Surviving High School

August 6, 2012
This novel by screenwriter Doty (who is also the game-writer for the Electronic Arts mobile game the book is inspired by) follows the trials and temptations of high school freshman Emily Kessler in the months following the death of her older sister, Sara, in a car accident. A competitive swimmer and top student like Sara, Emily follows the strict diet, exercise, and sleep regime set forth by her domineering coach (and father), a former Olympian. Narrative tension builds as Emily’s longing to satisfy her father competes with her desire for normal teenage experiences, heightened by her growing awareness that Sara kept many secrets from her—like a boyfriend. An engaging cast of supporting characters includes Emily’s best friend Kimi, who makes pro/con spreadsheets of her crushes; Dominique, Emily’s nemesis and chief competitor both in and out of the pool; and Ben Kale, a popular bad boy with a good heart, whose unexpected interest in Emily upends her world. Although the conclusion resolves conflicts too tidily, Doty’s story is a fast-paced, entertaining read. Ages 12–up.

August 1, 2012
A flimsy, frothy and fraught chronicle of freshman year. Until her fatal car accident, Emily's sister Sara was The Machine, known for her dedication to a punishing fitness regimen and her peerless skill as a swimmer. Emily worshiped Sara, and she's continued her efforts to live up to her late sister's legacy by embracing an 8,000-calorie daily diet, a strict sleep schedule and daily three-hour training sessions with her dad, the obsessive and demanding coach of her high school's swim team. Emily's schedule leaves no time for a social life outside of nightly instant messaging and a monthly sleepover with best friend Kimi. And romance, even with puckishly appealing senior Ben? Out of the question. Her intense rivalry--in and out of the water--with teammate Dominique soon prompts Emily to sneak out to attend Ben's latest party, where romantic sparks fly. Cheating on her sleep schedule to spend time with Ben and happy for the first time, Emily questions her commitment to swimming and learns that Sara, too, had a secret love life. It all culminates in two cliched confrontations with Coach Dad. The charms of Emily's story--snappy dialogue, adorable chemistry--can't buoy the soggy cliches of maniacal Coach Dad, too-perfect teachers and a thoroughly unbelievable final competition. Inessential. (Fiction. 12-16)

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November 1, 2012

Gr 8 Up-Emily is starting high school, but unlike other students whose main concern might be fitting in, she hopes to spend her freshman year avoiding the boy who killed her sister in a car accident. Her schedule is regimented with honors classes, grueling swim practices, and sleep. Without time for social events and dating, Emily is dubbed "Swimbot" by her swimming rival and tormentor, Dominique. After a magazine publishes an article about Emily's quest to continue her sister's swimming legacy, her social stock suddenly soars. Her budding crush on Ben becomes more attainable and, as the students get to know her, she finds a new fan base that improves her swimming. However, her father, also her coach, becomes suspicious as her performance starts to fade due to secret late-night dates. When he finally catches her, she loses any chance she may have to maintain a normal social life and her new romance with Ben. After learning the truth about Sara's accident, Emily decides to abandon her father's regimen and her goal of competing in Junior Nationals. Despite some one-dimensional secondary characters and a couple of plot inconsistencies, the story moves along at a compulsively readable pace. Teens will want to clear their calendars after they start this one.Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD

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