Breathing Underwater

It's hard reading a book where the main character is unlikeable, and Nick is most definitely unlikeable. Although the first person narrative makes it a little easier to accept Nick. Flinn has done a good job of not only showing what an abusive relationship is and how it fuels itself (controlling behavior from insecurities preying on someone elses insecurities, reinforced by an I'll do anything if you don't hurt me again response -- to simplify it way too much). But more impressive, she has shown how someone can grow and start to move on -- convincingly. This isn't a "it's for teens so I have to find a silver lining" type ending. Nick has a long way to go at the end of the book. Everything isn't magically better, but there is a plan.
Also Flinn's details, events, background stories of the characters clearly come from her experiences working with people in similar situations. Even her wildest story -- Leo becoming a puppet abuser (i.e. his father is pulling the strings) is very believable, at least to me, because I know someone whose father made him do horrible, abusive things to his sister.
Painful, yet healing book to read, about something that both teens and adults need to be aware of.

Nick Andreas has just been served a restraining order from the person he loves the most in the world. After beating his girlfriend, the sixteen-year-old offender finds himself attending group therapy and writing in a journal about the things he's done. He's the son of an abuser, and it looks like that abuse has surfaced within himself. The question is, can Nick recognize what he's done? More importantly, can he change?
The premise is a complex one. Author Alex Flinn set out to write about an abusive relationship from the abuser's point of view. Now how do you go about doing that, exactly? How do you write a story in which the reader has to simultaneously empathize with and abhor the protagonist? The fact of the matter is, Flinn is so adept with her writing skills that she gets away with it. The result is phenomenal.
The real strength of this story is the way in which the plot arcs and fools the reader. Nick is hardly a reliable narrator (a fact that becomes painfully clear by the end of the story). Yet when he writes in his journal, he feels unaccountably unable to lie about anything that happened. Flinn slowly brings the plot in the journal, and the story of how Nick lives in the aftermath of his own violence, together by the book's end. She does not compromise her position either. As a woman who served as a lawyer trying domestic violence cases and as a volunteer at the Inn Transition facility for battered women and their kids, she knows from whence she speaks. This isn't an author who is speculating on what violence does to families and friends. She knows. Better still, she can write about it.
This isn't a perfect book, I suppose. Some jumps in the plot are implausible. Some characters inconsistent. But what flaws it has only serve to show how strong the story itself is. There is no book on how abusers feel that is as available and accessible to young adults as "Breathing Underwater". You will never regret having read it.

Nick has been summoned to a courtroom...and Nick doesn't really grasp why he's there. Sure, he hit his girlfriend, but it was just one slap, one measly little slap and suddenly, his girlfriend, Caitlin, blows everything out of proportion by acquiring a restraining order against him. Why would she do that? After all, he said he was sorry. So why couldn't she let it go and move on like all the other times he's won her back?

The answer is quite simple.

Nick is not telling the whole story.

Sixteen year old Nick thinks that everyone is overreacting. They don't know the whole story between him and Caitlin. According to him, what went on between them wasn't anyone's business, including that counselor and the room of freaks he's been told to sit with everyday of the week. But it is through these counseling sessions where he tries to become invisible, and the journal in which he's required to write, that Nick finally reveals himself. It's a slow journey for him, but I'm proud to say that he finally, FINALLY gets it.

It's not often that an author tells a story like this from the male's perspective. I'm quite sure there are plenty of books like this, maybe even written better, however. This was my first and I could definitely relate to it. Not to say I felt sorry for the character; I just empathized with him. Everyone has their secrets and, sooner or later, the secrets you keep wound up exploding in your face. Teenage love is a strange thing but, when it's all you want, it can be very scary.

Nice, quick read; I did it in one sitting.

If you're the squeamish type, or the type that gets mad when a book doesn't go the way you want it to, then this is not the book for you.

If you're everyone else, give it a try.

i read this book for the newly formed Book Club at my school...i knew nothing about the book, and joined because a)i have a dearth of books ive been interested in reading b)free pizza
anyways, this book was more than a pleasant surprise...Alex Flinn's characters are believable, and i can find friends in my life for each character in the book...Nick is a character thats been done before in other novels, the guy w/the perfect life:good looks, brains, popularity etc...but hes the one that really has it the worst...hiding behind his facade, he lives a life of lies and nobody knows the hell of his life at home w/his father, and he mirrors his life through his treatment of his girlfriend, Caitlin...BREATHING UNDERWATER tells the tale of Nick's path to discovery/admission of his problems, and how he comes to solve them and become a man
the novel is brought to us mostly as read from Nick's journal he must write by court order...at first sarcastic in his entries, Nick soon finds solace in its pages, and pours his soul into his writing, letting us see the contradiction of his actions and thoughts...we come to know he is a well-meaning young man who doesnt know any better than how he acts, and who has serious self-confidence issues, and suffers from intense paranoia and a desire to be accepted...the novel gives us brief glimpses of his life at the present, after the whole incident w/his girlfriend, who filed a restraining order, and we see what he has to endure, and, knowing him through his novel, understand this can only make things worse...you feel his frustration throughout the novel, as he truly loves Caitlin, but shows it in the poorest of ways
BREATHING UNDERWATER is a novel which touches on domestic violence, but makes it accessible to all readers, especially teenagers, who may not understand exactly what an abusive relationship is...it makes an interesting story w/obvious real life themes, real life emotions, and semi-real life results...read this book, it is one that will make you wonder, make you think, and make you more aware of your actions towards others...great novel

This was a summer reading book for my son. I read it first and I actually liked it. It can be a little slow but it isn't an adult book so I expected that. The story was well written and interesting. I like how the boy learned through his exploration into his feelings.

