Natalia Sylvester’s beautiful writing entranced me like a siren song right from the first page! Breathe and Count Back from Ten is such a moving, vulnerable look at what it’s like to dare to chase your dreams and being the truest and most honest version of yourself. On the surface, my chronic pain has no similarities with Verónica’s hip dysplasia but the disability representation is so nuanced that I related not only to the instances of ableism she experiences but also the struggles of loving every part of you when some of them cause you so much pain. The ups and downs of the Verónica’s journey made my heart ache but also filled me with so much hope. Themes of family, sisterhood, first love and immigration are seamlessly woven into the story. Paired with the magic of Mermaid Cove - a tourist attraction where athletes perform as mermaids -, Natalia Sylvester’s newest novel took my breath away.

A stunning YA contemporary that will make waves! Highly recommend!

This story was absolutely wonderful, and pulled on my heart strings time and time again. Through all the ups and downs that Veronica has gone through she has never let it break her. She has played it safe after countless surgeries to manage her disability, but during this story she finally starts to truly take control of her life and what she truly wants. I loved being about to see the journey that she takes with her disability, with romance, and with swimming. She is truly a strong character, and fights so hard even when it is difficult. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book.

Natalia Sylvester is one of my favorite writers, and I think this might be her best yet. It moves at a quick pace, but incredibly emotional and it just swept me away. I don't think I've ever read about a character like Vero, and I'm so happy that Natalia has breathed her to life.

There is not nearly enough disability rep in today's market, so I am so pleased to have been able to read Natalia Sylvester's Breathe and Count Back from Ten, which pulled from the author's own experience with hip dysplasia. In the main character of Verónica, Sylvester has created a strong and vibrant young woman. And yes, while the backdrop of seeing Verónica achieve her dream of swimming as a mermaid in her town's campy water theme park is fun, I mostly enjoyed seeing her on the journey to reclaim her own body after years of having it controlled by her strict parents and her doctors. There is also a blossoming romance with the new boy in her apartment complex, but it was a bit underdeveloped. Looking back on the book, the moments I remember are not the ones with Alex, or with Verónica's fellow mermaids, but the ones where we see Roni's strength and courage as she learns to see past her scars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Clarion Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What's the book about?

In the summer before she begins her senior year, Veronica, a Peruvian-American teen with hip dysplasia, auditions to be a mermaid at a Central Florida theme park.

My thoughts:

Loving the disability representation and how raw the feelings are around all the challenges one must face. I also liked that it didn't make Veronica want to dream any less and only made her determined to achieve her goals. A truly fantastic book.

This book was everything for me. As someone who grew up with a disability, it's been so hard and rare to find good representation anywhere. And yet it felt like every other paragraph absolutely sang back my experiences while also giving representation to being a Latinx immigrant. I will be recommending this book for a very long time to come.

Thank you for the ARC!

I really liked this thoughtful and engrossing YA novel about a girl who becomes a professional mermaid at a local attraction. She has hip dysplasia and has some mobility issues on land, but in the water she’s a perfect mermaid. There aren’t a ton of YA books with a disabled main character, and I thought this was really well done. Not only does Verónica not want to be told her scars are ugly, she doesn’t want to be told they’re beautiful, inspiring, badass, or anything!

In addition to the mermaid storyline, Verónica meets a dreamy boy and also deals with family dynamics and the specter of having a major surgery. One of the other mermaids is a great genderqueer/ gender non-conforming character without that ever being specifically stated, only shown. So maybe this book can get past the book-banning censors.

Some reviews I’ve read criticized the portrayal of Verónica’s Peruvian parents as both loving and also slut-shaming her. I thought it was very realistic having something bullying/abusive go hand in hand with being caring, rather than a cartoon villain. Most 17-year-olds are not at a place in their lives where they can write their parents off even if they want to. I like a story where all the characters are portrayed compassionately. I think a lot of people will be able to relate. I also really appreciated seeing the struggles Verónica’s family went through as immigrants and how even after they finally received their green cards, they still did not feel safe.

