I really enjoyed this one. The cover is beautiful and the story inside is just as lovely. The representation of anxiety was done well, as was the story telling.

Not a lot of plot here. As a verse novel it moves quickly and is focused almost entirely on the internal journey. Not a lot actually happens, though. It serves a pretty specific purpose, so it's certainly worth considering.

This was a beautiful novel in verse that delicately handled a topic that can feel very intense to kids. It was comforting and written in a way that made it feel not so "end of the world" panic as it can in real life. I think this will be a great read for many young kids exploring new feelings

This heartwarming and adorable middle grade novel told in verse follows Stevie, an eleven-year-old girl who loves reading, learning about sea creatures, and who gets a curious, warm and fuzzy feeling inside whenever she thinks about another girl at her school. Perfect for young children who may have questions about their own feelings, or anyone looking for a pure, heartwarming story that'll give you a good happy cry, The Deepest Breath is a quick, charming read that will give you all the feels.

What an unique book covering such a range of emotions. Being written in verse was also an interesting take & made it easy to read. The cover is also stunning. The topics discussed would be a good way to open up to conversations with your pre-teens & a good book to read along side your child.

Trigger warnings: anxiety disorder

The Deepest Breath by Meg Grehan is an unusual middle-grade book that is written entirely in verse and will appeal to fans of Matilda and Lumberjanes.

Eleven-year-old Stevie lives with her mother and suffers from anxiety. She is afraid of zombies and clowns, and also many of the strange and scary things that live in the oceans. Stevie wants to know everything (because by doing so hopes she will be able to stop bad things from happening), and she has a large notebook where she writes down all the things she knows. She knows that sea angels are actually called cliones, she knows that octopuses have three hearts, and she knows how to tap out messages in Morse code to her mum at night. Stevie also knows that she likes Chloe, a girl in her class at school who can do magic tricks. What she doesn’t know is what the fizzy feeling she feels when she looks at Chloe is.

Stevie tries to figure this out by herself. She asks questions to her best friend Andrew and to her mum, but she’s not sure how to ask or what she’s really asking in the first place, so the answers she receives are unhelpful. One day, however, Stevie spots an opportunity to visit the library alone, because what better place is there to find an answer than a library?

I will admit that I was initially dubious about The Deepest Breath. I often struggle with long-form poetry and so an entire novel written in verse sounded daunting, but I wanted to give it a try and I needn’t have worried. The writing style gives the story a lyrical, almost musical feel as you read and it also makes the pages fly by—I ended up reading the entire book in under 90 minutes!

Stevie is an interesting character and her relationship with her mum is especially well-written. Although the other characters are not fleshed out very much, such as Stevie’s best friend Andrew and her crush Chloe, this doesn’t really matter because The Deepest Breath is more of a character study on Stevie herself. It’s a look into the anxieties that manifest as kids turn into teenagers and begin to experience all the new and confusing feelings that come with the onset of puberty, anxieties that can be exacerbated when kids don’t see role models that feel the same way they do. These feelings are explored through ocean and water metaphors that help to make them easier to understand for young readers who may be starting to feel that same confusing, fizzing in their chest that Stevie feels when she looks at Chloe.

This is a beautifully written, powerfully emotive book that impressed me far more than I anticipated it would. I would recommend it to everyone but especially tweens and their parents who are just setting foot on the road to puberty, whether or not they feel they might be LGBTQ or not.

GeekMom received a copy of this book for review purposes.

truly one of the sweetest books I've ever read
I related to Stevie so much with her worrying about the world and everyone else, while also worrying about whether or not she is "normal"
made me cry but also made me soso happy in the end.

I do wonder if the verse style will appeal to younger readers but this is a no-brainer 5 star for me!

A beautiful novel in verse that tackles some big subjects. Anxiety and a burgeoning crush on her classmate are just two of the worries Stevie has to deal with. Her anxiety presents itself in the form of her needing answers to everything, because then maybe she'll be able to conquer her fears. I think a lot of kids will see themselves in Stevie, and hopefully seek help and advice before things come to a head. I think this is such a great way of normalizing fear, anxiety, sexuality, and certainly asking for help. It's a book I wish I had had when I was a kid.

I have a very special place in my hear for queer middlegrade books and books like The Deepest Breath are absolutely why, it is absolutely heartwarming and wonderful. Written in verse, and the writing was absolutely stunning. The Deepest Breath follows Stevie as she seeks the answers and knowledge about things that scare her, like what creatures are in the deepest sea and how to know when you have a crush and why she gets a fizzy feeling when she Chloe, a girl in her class, The mother daughter relationship in this was absolutely beautiful, and I absolutely loved Stevie's instinct to turn to books for understanding about the world and herself. I always say the difference for me between a 4 star book which I loved and think is excellent and a 5 star book is my emotional reaction/connection to it and after crying multiple times in this short 180 page book there is no way this could be anything other than 5 stars.

