N. H. Senzai

Really well done -- alternating point of view between Noura, newly arrived refugee from Syria, and Jordyn, Tampa, FL swimmer. Noura suffers panic attacks associated with water. Jordyn has worsening anxiety after her mother's miscarriage. There are a lot of big current issues in this book -- racism and religious based attacks against Muslims, grief and loss (friend, miscarriage, young soldier, mother with breast cancer), injury and extreme change of circumstances. It's also packed with people of all faiths helping each other, supporting each other's mental health, and finding ways to volubly stand up for their rights. It's also a quickly moving plot that centers on friendship. Good stuff all around.… (meer)