Aniana Del Mar Jumps In

I saw Aniana Del Mar Jumps In by Jasmine Mendez on a list of Pura Belpre honor books and so got it from the library. The book description says, "Aniana del Mar belongs in the water like a dolphin belongs to the sea. But she and Papi keep her swim practices and meets hidden from Mami, who has never recovered from losing someone she loves to the water years ago. That is, until the day Ani’s stiffness and swollen joints mean she can no longer get out of bed, and Ani is forced to reveal just how important swimming is to her. Mami forbids her from returning to the water but Ani and her doctor believe that swimming along with medication will help Ani manage her disease. What follows is the journey of a girl who must grieve who she once was in order to rise like the tide and become the young woman she is meant to be. Aniana Del Mar Jumps In is a poignant story about chronic illness and disability, the secrets between mothers and daughters, the harm we do to the ones we love the most—and all the triumphs, big and small, that keep us afloat."

I liked this book! I thought Aniana was an awesome character, and I really felt for her in her struggles. I was frustrated by her mom during the book (her extreme religious beliefs, her inability to cope with her own trauma at the detriment of her child, etc.) but felt like the book ended in a positive way. I enjoyed the book being written in verse, including lots of poetic devices like shape poems and things like that included throughout the book. Good read.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)