Dec 31, 2009

Stotan! | Overview

Stotan!—a 1986 American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults—is, on one level, a detailed account of the physical and psychological struggles of four swimmers as they train for and participate in various meets, including the State Championship. At the same time, the novel is a character study which treats topics such as friendship and loyalty, adversity, racism, endurance, young love, and the effects of abuse and terminal illness. These serious subjects, however, are enlivened with humorous sequences and appealing characters.

As a sports novel,...