I gratefully received a free advance copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for this honest review.

Thanks so much to Clarion books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Oh. My. Gosh. I loved this book so much. The writing was poetic and beautiful. There are so many important topics brought up in this book. It wonderful coming of age story with own voices disability representation that is so needed in the YA genre. This story is so important and I hope it gets the hype and recognition that it deserves.

Verónica is a typical teenager who just happens to be disabled. She worries about boys, she worries about her protective parents finding her with boys and embarrassing her. She is thinking about where she wants to go to college, and she loves mermaids. When a spot to become a mermaid at the local underwater tourist attraction suddenly becomes available right in time for a summer job, especially when she’s not been able to secure one yet, it seems like fate. The problem is that her parents don’t approve for multiple reasons, least of all because of her chronic health condition. She has to weigh up the choice of going against them, lying about it and creating more problems for herself or following her heart and trusting that she knows the strength of her own body.

Breathe and Count back from Ten is a beautiful account of being born with a disability, living with it and how people around you react to it. Verónica’s love of mermaids began during her time recovering from a surgery when she was a child. Her voice is clear throughout the book. She talks openly and concisely about having hip dysplasia, about what that means to her on a daily basis and what it felt like for her as a child recovering from surgery. She didn’t just fall in love with the sight of the mermaids during the show, she associated their tails with her how her whole body was in a cast. It is observations like this and reading Verónica’s thought process that makes this book truly special.

At the top of each chapter is a dictionary definition of a word followed by Verónica’s own definition, a process that she began after a therapist suggested she try it. It immerses us further into her world, giving us a glimpse of how she has grown up viewing the world. That is a very powerful writing tactic that Sylvester has chosen to use, and I couldn’t help but feel my heart squeezing when I read some of Verónica’s definitions. It is a very lonely world being a teenager and even more so when your body is different to everyone else’s. Teenagers are the first ones to point out differences and nothing escapes their notice, something that Sylvester shows with unnerving accuracy several times in Breathe and Count back from Ten.

There is no sugar coating in Breathe and Count back from Ten. Verónica’s life is one with pain, with nasty comments, stares from everyone she comes into contact with, being a teenager with scars on your body, overbearing parents, and growing up with a “normal” sibling. Despite all that, this isn’t a feel sorry for yourself book and anyone expecting it to be needs to spend some time with a real disabled person for two minutes. This is a story about living life, of finding love (and it is a beautiful love story), of best friends, and taking control of your life and your body. It’s also about growing up and taking that step into the future, that leap into the unknown.

Aside from Verónica’s hip dysplasia there is also a male character with depression, and I’m highlighting this because not only do we need more authentic mental health representation, but also it’s very rare to see a male character portrayed with mental health. There’s also Peruvian representation (Verónica and her family) and LGBTQIA representation.

I just finished this wonderful book and I need to tell you all about it because I loved it!! BREATHE AND COUNT BACK FROM TEN is a YA Contemporary coming-of-age story that is raw, powerful, and beautiful. It follows Verónica, a Peruvian-American teenage girl with hip dysplasia who wants to audition to be a mermaid at a local theme park. She has to deal with questions about her body and with her overprotective immigrant parents, and learn how to follow her dreams even when they feel out of reach.

This book is a total page-turner with amazing writing and a strong main character. I rooted for Verónica from page one, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages because I was desperate to see her whole story. There were so many powerful lines in this book and it had strong messages while also being a fun story.

The main reason why it’s not a complete 5 star for me is the side characters. I felt like they weren’t really developed and there wasn’t any time for me to get to know them properly. I wish there was more time to expand on their personalities and how they fit into the story. However, it wasn’t a huge issue at all – the main reason why it’s like this is because the book focuses mainly on Verónica and her journey, and everything else comes second. Since I love her so much, it didn’t hinder my enjoyment or investment in the story.

There’s also a tiny romance plot which is super cute; it’s not a big part of the book at all but it’s still a sweet addition. If you’re someone who likes stories focused more on character development and not romance, then you’re definitely going to like this!

