The+Book+Breathing+Underwater

This year we had projects called, Independent Study, and we have them for every subject. For English Br. Tom gave us a list of authors and books and we choose a book to read. I chose to read the book called __Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes.__ I really enjoyed this book. The day that we had to have these books read by we shared what they were about to the class. A few of my friends had read the book __Breathing Underwater__. They told me it was really good and that they enjoyed reading it. So I decided to read that book, even though our independent study project was over. __Breathing Underwater__ is about a teenage boy named Nick. Nick is a popular boy in his high school. At the beginning of the story he is getting a restraining order from his ex-girlfriend Caitlin. Caitlin and Nick meet earlier that year and started going out. Nick wasn't too happy about the restraining order and wanted Caitlin to drop the charges. Not only did Nick get a restraining order but he had to attend classes with other men who abused there girlfriends. Nick also was told by the Judge to write in a journal and describe everyday since he first meet Caitlin. Nick started to enjoy writing in his journal because he got to remember the days when he was most happy. He used to tell Caitlin everything, even more than he told his ex-best friend. He told Caitlin that his dad would hit him when he got into trouble. This journal helped him alot, looking back he got to realize how controlling he was and how he did abuse Caitlin. I think the main part of the book was when when he saw his friend Leo from class treat his girlfriend bad. That is when Nick realized that he used to do that to Caitlin. Nick also learned to stand up to his father. This really made Nick change. This was a really good book and it has a great message about it. 1205276160

Another main point in this book is about how we follow in the footsteps of our parents or are likely too. In the book __Breathing Underwater__ Nick is the main character. He is a teenage boy. Nick lives with his father, because his mother left when he was little. We find out that the reason his mom left was because Nick's dad would abuse her. Nick was often upset because his mom left him there with his father and never came back. In first grade Nick meet his best friend Tom. He told Tom pretty much everything...except that his dad would abuse him. Nick would always come over to Tom's house and always sleepover. Tom's family was like Nick's second family. Nick didn't realize it but he was a lot like his father. When Nick got a girlfriend, Caitlin, he started to be really controlling. Caitlin didn't tell Nick to stop, or that it bothered her, but we know that it did. Nick wouldnt let her talk to other guys or do anything that he didn't want her too. He would control who her friends were and what she would wear. One time Nick threw her necklace out the window because he didn't like it. But things only got worse. Nick once accidentally hit her, but after a while she forgave him. But then when Nick saw her perform in a talent show, when he told her not to, he beat her up. After that Caitlin put a restraining order against him. Nick didn't understand what he did wrong until he saw someone else acting the same way he used to. This is when he realized that his fathers abusive behavior rubbed off on him. Once he did this he called Caitlin to apologize, even though she might not have listened. He also stood up to his father and told him not to hit him anymore. By the end of the book Nick changed so much. He became a better person and learned to stand up for what he believes in. 1205276890 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I absolutely LOVED this book. At first I wasn't to excited about the independent study project and just considered it another homework assignment. But after starting the book I couldn't put it down for a second. It relates to real life situations and a teenagers feelings. I connected with the book a lot which also really helped. I enjoyed reading both the parts from his journal and the ones where he's actually narrating. I felt like I couldn't stop reading or I'd fall out of the loop and forget what was going on so I barely ever stopped. The action almost never ended in this book and all the things that happen to Nick almost made me feel bad for him but he did have it coming after what he did to Caitlin. It surprised me though that after everything he did to her and how mean he was it was all because of how much he loved her and not because of any sort of disagreement or fight. He wanted the relationship to work and this was the only way he knew how. So deep sown it really was a love story, but it just goes to show that things aren't always as easy as you think they are and how important trust is in a relationship. After thinking about the book and how much I enjoyed it it ceases to amaze me how well everything was portrayed and brought on. It was just a great book and definitely on the top of my favorites list!!!!1205462398