My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What an engaging read and well-crafted story! This was a fun book from beginning to end with an intriguing mystery and a little middle grade romance. But this book also handles some sensitive topics for middle grade kids like anxiety, parental pressure, alopecia, and boy harassment.

Maddie, 13, is a well-rounded character who is invested in uncovering the pranks at her parent’s pool because they are impacting the business and may be linked to her turning down a boy who likes her. Her motivation to uncover the prankster really made sense, especially when she is afraid that she might be responsible.

This book is very accessible to middle grade readers. It has a good pace and voice, and it’s an interesting look at competitive swim team life. I like how Arguelles smoothly incorporates the swim team vocabulary into the story. How she gives a feel for the commitment these kids must have to succeed. But there’s a fun side to it all – hanging out at the pool with friends. The dynamic between Maddie and her best friend, Ez, is relatable and natural, and I enjoyed seeing how they dealt with tough topics like anxiety and alopecia.

Arguelles brings up an important issue with boy harassment and how difficult it can be to navigate. How do you deal with someone who is manipulating you? Adults have difficulty with this, and I like how Arguelles shows us that even middle graders are not exempt from these struggles. I think it was beautifully handled throughout the book.

This is a fun read with summer vibes and heart! I’m excited to see what Arguelles comes out with next!



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