Sink or Swim - Kate Cann

Having just finished reading the other two books in this series, and having read this book once before, before reading the other two, I thought that I would re-read it and review it for you. This is a book designed for older reader's and mainly suited to girl's who have read the other two in the series. Both I and my best friend can relate to issues found within the series, and I recommend reading Diving In and In the deep end before you read this ...
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Kate Cann wanted to be a witch up until the age of thirteen when she started writing diaries, which parts of have been used in the diving in trilogy; the second book in the series. Kate never thought that she would become an author, but enjoyed writing and books, and so carried that on in later life, studying and achieving two degrees in English. She started work in a book publishing company after university and after she had two children, ... more

Having just finished reading the other two books in this series, and having read this book once before, before reading the other two, I thought that I would re-read it and review it for you. This is a book designed for older reader's and mainly suited to girl's who have read the other two in the series. Both I and my best friend can relate to issues found within the series, and I recommend reading Diving In and In the deep end before you read this teen chick lit.

*History on Kate Cann*

Kate Cann wanted to be a witch up until the age of thirteen when she started writing diaries, which parts of have been used in the diving in trilogy; the second book in the series. Kate never thought that she would become an author, but enjoyed writing and books, and so carried that on in later life, studying and achieving two degrees in English. She started work in a book publishing company after university and after she had two children, she became a freelance writer at home, and was displeased with teenage books telling teenagers that sex was all bad, and no good, and so she decided to write her own books, with quite a few facts included. Her first books published were the diving in trilogy, which I have to say, is a brilliant series. She got quite a few tips and ideas from her children who are now young adults themselves. Overall, Kate Cann has an interesting life and writes brilliant books.

*the story*

So far, Coll has seemed to be coping after finishing with art for the second time. She finished with him once before, when she was getting pushed into having sex with Art. Art is a spoilt brat in private school, with a dad who gives him money, no mother after her death a few years back, and a year older than coll. Coll being only seventeen hasn't ever had sex, but art is more experienced than she is, and has strings of girlfriends behind him on his track record. She ends up breaking up with him, and then they get back together. Eventually, they start having sex, and unfortunately, after last time with what happened in their relationship; both Coll's mum and best friend doesn't trust Art. At the end of the last book, they finished with each other for reason's, but Coll was Art's first emotional, mental, spiritual and physical girlfriend, his first serious relationship, where he let himself go, and the same went for Coll, where she let herself go. At the end of the last book, she seemed to be getting on with her life and getting over him. But how little we knew.

Art had disappeared from the country to travel New Zealand and he dropped out of his college to do so. He seemed as if he couldn't cope without Coll anymore. Coll was safe without him around, being able not to bump into him at any opportunity, to feel that heart ache. Coll is in her last year of sixth form and so has her exams upcoming, and has plunged all her time into studying. On the surface, it seems as if she's coping, but deep down, she's still crying rivers over Art.

Her best friend Val doesn't know what Coll is feeling, and the distance between the two friends is becoming more distant as time goes on. Val has been going out with Greg for a long time now, but their relationship is practically over. Val had an abortion eight months ago now, and blames Greg for it, and so all they ever seem to do is argue, with Greg hiding away and giving into Val because he feels as if he's to blame for it all. Val swears she's aright on the surface, but deep down, she's still crying rivers. Both friends are hiding things from each other, and can't talk about how they feel.

Val has been trying to get Coll to go out for months, but deep down, Coll can't take it and so eventually tries and gets out of it by getting a job at a local coffee shop on Saturday nights, swearing to Val that she needs the money, when really, its to get out, do something and not have to go out partying so much. Coll does find working at the café fun in the end because she meets a girl, only a few years older than herself named Maggie, who she can relate to. Coll eventually can cope, she knows she can, and she's not drowning, she's swimming for her life. Coll can cope, but she has no plans for her future, or what she's plans to do yet after A levels.

Thing is though, is as soon as she starts coping, Coll receives a letter from art saying that he's back from new Zealand, and that he hopes that they can talk to each other and see each other again. This makes Coll break down emotionally inside again, and suddenly, what she been trying to get over for the past few months, comes spiralling back to her. Will she see art and loose control again, slowly drowning under the water where he's screwing up her mind, body and soul, or will she learn to swim to the coast, fighting for her life and staying alive? All these three books have morals to them that older teenagers can relate to, but this book deals with learning how to cope when a relationship ends and when you feel as if you cannot cope any longer. Perfect for anyone who has ever loved and felt heartbroken. This is also a perfect book for anyone unsure about what they want to do after A levels.

Overall, this is a really good book for teenagers, especially girls as it is a chick lit, and has solutions which you can relate to, problems which you can relate to, and this book ends the series perfectly. Full of comedy and love, and despair that only heartache brings, it is definitely a must read in my book list. Overall, a ten out of ten for the book, as the ending was a little predictable, but the events leading up to the ending weren't.

Quotes*

'We're all a house with four rooms… one room is emotions, one is physical, one is mental, and one is - the last is spiritual.'

'What matters is where you are now and what decisions you are going to make'

'I felt about as in charge as a hedgehog about to be hit by a truck'

'Just keep breathing, keep your feet on the ground'

'You were my first lover, my only lover. Friends make you laugh and support you and stop you feeling alone. They don't make you go to bed night after night curled up in misery. They can't make you feel full of ecstasy one minute and full of despair the next. They don't have such power over you, for good or for bad.'

Kate's own Homepage: www.katecann.com/

Pages: 214
Publisher: Livewire
ISBN: 0-7043-4960-4
RRP: £4.99 paperback
Availability: all good bookstores, libraries, or on Amazon used and new from £1.85 or new at £4.68.

Thanks for reading

Angiexxx
 

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