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Young Adult Fiction Eating Disorders & Body Image

Breathless

by (author) Pam Withers

Publisher
Orca Book Publishers
Initial publish date
Sep 2005
Category
Eating Disorders & Body Image, Water Sports, Dating & Sex
Recommended Age
12 to 18
Recommended Grade
8 to 12
Recommended Reading age
12 to 18
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781551434803
    Publish Date
    Sep 2005
    List Price
    $9.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781554695829
    Publish Date
    Sep 2005
    List Price
    $7.99
  • Downloadable audio file

    ISBN
    9781459819832
    Publish Date
    Jan 2018
    List Price
    $18.99

Classroom Resources

Download Teacher’s Guide

Where to buy it

Description

Beverly is in Hawaii, helping her uncle at his dive shop, learning how to dive and trying to lose weight and get a boyfriend.

When Garth, an accomplished diver, shows an interest in her, Beverly is ecstatic, until it turns out Garth is only interested in one thing. Struggling with failing strength from her self-imposed starvation diet, Beverly finds herself in deep trouble when she has to fight Garth off underwater.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! Available in Spanish as Respira.

About the author

Award-winning author Pam Withers has written numerous bestselling sports and adventure books for teens, including four for Orca Book Publishers: Camp Wild, Breathless, Daredevil Club and . Pam is a former outdoor guide, journalist, editor and associate publisher. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her husband and tours North America extensively. For more information, visit www.pamwithers.com.

Pam Withers' profile page

Awards

  • Commended, Resource Links, The Year's Best Books

Excerpt: Breathless (by (author) Pam Withers)

And the thing about panicking when you're forty feet under the ocean's surface is that you can drown, and you know you can drown. In fact, you can't breathe without your regulator even if you're not panicking. You're also not supposed to hold your breath, because there's pressure underwater. That means if you're not breathing out bubbles while the regulator is out, your chest might expand until it explodes.

Editorial Reviews

"Teen girls, reluctant readers or not, will likely engage with Breathless because of its emotional appeal, vivid imagery, realistically portrayed characters and engaging brief narrative. As well, the same audience will likely identify with the book's majors themes: sexuality and sexual curiosity, insecurity and problems arising with self-doubt. Recommended."

CM Magazine

"Attention to detail and character development are strong in this brief novel."

Hip Librarian's Book Blog

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