Overall, I absolutely recommend this book if you want a quick, fun, and powerful story to read that has a wonderful main character, disability rep, Peruvian American rep, depression rep, and a lot more. Make sure to add it to your TBR!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Breathe and Count Back from Ten was completely magical and breathtaking. From the very beginning, I was very intrigued by what Verónica was going through. Whether is medically, romantically, or swimmingly. I can't even imagine all the surgeries and pain she has gone through. Or finding out the truth of how serious her situation was.

It definitely shocked me that her parents were keeping it a secret when she's still 17 years old. I mean, heck, when I fractured my skull back in 4th grade, even I knew how serious my situation was and how easily things could have gone completely differently too. The one thing that made me happy for her, though, was how much she loved to swim. In some ways, I kept thinking this little glimpse of happiness could help heal her in a way. Of course, I was completely wrong, but I still secretly wished that it did.

Now her parents weren't the only ones keeping secrets. Nope, Verónica had so many and just couldn't stop herself from all the little lies either. Her being caught red handed was eventually going to happen. So, I wasn't completely shocked when it did. I just didn't like how intense her parents were for most of this book. I totally understand why they were mad about one huge thing because of the potential of getting really hurt. Other than that, they kind of smothered her and didn't really let her live her life or anything.

In the end, I really enjoyed the heck out of this book. It's always really interesting to dive into an own voice's novel. Or maybe that's just me feeling that way? I also liked getting to know more about hip dysplasia because I honestly didn't know much about it beforehand. Definitely happy that I got the chance to jump into this book and fall in love with Verónica. I can't wait for the next book Natalia writes.

I read the entirety of Breathe and Count Back from Ten by Natalia Sylvester this week while sitting at the beach eating ice cream.

I love love love this book so much. It’s achingly beautiful and navigates what being bicultural feels like so wonderfully. This is an instant preorder for me. After all, who doesn’t want to be a mermaid?

Veronica has dreamed of being a mermaid since she first went to Mermaid Cove as a little girl. She has already had multiple surgeries for hip dysplasia. Swimming is encouraged to help her joints so she spends a large amount of her time in the water anyway. Her strict parents have other ideas and dismiss her dream and Mermaid Cove as a waste of time. They continually remind Veronica of all they have done for her and her sister by immigrating to the US from Peru. They tell her she should only focus on getting a “good” job. When auditions are announced at the Cove, Veronica decides to pursue her dream behind their backs. She soon finds out that they were also keeping secrets about her hip.

Natalia Sylvester brings her OwnVoice to the book with her disabled representation, as she also has hip dysplasia like the main character Veronica. It was good to read such a real, raw, and personal portrayal of the struggles with disability and chronic pain in a young adult fiction book. Veronica doesn’t want to be a young adult like any other. She wants to be seen for exactly who she is - scars, limp, and all. I also have hip issues though nothing as severe as hip dysplasia. Veronica’s thoughts on living with chronic pain rang very true. When something hurts pretty much all the time, it has to get really bad before you notice it enough to speak up. You just push the low-level pains away so you can get on with your life.

There is a little romance in this book, with the new boy who has moved into her apartment complex, Alex. Alex struggles with mental health issues and the young couple grows into their relationship as they each realize how their experiences compare and contrast with one another. The other characters - Veronica’s sister, Dani, her gregarious best friend, Leslie, and Leslie’s sister (who is also a mermaid at the Cove), Tanya, and the cast of mermaids - are all well thought out and bring a lot to the story. It is almost like this was a diary and not a novel. The introspection and thoughtfulness put into Veronica’s narration make this an incredible book. I recommend it as an OwnVoices portrayal of chronic pain, as a first-generation immigrant story, as a young love tale, and as a story of sisterhood and deep friendships.

