What happens when the drive to win starts to feel like losing your self-respect?
Wendy Wan-Long Shang, the award-winning author of The Great Wall of Lucy Wu, delivers a thoughtful middle-grade novel that explores the high-pressure world of community sports. Twelve-year-old Esme Sun has spent years feeling overshadowed by her three academically gifted sisters, but a sudden summer growth spurt turns her into a formidable force in the swimming pool. However, findng “her thing” proves more complicated than she expected. She is caught between a best friend who wants her to actas though she doesn’t care, and a mother who pushes her to prioritize winning above everything else. After an uncomfortable encounter with a new girl named Kaya, Esme has to figure out how to make amends while deciding what kind of athlete she actually wants to be. The story earned starred reviews from both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly for its authentic portrayal of ‘tween friendships and the courage required to follow your own principles.
This book is recommended for any collection focused on SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities and the IB Learner Profile trait of being caring. The narrative doesn’t shy away from the reality of racism and colorism at swim meets, showing the “unpleasant encounters” that can often happen in competitive spaces. Educators can use Esme’s journey to anchor a classroom discussion on the ethics of competition, moving the conversation from abstract ideas of fairness to the real-world choices students face in their own extracurriculars. For example, a teacher might use the scene where Esme chooses team support over her own individual record to help students draft their own action plans for addressing unfairness in school sports. The book shows that true agency comes from choosing inclusive behavior even when there is personal pressure to do the opposite. It provides a clear, relatable model for how young people can stand up against discrimination and prioritize community care over individual glory.
