Flinn, Alex. Breathing Underwater. 2001. 203p. 309 mins. ISBN 0-06-029198-2. Available both at FIC FLI on the library shelves and as an audiobook on Overdrive.
Nick seems to have it all. His family’s rich, he’s got the best looking girlfriend, and he has tons of friends. So why he is in court mandated therapy with a bunch of violent offenders? Why is his girlfriend Caitlin scared enough of him to seek a restraining order of him?
As Nick tells his story, the reader discovers that his life is not easy at all. His mother abandoned his father and him when he was young. His father is motivated and driven, but he expects the best from his only son. And he also takes out his anger out on Nick. But nobody knows this, not even Nick’s best friend. When Nick meets Caitlin, he knows she’s the one for him. They begin dating, but Nick is quick to control her life. He makes cutting remarks when she wears something he doesn’t approve. He wants to know where she is at all times, who she talks to, and what she’s doing. He doesn’t want her to look at other guys, and he gets mad at her when other guys look at her.
Nick’s control of Caitlin takes on a dark turn when he becomes violent with her. One scare and one hit too many for her, she presses charges against Nick and now he must spend time with these violent losers every week. He’s not like them, he’s nothing like them. He just loves her so much it hurts. But when one of the participants breaks into his old girlfriend’s house and kills her before shooting himself, Nick realizes that he in fact belongs in this group, and that to get Caitlin back he must understand that like father, like son is not a compliment in his case and he needs to break the mold of violence that surrounds his life.
If you like Nick’s story of redemption, check out Speak, where Melinda too much recover from a horrific event to gain back her life.
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