One thing I love about MG verse novels is their accessibility. Oftentimes, I think they get a bad rep for being too complex or flowery for reluctant readers (and sometimes, that might be true!) but THE DEEPEST BREATH is a stunning example of how verse can be used to deal with big, difficult emotions in a beautifully simple way.

Meg Grehan's style is simple and easy to follow, and despite the sparsity of her language, Stevie is an immediately endearing character. She knows a lot, but she gets anxious about things she doesn't know ... and lately, one of those unknowns has been the tummy-butterflies she experiences when she looks at her friend Chole. What follows is a lovely exploration of first crushes and learning to be at peace with yourself, no matter how unfamiliar the world can seem. This essentially sums up much of the plot, and I did find myself craving a little bit more (since the story cuts off at a very climactic moment) but I think much of this comes from my own preferences as an adult reader. The beauty of THE DEEPEST BREATH *is* its restraint. I'm in awe of Grehan's ability to explore the massive tangle of emotions that come with growing up in so few words, and I sincerely hope this book find the success it deserves - it has the potential to spark so many important conversations about identity, truth, anxiety, and acceptance for younger MG readers, and classrooms should find it an invaluable tool when introducing novels-in-verse and/or poetry. 4/5,

Told in free verse, this book is about a young lady struggling with anxiety and struggling to figure out her feelings toward a girl at school.

This is a beautiful story about a young girl exploring her first crush. It's a heartwarming and poetic read with LGBT+ representation for younger readers. Written in verse, the story has a gentle flow and, although it's a quick read, it leaves a lasting impression and a warmth in your chest.

I liked this book about LGBT+. It was a sweet book and I enjoyed how it talked about dealing with your feelings and how confusing it could be.

Last year I read a beautiful novel in verse by Meg Grehan called The Space Between which was about a girl who has anxiety and couldn’t go outside, and how she ended up meeting a girl and her dog and a relationship formed between them. I could really relate to what was being said and a lot of the thoughts and feelings and themes.

Like Meg Grehan's previous book, The Space Between, The Deepest Breath is another novel in verse, however this time it is about a younger character and I feel it is more aimed towards younger readers. The Deepest Breath is a good book for middle grade or to read with someone else, as some scenes could maybe be a little scary for young ones (because of the character’s nightmares) .

So The Deepest Breath follows Stevie, an eleven year old who wants to consume knowledge and feels the need to know everything. Her latest obsession is the sea and the ocean so there is a lot about sea creatures and marine life in the book which will appeal to kids and readers who have an interest in that. Stevie feels the more informed she is, the more she can protect those around her. It also explores how she feels about her growing feelings towards her friend Chloe, as she may be experiencing her first “crush”.

Just like The Space Between, I could relate to feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, and in this book I also really felt for Stevie’s feelings of worry about her parent. This felt personal to me and emotional. These types of feelings are expressed well through the choice of verse. I think that the choice of writing style for The Deepest Breath means the book is not an overly long story, and can be read in one or two sittings, or multiple times if necessary. Other themes I felt ran strong through the book included friendship, trust, and curiosity. It felt sad in parts but mostly positive, sensitive, and it wraps up with a nice warm ending.

This is a book that could open up a dialogue with young people about mental health and feelings and same sex relationships which can only be a positive thing. People today need to see themselves represented in the books they read and if that is having a special interest or hobby, an inquiring, active mind, confusing thoughts, worry, and same sex crushes – then that can be found in The Deepest Breath.

The Deepest Breath is a very fast middle grade read since it's a novel written in verse. Even though I read it quite quickly, it had a big impact on me. I cried a few times!

In Meg Grehan's The Deepest Breath, 11-year old Stevie struggles with understanding what the fizzy feeling she gets when she looks at her friend Chloe means. It's a character-driven story and what the reader mostly gets is to see Stevie's personal journey - her worries as she tries to figure out what this feeling could mean, her anxiety about not knowing all there is to know (about herself, but also in general), wanting her mum to be okay, and her fear of what to do once she might actually know what she's feeling.

This novel is more about the journey of realizing who one is than acting on one's crush, which I think makes it a great one to share with middle graders (most children aren't dating yet, but those who feel attraction might be wondering about the "fizzy feelings" they get and are trying to figure out who they are). The story also touches on the idea that sometimes adults don't know how to act right away, even if they're someone who loves you very much (but that once they know what's going on, a loving adult will still love you). Stevie also seems to have some amount of anxiety, or at least has a lot of worries, and it was interesting to see that laid out in the book.