Alex Flinn takes you on a roller coaster in this coming of age tale of a boy with a lot of pent up frustration. In "Breathing Underwater", Nick Andreas is an average rich white kid living in Key Biscayne, except for one thing: he has violent tendencies. The story takes you all over the Keys, but it takes place prominently at Key Biscayne High School and the anger management class. The story starts off with Nick in court getting a restraining order put on him by his ex-girlfriend Caitlin. He is sentenced to take a class on anger management and write his version of the story in a journal every day. Nick encounters many obstacles along the way. One of which is trying to get Caitlin back because he still loves her. Another is dealing with his best friend Tom deserting him. He also has to deal with the anger management classes including the teacher, his peers and himself. All of these things he must deal with while constantly living in fear and loathing of his abusive, uncaring, disapproving father. Along the way Nick's perspective is changed. Through the use of the journal to observe exactly how he is, and interacting and observing with his peers both from school and anger management classes, Nick is finally able to see where he has gone wrong and how he can make things right. This book is truly one to remember and I would strongly recommend it to anyone, but I would especially suggest it to young guys who feel overwhelmed by their lives, anyone with anger issues, and those who struggle to cope with everyday life. This book is not for the weak hearted as some very controversial subjects are addressed in the novel. I look forward to reading more books from this author and more books like "Breathing Underwater".

I was forced to read this book in my Junior Health class in High school. The book is interesting enough and easy to read. Any reading level can understand this book.

The plot revolves around Nick Andreas, who has received a restraining order against his ex-girlfriend Caitlin after hitting her. The story shifts between present day Nick dealing with his anger management class and filling out a journal. Those journal entries provide inside into the past, highlighting Nick and Caitlin's relationship while it was still "happy".

It was a constant reminder throughout the whole book that the author who wrote this book has no idea how teenagers actually speak. Being one myself, I have firsthand experience. It's not as if the characters use words that no normal one would use, it's just the manner in which they present themselves. Frankly, most of the dialog is just uninteresting and unrealistic.

My other complaint are Nick's journals. He writes them so perfectly detailed that it seems like they are happening in present day. He even uses quotes and "she/he said" to cap them off. I find it extremely hard to believe that any teenager will be that in-depth with a journal entry, treating it as if they were writing a novel.

I commend the book for dealing with such tough issues as control problems and child abuse but any brave steps taken to deal with these or short cut with the ridiculously formulaic ending that made the whole book feel like a worn-out after-school special.

Overall, the book is not the worst in the world but it definitely could have been better. I could have written a book better than this in my sleep.

We've all heard the terrible story of a young boy abused by his father. 'Breathing Underwater' is a new take on a tale-as-old-as-time story. But this time, it's not the boy who is in trouble, but his girlfriend. While reading this book, it took me on my own personal journey and left me numb in the end, as all good books do. I have so many thoughts swimming in my head in the last chapter, and in only a few words I was left...there's no word for it. The confusion calmed, the emotions took a breather, and this heart-breaking story left me with an ending as hopeful as it is hurtful. An excellent book that all young adults should read, I give "Breathing Underwater" a well deserved "Hazah!"

at the beginning of this book I hated the main character so much I almost stopped reading it. This guy was a sick, abusive, stalker. His ex-girlfriend who has a restraining order against him, dropped her pen and he kept it and liked to put it in his mouth and bring it everywhere.

Eww! Sick! loser!

Through his jounal entries you learn how he goes from loving his girl friend to becoming suspicious of her and controlling and abusive. He eventually gives her such a beating, and in public, that she can't forgive him.

This was highly unpleasant subject matter and I read two silly, girly books after it to calm myself down. Yet, this teaches an important lesson and I won't easily forget it.

A book about an abusive boyfreind about to violate his restraining order and land himself in prison may not sound like a fun book to read, and it's not, but I don't regret reading it.

So, creepy, disturbing, and scary, but with a good lesson.

Upon reading Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn, I always found the subject of physical abuse to be somewhat disturbing. However, after reading such novel I became more comfortable with the subject and began to gain an understanding of it...in a way. From the setting to the maturity to the characters, everything about this book was really gripping, and I would recommend to all ages that enjoy stories about life issues.

We are first introduced to the main character, Nick Andreas. At first glance, he is what you would label the typical jock: popular, snotty, and mostly rich. In fact, little do people know that Nick has a problem, which is later exposed in a court room later in the opening chapter. His problem? He sometimes becomes a little too physical with people, especially his girlfriend, Caitlin.

Within the first few pages, one might think that this character, Nick, is not about to change at all any time soon. However, this soon begins to change after weeks of attending Family Violence Classes and keeping a sacred journal. All throughout the story Nick writes in this journal, reflecting on past events in which he started to like Caitlin and how he ended up in court with her. He also tends to write about other personal issues too; such as his abusive father and his cool best friend. Pretty soon we are shown a new Nick, one whom is more mature, and aware of his horrid problem.

Ultimately, Breathing Underwater really does deserve to be read by all. Not only is this novel solely about dealing with physical abuse, but it is also about developing as a person and discovering who you truly are, and not necessarily becoming what everyone makes you to be. This book shows how we all make mistakes and cannot change our pasts, but yet we can our future. In the end, there is so much more to this book than meets the eye and I believe that that is what many will be attracted to if they ever come across reading this touching novel.

Review by Josh Galassi. 1/5/2006.

PS: This review was mainly written by me for an Englsih book assignment I did and thus, I decided to post it for all to see.