One thing I love about MG verse novels is their accessibility. Oftentimes, I think they get a bad rep for being too complex or flowery for reluctant readers (and sometimes, that might be true!) but THE DEEPEST BREATH is a stunning example of how verse can be used to deal with big, difficult emotions in a beautifully simple way. 

Meg Grehan's style is simple and easy to follow, and despite the sparsity of her language, Stevie is an immediately endearing character. She knows a lot, but she gets anxious about things she doesn't know ... and lately, one of those unknowns has been the tummy-butterflies she experiences when she looks at her friend Chole. What follows is a lovely exploration of first crushes and learning to be at peace with yourself, no matter how unfamiliar the world can seem. This essentially sums up much of the plot, and I did find myself craving a little bit more (since the story cuts off at a very climactic moment) but I think much of this comes from my own preferences as an adult reader. The beauty of THE DEEPEST BREATH *is* its restraint. I'm in awe of Grehan's ability to explore the massive tangle of emotions that come with growing up in so few words, and I sincerely hope this book find the success it deserves - it has the potential to spark so many important conversations about identity, truth, anxiety, and acceptance for younger MG readers, and classrooms should find it an invaluable tool when introducing novels-in-verse and/or poetry. 4/5,

Told in free verse, this book is about a young lady struggling with anxiety and struggling to figure out her feelings toward a girl at school.

This is a beautiful story about a young girl exploring her first crush. It's a heartwarming and poetic read with LGBT+ representation for younger readers. Written in verse, the story has a gentle flow and, although it's a quick read, it leaves a lasting impression and a warmth in your chest.

I liked this book about LGBT+. It was a sweet book and I enjoyed how it talked about dealing with your feelings and how confusing it could be.

Last year I read a beautiful novel in verse by Meg Grehan called The Space Between which was about a girl who has anxiety and couldn’t go outside, and how she ended up meeting a girl and her dog and a relationship formed between them. I could really relate to what was being said and a lot of the thoughts and feelings and themes.

Like Meg Grehan's previous book, The Space Between, The Deepest Breath is another novel in verse, however this time it is about a younger character and I feel it is more aimed towards younger readers. The Deepest Breath is a good book for middle grade or to read with someone else, as some scenes could maybe be a little scary for young ones (because of the character’s nightmares) .

So The Deepest Breath follows Stevie, an eleven year old who wants to consume knowledge and feels the need to know everything. Her latest obsession is the sea and the ocean so there is a lot about sea creatures and marine life in the book which will appeal to kids and readers who have an interest in that. Stevie feels the more informed she is, the more she can protect those around her. It also explores how she feels about her growing feelings towards her friend Chloe, as she may be experiencing her first “crush”.

Just like The Space Between, I could relate to feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, and in this book I also really felt for Stevie’s feelings of worry about her parent. This felt personal to me and emotional. These types of feelings are expressed well through the choice of verse. I think that the choice of writing style for The Deepest Breath means the book is not an overly long story, and can be read in one or two sittings, or multiple times if necessary. Other themes I felt ran strong through the book included friendship, trust, and curiosity. It felt sad in parts but mostly positive, sensitive, and it wraps up with a nice warm ending.

This is a book that could open up a dialogue with young people about mental health and feelings and same sex relationships which can only be a positive thing. People today need to see themselves represented in the books they read and if that is having a special interest or hobby, an inquiring, active mind, confusing thoughts, worry, and same sex crushes – then that can be found in The Deepest Breath.

The Deepest Breath is a very fast middle grade read since it's a novel written in verse. Even though I read it quite quickly, it had a big impact on me. I cried a few times!

In Meg Grehan's The Deepest Breath, 11-year old Stevie struggles with understanding what the fizzy feeling she gets when she looks at her friend Chloe means. It's a character-driven story and what the reader mostly gets is to see Stevie's personal journey - her worries as she tries to figure out what this feeling could mean, her anxiety about not knowing all there is to know (about herself, but also in general), wanting her mum to be okay, and her fear of what to do once she might actually know what she's feeling.

