Take the Plunge!

Kevin Wells has just finished fifth grade and is all set to have his best summer ever-that is, until fear threatens to ruin everything! On the last day of school, Kevin's friend Rashad is having a pool party, but Kevin has a secret: he's afraid of swimming. He tries getting the pool anyway, but when his head goes underwater, he can't help but panic. And then later that night, when Kevin goes to church, the choir director announces that he's going to sing a solo in the final concert. Even worse, when he and his family go to the Juneteenth festival, his mother signs Kevin, his sister, and his brother up for swimming lessons. He finds himself wishing his life would just go back to normal-without swimming or having to sing a solo in front of so many people. But Kevin first has to face his fears. Luckily, he finds some help-a special gift from God and words on a Juneteenth poster become the key to help him find courage and freedom from fear. In this tale for middle readers, an eleven-year-old boy with a fear of swimming finds a way to overcome his fear by trusting in God and using his gift of imagination to build a positive vision.