I found it sweet that the place she found help was the library and the person who helped her and her mum was the librarian. The novel makes a point about how Stevie never saw books or images (basically, representation) that would have let her know that a girl liking a girl is a possibility (sure, her mom said people could like people, including girls liking girls, but it's hard to see a possibility you don't actually SEE) and I think this is still relatable for young people even as more and more books are coming out (like this one!) that do provide important mirrors for queer children.

Books like The Deepest Breath are so important. It is essential that LGBT+ children see themselves represented and they need to know that their feelings are normal and that it is OK to feel the way that they do. In this offering, Meg Grehan tells an uplifting story about one girl’s journey of self-discovery as she tries to make sense of the new feelings that she is experiencing.

Eleven year-old-Stevie has a funny feeling inside her chest. It’s the not the same feeling that she gets when she is around her best-friend-forever Andrew. This is different. Stevie’s mum jokes that one day Andrew and Stevie will get married but Stevie is certain that this will never happen. There is a girl at school that Stevie likes, a girl called Chloe. And whenever Stevie is around her she gets that warm fizzy feeling in her chest, her hands go clammy and her heart begins to race.

She is desperate to talk to her mum about how she feels but their never seems to be a good time and she is full of anxiety about how her secret might affect her mother. In search of answers, Stevie heads to the library hoping that like most of the answers to her questions she can find it in a book…

The Deepest Breath is a heart-felt and emotional read about a young girl who is trying to understand the feelings that she has for Chloe, the girl in her class. Everything about the read is genuine and pure. Stevie is trying to make sense of something that is completely new to her and is bigger than anything that she has had to comprehend before but is filled with anxiety about talking to her mother as she is worried about what it might do to their relationship. You just want to reach into the book and give Stevie a hug and tell her that everything will be OK.

The children’s book industry is crying out for books that support children who may experiencing similar feelings to Stevie and are swimming through a confused ocean of thoughts and emotions. In a relatively short-read, Grehan packs in many moving moments and so much of what is talked about will be relatable to children who see themselves in Stevie. From the heart-racing excitement of holding hands on a trip to the medical room, to awkward conversations with best friends to an eventual out-pouring of tears when all the bottled-up emotions come tumbling out.

Told in lyrical verse it is a very easy read that packs a big punch. Grehan empowers children to be comfortable with who they are and to find the courage to express their identity freely. I can only hope that all adults will be as understanding as Stevie’s mum is.

Recommended for 9+.

I didn't really enjoy this read. The writing did not sit well with me and was difficult to engage in.

THE DEEPEST BREATH is a thoroughly enjoyable middle grade story and I was very much drawn into the narrative. The relationship between Stevie and her mother is portrayed beautifully. The author does a fabulous job of exploring Stevie's interest in her friend, Chloe. My one complaint is related to pacing. The first part of the book seems drawn out and repetitive. Then the conclusion feels a bit rushed. A minor complaint, however, for what is a strong story overall.

Told through accessible verse, The Deepest Breath by Meg Grehan is a warm, gentle story of reassurance and open-mindedness. The book uses free-verse poetry to maintain a strong sense of lyricism as it details the life of eleven-year-old Stevie, who is on a journey a of self-discovery.

Stevie, The Deepest Breath’s main character, has plenty of anxieties. She worries about whether her mum is happy. She worries about all the things there are to know. She worries about the ocean and the many strange and mystifying creatures that live there. Increasingly, Stevie also worries that she won’t get married to best friend Andrew like her mum jokes that she will. Stevie worries about the warmth in her chest that she thinks might be a crush on her friend Chloe.

Meg Grehan’s poetry allows Stevie to sift through her worries and search for answers to her questions. Maybe the ocean doesn’t have to be so scary if Stevie can learn more about it, and maybe it really is a crush that Stevie has on Chloe, whose eyes are bright and whose nails are painted a different colour each week.

The Deepest Breath is a short middle-grade novel-in-verse, and it’s written for young queer readers. Looking for something quick, gentle, and lyrical? The Deepest Breath might be the book for you!

Have you read The Deepest Breath yet? What are your favourite novels in verse?

A touching and emotional story about a young girl dealing with anxiety and identity. Stevie hates not knowing things and gets severe anxiety over many things. She is also struggling with her growing feelings for her friend Chloe and understanding what it means. Told in a poetic and easy to read format, the overall story was a beautiful look into a young person experiencing anxiety and figuring out their identity. It was relatable and just a fantastic read. I would highly recommend this amazing book for everyone of all ages!!

*Thanks Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*