This novel is more about the journey of realizing who one is than acting on one's crush, which I think makes it a great one to share with middle graders (most children aren't dating yet, but those who feel attraction might be wondering about the "fizzy feelings" they get and are trying to figure out who they are). The story also touches on the idea that sometimes adults don't know how to act right away, even if they're someone who loves you very much (but that once they know what's going on, a loving adult will still love you). Stevie also seems to have some amount of anxiety, or at least has a lot of worries, and it was interesting to see that laid out in the book.

I found it sweet that the place she found help was the library and the person who helped her and her mum was the librarian. The novel makes a point about how Stevie never saw books or images (basically, representation) that would have let her know that a girl liking a girl is a possibility (sure, her mom said people could like people, including girls liking girls, but it's hard to see a possibility you don't actually SEE) and I think this is still relatable for young people even as more and more books are coming out (like this one!) that do provide important mirrors for queer children.

Books like The Deepest Breath are so important. It is essential that LGBT+ children see themselves represented and they need to know that their feelings are normal and that it is OK to feel the way that they do. In this offering, Meg Grehan tells an uplifting story about one girl’s journey of self-discovery as she tries to make sense of the new feelings that she is experiencing.

Eleven year-old-Stevie has a funny feeling inside her chest. It’s the not the same feeling that she gets when she is around her best-friend-forever Andrew. This is different. Stevie’s mum jokes that one day Andrew and Stevie will get married but Stevie is certain that this will never happen. There is a girl at school that Stevie likes, a girl called Chloe. And whenever Stevie is around her she gets that warm fizzy feeling in her chest, her hands go clammy and her heart begins to race.

She is desperate to talk to her mum about how she feels but their never seems to be a good time and she is full of anxiety about how her secret might affect her mother. In search of answers, Stevie heads to the library hoping that like most of the answers to her questions she can find it in a book…

The Deepest Breath is a heart-felt and emotional read about a young girl who is trying to understand the feelings that she has for Chloe, the girl in her class. Everything about the read is genuine and pure. Stevie is trying to make sense of something that is completely new to her and is bigger than anything that she has had to comprehend before but is filled with anxiety about talking to her mother as she is worried about what it might do to their relationship. You just want to reach into the book and give Stevie a hug and tell her that everything will be OK.

The children’s book industry is crying out for books that support children who may experiencing similar feelings to Stevie and are swimming through a confused ocean of thoughts and emotions. In a relatively short-read, Grehan packs in many moving moments and so much of what is talked about will be relatable to children who see themselves in Stevie. From the heart-racing excitement of holding hands on a trip to the medical room, to awkward conversations with best friends to an eventual out-pouring of tears when all the bottled-up emotions come tumbling out.

Told in lyrical verse it is a very easy read that packs a big punch. Grehan empowers children to be comfortable with who they are and to find the courage to express their identity freely. I can only hope that all adults will be as understanding as Stevie’s mum is.

Recommended for 9+.

I didn't really enjoy this read. The writing did not sit well with me and was difficult to engage in.

THE DEEPEST BREATH is a thoroughly enjoyable middle grade story and I was very much drawn into the narrative. The relationship between Stevie and her mother is portrayed beautifully. The author does a fabulous job of exploring Stevie's interest in her friend, Chloe. My one complaint is related to pacing. The first part of the book seems drawn out and repetitive. Then the conclusion feels a bit rushed. A minor complaint, however, for what is a strong story overall.

Told through accessible verse, The Deepest Breath by Meg Grehan is a warm, gentle story of reassurance and open-mindedness. The book uses free-verse poetry to maintain a strong sense of lyricism as it details the life of eleven-year-old Stevie, who is on a journey a of self-discovery. 

Stevie, The Deepest Breath’s main character, has plenty of anxieties. She worries about whether her mum is happy. She worries about all the things there are to know. She worries about the ocean and the many strange and mystifying creatures that live there. Increasingly, Stevie also worries that she won’t get married to best friend Andrew like her mum jokes that she will. Stevie worries about the warmth in her chest that she thinks might be a crush on her friend Chloe. 

