Breathe and count back from ten

"Verónica has always dreamed of being a mermaid. When she's in the water, the pain caused by her hip dysplasia fades, and people can't see the scars from her numerous surgeries. On land, things are less clear. First, there's her cute new neighbor, Alex, who she's falling ha...

Full description

Main Author: Sylvester, Natalia (Author)
Format: Books Print Book
Language: English
Published: New York, NY : Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2022]
Edition: First edition.
Subjects:
Summary: "Verónica has always dreamed of being a mermaid. When she's in the water, the pain caused by her hip dysplasia fades, and people can't see the scars from her numerous surgeries. On land, things are less clear. First, there's her cute new neighbor, Alex, who she's falling hard for but is afraid to get close to. And then - amazingly - a spot opens up at Mermaid Cove, a local Florida attraction where professional mermaids perform underwater. But she would have to lie to her overprotective Peruvian parents to audition. Even if she could convince them that she could handle the job's physical demands, being a mermaid is not exactly the ambitious future they knew what she was up to with Alex. Then Verónica discovers that her parents have sheltered her from the full truth about her medical condition. So maybe it's time for all the secrets to come out and for her to make her own choices, on her own terms. Because who's in charge of her body, and her life, anyway?"-- Front flap of dust jacket.
Physical Description: 346 pages : 22 cm
Audience: Ages 13-18.
Grades 8-12.
Awards: ALA Schneider Family Award Honor Book for Teens, 2023.
Pura Belpre YA Honor, 2023.
ISBN: 9780358536864
0358536863
Author Notes:

Natalia Sylvester is the author Running, her YA debut, as well as two novels for adults. Born in Lima, Peru, she grew up in Miami, Central Florida, and South Texas, and received a BFA from the University of Miami. She currently lives in Austin, Texas. Look for her at nataliasylvester.com and follow her on Twitter @NataliaSylv.