About This Book
Ann Warren Turner's 'Learning to Swim' is a deeply moving verse memoir that chronicles a young girl's experience with sexual abuse during a summer at her family's house. Told through a series of evocative poems, the book conveys the profound emotional impact of the trauma, including feelings of shattered joy, fear, shame, and a sense of lost security. While the subject matter is undeniably heavy, the narrative ultimately focuses on the protagonist's resilience and her journey toward healing and finding her voice. This book is best suited for mature readers within the 8-12 age range, and parents should be prepared for sensitive discussions.
A series of poems convey the feelings of a young girl whose sense of joy and security at the family's summer house is shattered when an older boy who lives nearby sexually abuses her.
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Discussion Prompts
1
How does the girl's 'sense of joy and security' change after what happens?
2
What does 'learning to swim' mean in this book, beyond just swimming in water?
3
How do the poems help us understand the girl's feelings?
4
Who does the girl feel she can trust, and how does that change throughout the story?
5
What does this book teach us about bravery and resilience when facing difficult experiences?
6
How can we support someone who is going through a hard time like the girl in the story?
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