Meg Grehan’s poetry allows Stevie to sift through her worries and search for answers to her questions. Maybe the ocean doesn’t have to be so scary if Stevie can learn more about it, and maybe it really is a crush that Stevie has on Chloe, whose eyes are bright and whose nails are painted a different colour each week. 

The Deepest Breath is a short middle-grade novel-in-verse, and it’s written for young queer readers. Looking for something quick, gentle, and lyrical? The Deepest Breath might be the book for you!

Have you read The Deepest Breath yet? What are your favourite novels in verse?

A touching and emotional story about a young girl dealing with anxiety and identity. Stevie hates not knowing things and gets severe anxiety over many things. She is also struggling with her growing feelings for her friend Chloe and understanding what it means. Told in a poetic and easy to read format, the overall story was a beautiful look into a young person experiencing anxiety and figuring out their identity. It was relatable and just a fantastic read. I would highly recommend this amazing book for everyone of all ages!!

*Thanks Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Aww, what a sweet, little book, written in verse! It takes us on the journey of Stevie, a young girl who's questioning her sexuality after realising she may 'like like' her best friend Chloe. I loved the way this was written, I found it a beautiful and heartwarming read. 
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We definitely need more books like this one to teach younger children that it's OK to be different and OK to question your identity and sexuality. When Stevie was at the library I just wanted to tell her to pick up 'Love, Frankie' by Jacqueline Wilson! I think that would be a great follow-on read to this cute story if you haven't read it!

This is a middle grade book that is told in verse, and I will say normally I do not love books that is told in verse. I really enjoyed this book, but I think the verse made me not totally love it. This book is about a 11 years old girl trying to figure out what is love and can she love girls. I think this is a great book, and it covers how pre teens starts feeling so well. I also feel this is a great book for middle grade readers, and I feel this book can help a lot of young girls/boys. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Little Island) or author (Meg Grehan) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

I received this e-ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a short and sweet tale of a girl struggling both with anxiety and the idea that she might have a crush on a girl in her class. I wasn't bothered by the fact that it was told in verse, but I also didn't feel that it added to the story, and almost wondered if it had been in prose if we would have gotten a little more of the story. In the end, it's a worthwhile read, and I hope it finds its way into the hands of those who need it the most.

This is a very interesting book that presents a child’s point of view through poetry. The poems are genuine and give you the inside thoughts and feelings of Stevie. Additionally, the poems can be used as part of a narrative but also as stand alone. It’s more suitable for upper KS2, but some of the poems can be used with younger children too. It can help to open discussion about writing form, genre and narrative. A great addition to your school library.

Novel in verse. 11 year old Stevie, who likes to know things, deals with anxiety, nightmares,  and her feelings for her friend Chloe.
Oh, this is lovely. The author captures the conflicting emotions of fear and hope and confusion and acceptance in a wonderful book about a girl who is finds the courage to share her new understanding of herself.

While I wasn't particularly enamored with this book, it is nonetheless a compelling novel in verse for the middle grade set that explores issues of both sexuality and mental health. Likely to win a number of awards and enjoy broad dissemination in public and school libraries/classrooms.

This was a beautifully written story about a young girl just realising she is attracted to girls not boys and is afraid there's something wrong with her. Tied in with all her other fears, this one feels like it might overwhelm her. I loved the fact that it's through visiting the library and help from a librarian that she is able to find help and support.   Lyrical and sensitive, Stevie is a lovely, warm character and well developed, making this a very enjoyable read.

Wow! What an amazing and clever book. Written in verse form throughout, it is the story of a young girl battling her anxieties and identity. Stevie suffers with anxiety. It is clear from the moment you pick the book up. But the anxiety is a relatable portrayal and dealt with beautifully. It also deals with LGBTQI in a wonderful manner with no judgement and it chronicles how she overcomes the “fizzy feeling in her chest” regarding it.

Written entirely in verse, this is a beautiful story and one that all should read.

I loved that this was told in prose, its a beautiful read about a girl named Stevie realizing her feelings for her friend and dealing with her anxiety. 
The descriptions of what Stevie is going through were so well thought out and really helped you identify with her. 
A lovely middle grade novel on queerness and learning who you are. 

Thanks NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC!