Synchro Boy

Age range 14+

Bart is a teenaged boy drawn to synchronized swimming, which puts his masculinity - and worse, his own expectations - into question.

Sixteen-year-oldBart Lively desperately wants to feel comfortable in his own skin. Being a jockdoesn't mean he isn't the target of gay jokes, and the macho culture of hisswim team is wearing him down. When he gives in to his curiosity and triessynchronized swimming, he discovers he has a natural talent -- not to mention aspark with one of the girls. So when Erika Tenaka asks him to swim the mixedduet with her, he commits to taking them all the way to the Olympics.

Butjudges' scores and Erika's sudden decision to quit the duet threaten to derailBart's dream and kill what made the sport so liberating and alluring in thefirst place. And it doesn't help that as he falls in love with Erika, he'sfalling in lust with her frenemy ... not to mention a cute boy in the divingclub.

Ultimately,Bart will have to give in to his intuition as it leads him to realize there aremany ways to be a boy. If he doesn't, he'll lose not only his friendship withErika but also his new Olympic dream - and the joy he feels as he dances in thedeep.

'Synchro Boy is the kindof book the world needs more of: a book that challenges readers to think moredeeply about gender and gender expression. Bart's story -- of a boy who hasnever fit easily into a gender stereotyped box, who has endured years of genderpolicing, who is bravely determined to find his own path in both sports andrelationships -- is an important and powerful one. Readers will cheer Bart onas he swims his way towards "living a different kind of maleness.' RobinStevenson, author of Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community

'Synchro Boy is a funny, bittersweet story of a teenaged boy'sself-awareness and acceptance, set within that ultimate crucible of teenagelust: the swimming pool. By joining synchro, Bart pushes against the narrowcage of masculinity, only to discover just how hard the bars will push back.Armed with perseverance, hope, and some edifying relationships, he finds thecourage to follow his synchro dreams. Readers will come to know and appreciatethe challenge and camaraderie of synchronized swimming.' Douglas Davey, authorof Switch