Breathing Underwater

Ages 10 to 14

A heartwarming, relevant middle grade novel about a twelve-year-old girl who wants to be a photographer. While on a road trip with her older sister, who is recovering from depression, she learns that loving someone doesn't come with its own map.

Olivia is on the cross-country road trip of her dreams, complete with her favorite aunt and uncle, National Geographic magazines, and her big sister, Ruth. Once they reach San Diego, they have a plan to uncover a time capsule they buried when they moved away three years ago. Olivia can't wait to take pictures of the sights, adventures, and memories—but what she wants most is to make her sister happy again. Ruth has depression, and it seems to Olivia, who knows Ruth's signs, that things are getting worse. But as the road winds on and they get closer to their old home, she'll realize that love, not fixing, is all she can give. Breathing Underwater is the second novel from Sarah Allen, a big-hearted exploration of sisterhood, dreams, and what it means to be there for someone you love.

About the Author

Sarah Allen is the author of What Stars are Made Of. She has been published in the Evansville Review, Allegory, and on WritersDigest.com. She has an MFA from Brigham Young University and lives in Seattle. Find her at sarahallenbooks.com.