82 pages • 2 hours read
Breathing Underwater
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
Breathing Underwater is a 2001 young adult novel by author Alex Flinn that tells the story of Nick Andreas, a wealthy teenage boy who struggles with his abusive father and abuses his girlfriend, Caitlin. When she files a restraining order and he must take a court-ordered family violence class, Nick begins to reevaluate his behavior and troubled past. As Nick is forced to face his emotional damage, he learns that change and growth are possible. Flinn’s debut novel, written in part as Nick’s diary entries over the course of six months, has been lauded for its raw depiction of teenage angst and its provocative insight into generational abuse. This guide uses the 2012 edition of the e-book.
Plot Summary
The story begins with Nick in court because his ex-girlfriend, Caitlin, has filed a restraining order against him for hitting her. The judge orders Nick to attend six months of family violence classes and to write 500 words per week in a journal about his relationship with Caitlin. Nick begins journaling by describing how he met her. He and his best friend, Tom, noticed her as they started their sophomore year of high school.
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