Trans nonbinary swimmer River McIntyre, who is Irish and Arab American, is a high school sophomore when a chance encounter with white, agender former classmate Indigo "Indy" Waits, at their Ohio hometown's aquarium, causes River to fall "out of the closet, literally into a shark tank." Over the next several years, River navigates dysphoria, internalized queerphobia, and their swim coach's bigotry, all while feeling disconnected from their Lebanese heritage due to their mother's trauma from post-9/11 racism. As self-accepting Indy helps River on their journey of self-discovery, the two develop a romantic relationship that's as complicated as it is tender. Multiple time jumps, some spanning years (the story follows River into adulthood), interrupt the book's flow at points, rendering important relational developments off-page. But in River's memorable voice, McCarthy (Once and Future) strikes a balance between piercing wit and aching vulnerability, while River's interest in sea life provides a compelling, complex metaphor for their own fluid gender identity. The result is a thoughtful, nuanced exploration of what it's like to feel trapped--and how to make it out. Ages 14--up. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (May)

River McIntyre, a gifted swimmer, finds themselves increasingly relating to the creatures held captive at the Sea World--esque marine park in their hometown. When a chance encounter with the confident, gender-fluid classmate they used to bully catches River by surprise, they are struck by overwhelming emotion, which upends their sense of self and sends them into a tailspin. This inner turmoil leads River to, literally, throw themselves to the sharks. Recovering from and finding meaning in this incident involves a grueling process of losing and gaining loved ones, "falling out of the wrong closet," learning to recognize and face both gender dysphoria and alienation from their Arab American identity, and the challenging but sweet process of falling in love. McCarthy adeptly presents the humor and heartbreak of River's journey, avoiding easy answers and embracing nuance. Readers will root for River through the pain, anger, and swim meets and be rewarded with a love story destined to make a splash.

Trapped in Ohio and tortured by others' expectations of "normal," nonbinary Irish and Lebanese American River McIntyre can no more imagine freedom than the animals at the local aquarium can imagine the ocean. That is, until an unexpected encounter propels them into the overwhelming waters of self-discovery. A man-of-war is not a jellyfish, and River McIntyre can't be the White daughter their Lebanese mother wants or please their swim coach, but they don't know why they are unhappy. When Indy Waits, a White, unapologetically queer former classmate, resurfaces during River's school field trip to the marine life theme park SeaPlanet, River confronts repressed memories and feelings by diving into the shark tank. At first, Indy wants nothing to do with the charismatic and self-destructive River, but their lives keep colliding as if pulled together by the tides. Spanning sophomore year of high school into adulthood, this blend of romance and coming-of-age story depicts a refreshingly messy journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Internalized racism and trauma create a fraught dynamic in River's relationship with their mother, which McCarthy navigates with nuance. Poignant, self-reflective prose is bolstered by carefully crafted, overarching marine themes and imagery. Love plays a significant role in River's growth, but neither dependence on a partner nor a dramatic, teen-movie coming-out moment are what carry them into a healthier life. A beautiful and relentless current of emotion. (Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.