Sink or Swim

by Tash McAdam

Overview

Bruised and battling hypothermia, Bass and Rosie must seek shelter and work together to survive until they can be rescued. If they can be rescued.

Sixteen-year-old shy, socially awkward trans teen Bass reluctantly skips school and goes on a boat trip with his adventure-seeking girlfriend, Rosie. When a sudden storm smashes their boat on a rocky shore off a deserted island, Bass and Rosie struggle to make it to safety. After a horrible night, Rosie, an experienced climber, decides to scale a steep cliff to find help. She falls and injures herself badly. Now Bass has to find the strength and courage to swim around a dangerous headland and make his way back to civilization before it’s too late.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459828537
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	08/17/2021
Series:	Orca Soundings Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
Lexile:	HL640L (what's this?)
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Tash McAdam is a Welsh Canadian author of several books for young people, including The Psionics series and the bestselling Blood Sport and Sink or Swim in the Orca Soundings line. Tash identifies as trans and queer and uses the neutral pronoun they. They teach high school English and computer science and have a couple of black belts in karate. They live in Vancouver.

Editorial Reviews

This fast-paced read highlights different perspectives relating to gender and friendship, as Bass and Rosie are tested on not only their survival skills, but also their identities, strengths, and weaknesses. Offers insights into the life of a trans teen as they navigate their relationship and the elements.”

BC Books for Schools

Readers looking for a fast-paced and exciting perilous romance will come away satisfied.

Kirkus Reviews

Recommended to readers who enjoy realistic fiction…LGBTQ+ students, especially those who identify as trans, may see themselves reflected in the characters. Recommended.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

2021-06-11
Two teens barely survive the open seas.

Bass and Rosie shouldn’t skip school, “borrow” a boat, and take it out onto the water for a first date, but they’re newly infatuated with each other and want to take their budding relationship beyond the Pride Club at their school. What’s the worst that can happen? An unexpected storm, a shipwreck on an island—and dangers cascading from there. This short novel, intended for teenagers building their reading skills who are looking for an accessible, age-appropriate adventure, includes Bass’ occasional descriptions of the mechanics of his trans identity, including the use of binder tape and one unnecessary reference to his deadname. This element often feels shoehorned in, but overall, the suspense doesn’t let up, and readers watch Bass (who reads as default White) grow quickly from an anxious, shy youth to a young man of bravery, daring, and confidence as he battles both the elements and his own uncertainty. His date, Rosie (who has brown skin and wavy dark hair), is less well developed as a character, only seen through Bass’ adoring eyes, but the high-stakes romance between them is believable. The brevity of the text means that their larger social setting and backstory are left vague, but readers looking for a fast-paced and exciting perilous romance will come away satisfied.

A page-turner for reluctant readers. (Adventure. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews