A review by caseythecanadianlesbrarian
Chlorine by Jade Song

dark funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An incredibly unique book, brutal and funny, grotesque and unhinged, dark and strange. It's a fierce queer coming of age and coming into a body story centred around a Chinese American girl named Ren and her years of competitive swimming. Men's and boy's violence -- a  teammate, a coach --  hover on the edge this story, but Ren's intense, intimate friendship with Cathy, another swimmer, is the central relationship. That is, if you don't count Ren's obsession with mermaids. Song's prose is quick and smart, her ideas bold. I can't wait to see what she writes next.