Breathing Underwater

Flinn, Alex. Breathing Underwater. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2001. ISBN-10: 0-06-029199-0

Summary 
The story begins with the judge sentencing Nick to six months of group counseling and requires that he write down what happened to get to this point. The judge also grants a restraining order, since Nick hit his girlfriend Caitlin. Nick thought that he had something special with Caitlin. He was honest with her, he even told her how much he feared his dad. Nick also worried that he had told Caitlin too much. He worried that she would tell everyone, or that he would leave her. Nick was only trying to protect his relationship with Caitlin. And Caitlin understood that Nick was scared, that his abusive father had ruined his self esteem, which is why she didn't leave him before.

In counseling, Nick meets other controlling boyfriends. He sees the way they treat their girlfriends and he wonders if he had treated Caitlin that way. Maybe Nick isn't the good guy he tells people that he is. With the help of Mario, the counselor, maybe he can change.

Critical Evaluation 
 Told from the perspective of an abuser, Breathing Underwater is an unusual story of compassion. It never once excuses Nick's actions, but it is a story of forgiveness and moving on. Also, Flinn ably demonstrates the role self-esteem (or lack thereof) places in cycles of abuse. The boys who are in Nick's therapy class provide other perspectives on controlling relationships. Nick's friends at school and his ex-girlfriend are less than full characters, but it doesn't matter because the story is about Nick. Highly recommended.

Reader's Annotation 
Nick has finally found someone to whom he can tell all of his secrets. And he'll do anything to keep her and his secrets close.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness 
Discover the signs of abuse in a relationship. Also, inspiring for those who have low self esteem and may be inclined to seek control-- it is possible to change for the better.

Genre and Subject 
Realistic fiction. Abuse in relationships- control.

Why I read it
Breathing Underwater shares a unique perspective on abuse- the story from the abusers point of view.