Be aware there is talk of Veronica being touched without enthusiastic consent and her body mocked, followed up with her not being heard or supported by her parents in the aftermath. There is a lot discussion of about surgeries, scars, and blood. And Veronica’s boyfriend, Alex, suffers from depression. I felt that these were all handled carefully and appropriately for a young adult book.

I’m glad to see more disabled representation in young adult fiction, especially when it is brought this authentically. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about others’ perspectives and lives by reading OwnVoices books. It’s also just a really sweet romance and it’s fun to read about mermaids!

Verónica, a Peruvian immigrant with hip dysplasia, has dreamed of being a mermaid since she saw them for the first time. Her constant surgeries to repair her hip need therapy, and so far, the best form is swimming. Under the water, Verónica is finally able to move freely, without pain. So when a spot at Mermaid Cove opens up, she’ll do everything in her power to get in, even if it means lying to her parents and enlisting the help of the cute boy next door, an even worse crime compared to a lie.

I don’t even know how to put my thoughts into sentences. This book was utterly amazing. Every one of the characters added to the story in a very powerful and meaningful way, the description of Mermaid Cove was like a movie in my head and Verónica has got to be my favourite book character so far. Sylvester has such a lovely writing style, and books with disabilities that aren’t magically cured are hard to find.

While there is a bit of a romance in the book, I don’t think that this is a YA romance. Alex is such a supportive friend and caring person that it didn’t really feel as thoigh the book centered on their relationship. I will say that I felt that it did move very fast at the beginning, but evened out around the middle of the book.

This is definitely deserving of a spot on my favourites shelf, and I will be picking up a copy as soon as it comes out. Thank you to NetGalley, Clarion Books and the author for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

OwnVoices books are the best! I love when authors get to tell their stories and it gives the book more authenticity and impact. I knew nothing about hip dysplasia going into this and I enjoyed following Veronica's journey to follow her dreams while accepting her body and learning to love herself.

I had no idea there were places with live mermaid attractions and I definitely supported Veronica in wanting to be one. That's like a fairy tale come true! Veronica is a strong girl and an awesome swimmer and I was happy she found something she loved doing. Her relationship with her family was strained at times, partly because she kept a lot to herself. Veronica didn't want to burden them with her pain and she wanted her parents to see her as more than her hip dysplasia.

This was easy to dive into (pun intended lol) and well written. A perfect story for summer!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Clarion Books and NetGalley for the copy

What a beautiful coming-of-age story.

I love seeing more books with disability rep and hip dysplasia is one I had not seen in books until now. And the author was so vulnerable in the way that this book was written.

The relationship between Verónica and her family is one I could relate to so well, that it brought me to tears a few times. The whole idea of Verónica not knowing who she was doing things for is one I have found myself in, in various stages of my life. As a child of immigrant parents, you want to honor the sacrifices that they have made for you but there also comes a point where one has to live life for ourselves and not for them. And I loved seeing Verónica come to this realization.

Thank you to NetGalley and Clarion Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a great novel! It discusses how difficult others can make the lives of disabled people even as they are trying to help and the complicated dynamics of a family that has a disabled kid and an able-bodied kid. The romance is cute, but I liked that it took a backseat, with Vero being the focus as she learned to tell her own story. There's also discussions about mental health, immigration, and consent. This is a beautiful story about a girl learning how to take charge of her own life.

This is definitely a new favorite! Not only was this story super cute. It also had so much wonderful representation that I’d been craving. A disabled teenage Latina? Yes please! And she’s fighting for her bodily autonomy! So relatable. It helped that the love interest was understanding about her disability and didn’t push her to share before she was ready. He was so thoughtful and also neutral when appropriate as she shared about her disability.

I also really appreciated the relationship between the main character and her younger sister. It felt so realistic and loving but also showed the dynamics that come from one sibling having a disability (especially one that requires surgery) and a sibling being less than honest.

Without giving too much away (but stop here if you don’t like even the implication of spoilers), I appreciated the details that weren’t neatly tied in a bow at the end of the story. It wouldn’t have felt realistic, especially with immigrant parents. But I was proud of Verónica for standing up for herself and listening to her body.

