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bookbint's review against another edition
4.0
this was a beautifully told tale of a 9 year old boy called Cymbeline Igloo who has never swum. His dad is dead and his Mum never took him to the swimming pool. Now he thinks of it, maybe he shouldn't have challenged the horrible Billy Lee at school to a swimming race.
But when an accident happens and his mum is called something happens that sends her a bit crazy and suddenly his Uncle is taking him to stay at his Aunt's big house with his cousins. Things are going wrong, how can he fix it all? surely his Mum will be back for his birthday?
Cymbeline's voice is a cool year 5s one as he discusses football and classmates as well a wondering what is happening and why he never has been swimming.
I liked it that his best friend came from a broken family where he now has two Dad's and has to explain which Dad is taking the mickey of his name. The boy at school has a different home life, and his crush, Veronique has a home life that is too busy. I liked this book as it shows that sometimes parents don't have all the answers and sometimes things are best out in the open
But when an accident happens and his mum is called something happens that sends her a bit crazy and suddenly his Uncle is taking him to stay at his Aunt's big house with his cousins. Things are going wrong, how can he fix it all? surely his Mum will be back for his birthday?
Cymbeline's voice is a cool year 5s one as he discusses football and classmates as well a wondering what is happening and why he never has been swimming.
I liked it that his best friend came from a broken family where he now has two Dad's and has to explain which Dad is taking the mickey of his name. The boy at school has a different home life, and his crush, Veronique has a home life that is too busy. I liked this book as it shows that sometimes parents don't have all the answers and sometimes things are best out in the open
goldenbooksgirl's review against another edition
4.0
This focuses on a young boy called Cymbeline, as his first ever visit to the swimming pool ends in disaster and causes his mum to have to be admitted to hospital. Cymbeline is incredibly confused by his life completely changing as he can`t work out why his mum was so affected by him going to the pool or why she`s kept him away from them his entire life, so as he grapples with changing friendships and being sent to stay with rich, rather uncaring relatives, he decides he must investigate and solve these mysteries. Cymbeline is a phenomenal narrator; he`s charming, funny and hugely engaging, and I couldn`t have rooted for him any more as I really wanted everything to turn out okay for him in the end. I also adored ultra-intelligent Veronique, his new neighbour, as well as the humour provided by his best friend Lance. The relationships between them seemed authentic, and I liked how it showed the way friendships can go through rough patches but be repaired. The mystery of why Cymbeline`s mum is so wary of water felt very different to mysteries I`ve read before, which are typically focused on a crime rather than the history of a family, and I thought it was clever and surprising, as my theory ended up being wrong. 4.5/5
agnesthebookishacademy's review against another edition
3.0
What was that.
So according to the internet and bookstore this is a children’s book but i disagree. While i think mental health representation is important to everyone i just don’t think this was the best way to do it. In the end i found the whole reveal to be...well sad. Just plain sad. It never occurred to me that *that* could be an explanation in a children’s book.
All i have to say now is: I don’t even know anymore.
So according to the internet and bookstore this is a children’s book but i disagree. While i think mental health representation is important to everyone i just don’t think this was the best way to do it. In the end i found the whole reveal to be...well sad. Just plain sad. It never occurred to me that *that* could be an explanation in a children’s book.
All i have to say now is: I don’t even know anymore.
indiebookshops's review against another edition
4.0
This is the story of Cymbeline and his family, Cymbeline is nine-years old and his mother has avoided to teach him to swim in all those years.
Then due to a school trip to the swimming pool the past unfolds itself into the present causing all sorts of problems and heartache.
The exploration of mental health and the accidents that can cause this, along with keeping secrets are shown to be able to pull a family apart make Boy Underwater an important reading for these issues as it approached them honestly and doesn’t trivialise it.
I thought that Adam Baron’s expressive and bold use of fonts and words really helped get the idea of the story unfolding in a nine-year olds head, often bold and frantic the story unfolds at a pace that keeps you gripped until the end of the book.
Loved it!
Then due to a school trip to the swimming pool the past unfolds itself into the present causing all sorts of problems and heartache.
The exploration of mental health and the accidents that can cause this, along with keeping secrets are shown to be able to pull a family apart make Boy Underwater an important reading for these issues as it approached them honestly and doesn’t trivialise it.
I thought that Adam Baron’s expressive and bold use of fonts and words really helped get the idea of the story unfolding in a nine-year olds head, often bold and frantic the story unfolds at a pace that keeps you gripped until the end of the book.
