One of the ways he provides for he and his sick father is to scavenge in dumpsters. Miles is wise beyond his years as he explains to Kass that, “Scavenging’s not just about rooting through dumpsters. Its mostly about seeing value in things others have rejected.”
Kass is scared but excited to join him in his forays. Of course, none of these activities have been shared with her parents and she continues to lie to be with him. They have an indefinable kind of friendship . . .
This story will steal your heart, as you can’t help but have empathy for Miles but for Kass as well. What is going to happen when her parents find out? What is going to happen to her as she dumpster dives? And most importantly what happens to Miles as he and his dad become shadows in a world with little understanding.
Dive will not disappoint. Hand this book to a reluctant reader and they will be engaged. Walden Pond Press has provided a Discussion Guide as well. It will make a great read aloud for an upper elementary grade or middle school.
I am pleased to announce that I am having a BOOK GIVE AWAY so someone can get his or her hands on this book! Please leave a comment to enter!