I seriously can’t express how much it meant to me to read this book, and I can’t wait to read more from this author. Like, in the end, it's a well-done, cute YA coming-of-age/romance, but it's also the kind of story I've been needing and hoping for.

Dieses Buch war das erste Buch, das ich je gelesen habe, das die Story eines Protagonisten mit einer Behinderung erzählte. Die Protagonistin muss man einfach gern haben und man schöpft als Leser durch sie Kraft, da sie sich von nichts unterkriegen lässt.

Tolles Buch für den Sommer.

I really loved this one. Not only does it center on a fictional version of Weeki Watchee Springs State Park in the next county over from me, but the main character has hip dysplasia. May aunt, aged 79, was diagnosed with congenital dislocation of the hip in her early twenties, which is another name for hip dysplasia.

Veronica has been through several surgeries in an effort to correct her hip and the scars look like a road map. However, it becomes clear that her parents have been keeping her in the dark about just what those surgeries were for and her prognosis for the future. They are extremely protective of her due to the hip dysplasia, but to the point that Veronica feels oppressed by them as they won't let her make her own decisions about her body. She is also self conscious about her scars as they draw stares and questions, but later owns the scars when someone at Mermaid Cove photoshops them out of a picture showing her progression to accepting her disorder as a part of her.

Thankfully, my parents never kept me in the dark about my condition, nor did my doctors. But Veronica experiences what a lot of disabled and chronically ill kids and adults face, being ignored in appointments as the doctors talk to the care givers about pain levels etc. Veronica slowly takes charge at an appointment as she realizes the information the doctor is giving isn't new to her parents. Only then does the doctor also realize that her parents have been keeping her in the dark, begin to address her more, and let her know the decision to have surgery and when is hers, not theirs, as only she can tell when her body needs it. This is a great illustration of what many face and go through when dealing with their medical care.

Veronica's father is also very against her dreams of being a mermaid. He thinks it's all fantasy and she should focus on practical things for her future. He thinks the mermaids are inappropriate and will lead to "promiscuity". He also feels that one kiss with a boy will lead to sex and Veronica being pregnant, and oh boy does all this feel familiar. My dad may not have been an immigrant with high hopes to integrate his family, but as a working class man who never finished school, he placed a lot of the same pressures on me to achieve in school in order to go to college and get a career. While I know many children of immigrants will relate to this, I found it be relatable too as the first generation to attend college. Her father's attitude toward dating is also very familiar. My dad is in his 80s and old fashioned, a date automatically means marriage to him etc. I was told at twenty I couldn't date without permission. So when Veronica's dad flies off the handle at even the suggestion that she could be interested in a boy it was all super relatable.

A main theme in the book is Veronica standing up for herself and seizing what she wants in life as well as what she does with her body. Veronica takes an opportunity to be a mermaid even though she knows her parents won't approve because it will make her happy. She feels she has to hide it out of fear of their reaction. Veronica is also learning to stand up for control over her own body, not just in terms of sexual maturity, but her surgeries and when they happen. Both are great lessons to learn for teens and young adults, as well as parents.

I was reading this on they way to and from a trip to Iowa to explore a new job opportunity I was planning on taking. My dad is, of course, dead set against it. He thinks I should stay in Florida no matter what. But I knew this new job would make me happy. So reading about a teen girl about half my age seizing her job opportunity for happiness really helped me with what I was experiencing. Proving you don't have to be a teen to need YA fiction and relate to characters as an adult and not just your teen self relating.

Mermaid Cove may be fictional, but it's inspiration is not. Weeki Watchee Springs in Hernando County has been in operation since the '40s with daily mermaid shows. My parents took me around the same age that Veronica is when she first goes. I would have loved to be a mermaid too, but I would never be able to swim without googles that cover the nose and ear plugs, and I'd never be able to get the scuba certification mentioned in the author's note. When I first heard about this book I knew I had to read it no matter what. Weeki Watchee and a disabled MC? Yes, please!