Boy Underwater by Adam Baron

Cymbeline Igloo has never been swimming. Ever. His school has decided that his class must undertake swimming lessons, yet he has never been swimming before. He doesn’t even own swimming trunks! Cymbeline is a nine-year-old boy who has a very normal life: he goes to school, plays football and has school friends (and enemies). This story is wonderful in so many ways. It allows you to explore a totally different and unique world: that of a nine-year-old. Through his narrative, you relearn what it means to be in year four and what battles you may have faced back then. It discovers themes such as bullying, trust, family secrets, friendships and love. Baron did a delightful job at confronting some serious issues, such as mental health, death and bullying, from the child’s perspective, which is one we often forget about as we get older. Our thoughts often become more selfish and we forget that we were once young, with our own struggles that seemed as though they would never end.

This book is an easy read as it is aimed at younger readers, therefore, I believe that it can be read and enjoyed by just about anyone. I would recommend this to everybody, no matter what age, as it truly is eye-opening. It is a good reminder that we should never belittle other people’s worries just because they may be younger or their problems may appear smaller than yours. No one can ever know the full truth.