Loved it!
readablelife's review against another edition
5.0
I received a copy of Boy Underwater from Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review! This was a truly wonderful book about a young boy understanding the situations around him - and proving that children can handle a lot more than adults think.
This was such an enjoyable and realistic book. Cymbeline has an incredibly likeable voice - he'll relate to every kid who reads this. He's funny, a little rude at times, comments on things the adults do around him, and is far wiser than they give him credit for. Cym has never been swimming, and his mum will always give him an excuse against it. She'll always seem secretive and upset too when swimming is mentioned, which Cym doesn't understand. When he gets pushed into the pool during a school swimming trip, his mum finds out and panics which sends her into a breakdown, meaning he has to stay with his aunt. But he's determined to find out why his mum gets so upset about water and swimming.
What follows is a heart-warming story about caring and understanding family situations. As Cym gets closer to the truth, he starts understanding his mums situation more, and just wants her to be well and happy again. He truly cares about her, which makes for some really lovely moments between the two characters. This book is actually quite important for parents too, as it proves that children can understand more 'grown up' things like grief and loss, as well as being able to process them. It's so well written that you'll be flying through as you discover things as Cym does and everything slots into place. I think this is such an excellent read, and will make readers giggle as well as make them think too. I think it definitely stands with books like Wonder and Time Travelling With A Hamster - important and realistic books that children will be able to relate to.
This was such an enjoyable and realistic book. Cymbeline has an incredibly likeable voice - he'll relate to every kid who reads this. He's funny, a little rude at times, comments on things the adults do around him, and is far wiser than they give him credit for. Cym has never been swimming, and his mum will always give him an excuse against it. She'll always seem secretive and upset too when swimming is mentioned, which Cym doesn't understand. When he gets pushed into the pool during a school swimming trip, his mum finds out and panics which sends her into a breakdown, meaning he has to stay with his aunt. But he's determined to find out why his mum gets so upset about water and swimming.
What follows is a heart-warming story about caring and understanding family situations. As Cym gets closer to the truth, he starts understanding his mums situation more, and just wants her to be well and happy again. He truly cares about her, which makes for some really lovely moments between the two characters. This book is actually quite important for parents too, as it proves that children can understand more 'grown up' things like grief and loss, as well as being able to process them. It's so well written that you'll be flying through as you discover things as Cym does and everything slots into place. I think this is such an excellent read, and will make readers giggle as well as make them think too. I think it definitely stands with books like Wonder and Time Travelling With A Hamster - important and realistic books that children will be able to relate to.
mollfie's review against another edition
4.0
A genuinely funny and touching book. I would suggest that it is more suitable for ages 11+, depending on the child because the subject matter is quite heavy for younger readers.
Cymbeline switches between being a silly, naive nine year old, and being mature, insightful and empathetic which in my experience is true of children who have had to deal with difficulty from an early age. I loved his little jokes and observations, but in contrast I felt that sometimes his friends leant a little too far one way or the other. Veronique felt cartoonish in her genius at times, such as when at the uncle’s office, but it did add humour.
For a book about death and mental illness the story was often funny and light-hearted. The illustrations and use of bold text to emphasis points, humour and emotions were brilliant.
I thoroughly enjoyed Underwater Boy and would recommend it to anyone looking for a funny, boy centred book that examines the impact of mental health and death on a young child. It’s a tough subject matter and while I do feel that the ending was a little hand waving in it’s explanation, we do need to promote more books that tackle such subjects. Especially for boys.
I would have liked the book to go a little deeper in terms of what was wrong and how to deal with this so as to help better equip young readers who may be going through something similar.
Cymbeline switches between being a silly, naive nine year old, and being mature, insightful and empathetic which in my experience is true of children who have had to deal with difficulty from an early age. I loved his little jokes and observations, but in contrast I felt that sometimes his friends leant a little too far one way or the other. Veronique felt cartoonish in her genius at times, such as when at the uncle’s office, but it did add humour.
For a book about death and mental illness the story was often funny and light-hearted. The illustrations and use of bold text to emphasis points, humour and emotions were brilliant.
I thoroughly enjoyed Underwater Boy and would recommend it to anyone looking for a funny, boy centred book that examines the impact of mental health and death on a young child. It’s a tough subject matter and while I do feel that the ending was a little hand waving in it’s explanation, we do need to promote more books that tackle such subjects. Especially for boys.
I would have liked the book to go a little deeper in terms of what was wrong and how to deal with this so as to help better equip young readers who may be going through something similar.
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