Anderson has once again crafted a beautiful and informational book looking at the relationships that tweens form with others. Kass is adjusting to a new school, navigating friendship and family challenges, and generally just getting by when she meets Miles digging through a dumpster by her bus stop. Miles, an older teen with struggles of his own, shows Kass a new side of her world while teaching her about dumpster diving. As time goes on, Kass begins to come out of her shell and things at home and school improve, but she's also lying about where she is. Overall, readers will enjoy the variety of relationships depicted in the novel and will relate to Kass' home, friendship, and school difficulties. While the messages about reuse and people throwing things away the minute they're not useful were poignant, there are concerns that tween readers won't fully consider the larger elements at play and might take up dumpster diving or similarly risky hobbies versus a more structured opportunity to help. I would have appreciate Anderson putting some more information about the safety risks re: dumpster diving in the book somewhere and noting that this isn't a recommended activity.

First, This ARC was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Children’s Book, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautiful, powerful story that so many kids and adults alike will relate to. The struggles of life and dealing with hardships of money, parents not getting along, and trying to fit in felt so real and relatable, even if it's not something I've personally experienced. Anderson does a great job of teaching the lessons of never judging a book by its cover and treating everyone your encounter with kindness as you never know what others are going through.

Kass is trying so hard to find her place in her new school, while feel vastly outcasted because she does not look the part of the rest of the school. While she exceeds at diving, that does not guarantee her automatic friends. Eventually she makes friends with a boy named Miles, who she can tell has his own inner and exterior struggles. She is able to be there for him in ways that she needs her own friends to be there. This alone helps Kass find worth and value in herself and continue to grow in big ways.

I haven't read anyother John David Anderson stories but I have become a fan and cannot wait to read some of his other stories! His writing and craft and sense of story telling really draws in readers while helping continue to move the story!

I great story that entertains and educates. I love the
Lessons that come from this story. A story of courage, taking chances, being understanding and not judging others. It is well written and would be a great book club selection.

Kass has started at a new school and hopes to make new friends now that she’s on the dive team. One day she meets Miles who’s dumpster diving and realizes one shouldn’t make assumption about someone. As they get to know each other, Kass can tell Miles is struggling. Kass slowly makes friends with Amber on the swim team and tells her when I push myself I feel powerful. Kass realizes that there are things she can’t control, but she has diving to do the way she wants. When Kass helps Miles with his dad, her dad tells her she has a big heart which will push her to do things that matter. A great coming-of-age story showing courage and how to take chances.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. All opinions are my own.

Dive follows Kass as she adjusts to life in a new school, away from her longtime friends, a situation that I also went through when I was about her age, and I could easily relate to her worries and struggles. The book also touches on dumpster diving, which I don’t have much experience with, but these scenes were written with enough detail that I could easily imagine Kass’s and Miles’s adventures.

This is a poignant story highlighting the emotional, social, and familial struggles of modern day students. I can see many of my students relating to one or another character or situation from this book.

Heart. This book had plenty of it.

No, not the romantic variety. Instead, it’s the familial one (fathers to their daughters, sons to their fathers), the friendship one created and strengthened( with former friends and new ones),and the humanistic one (to animals and strangers).

It was the book’s cover that caught my eye. But it was the book’s synopsis of the parallel dives that cemented my decision to read it. Kass’ actual voice as well her emotions are felt (by the reader (prime example-her unwise second visit to the Professor).

While it’s wholly Kass’ story, the characters that orbit around her from her parents, friends,the Professor, Miles, and even the cat, Knox propel, this story to a realistic, satisfying conclusion.Though wouldn’t mind a sequel featuring Miles and Kass’ a few years from now (a YA version, if you will).

#Dive #NetGalley

This ARC was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Children’s Book, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.