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Breathing Underwater
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Breathing Underwater (2001) (edit title/settings)

by Alex Flinn (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Like father, like son Intelligent, popular, handsome, and wealthy, sixteen-year-old Nick Andreas is pretty much perfect -- on the outside, at least. What no one knows -- not even his best friend -- is the terror that Nick faces every time he is alone with his father. Then he and Caitlin fall... read more

Summary edit see section history

The Nick everyone saw was one of the really cool kids at school. Rich, popular, smart, handsome, he played on the football team and drove a classic '67 red Mustang convertible. He had a charmed life--everyone wanted to be Nick. The Nick no one saw was an angry, resentful loser, who frequently... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

The Nick everyone saw was one of the really cool kids at school. Rich, popular, smart, handsome, he played on the football team and drove a classic '67 red Mustang convertible. He had a charmed life--everyone wanted to be Nick. The Nick no one saw was an angry, resentful loser, who frequently missed school when his father's abuse got too obvious. His father may have given Nick his car, but he also told his son, over and over, that he was a failure, a loser, never good enough at anything. Nick hasn't seen his mother since he was five, and he and his father live alone with a series of housekeepers. Nick avoids his father as much as possible, and worries about what will set him off. Then just after school starts, he sees Caitlin, and thinks "dream girl." His friend Tom helps him meet her, and they start dating. Nick is in love for the first time, but the only examples he has of love are the memories of his parents. Which Nick will he show Caitlin, the one everyone knows, or the one that no one does?

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Nick: Handsome, wealthy, popular
  • Nick Andreas: At sixteen, he's ordered into therapy for abusing his girlfriend; he used to have the reputation of being one of the coolest guys in school.
  • Caitlin McCourt: Nick's girlfriend, formerly plump, still harbors low self-esteem.
  • Deborah Lehman: The judge who hears the case between Caitlin and Nick.
  • Mr. Andreas: Nick's only parent, his abusive father, a wealthy self-made man who constantly tells Nick he's a loser.
  • Tom Carter: He's Nick's best friend, but he doesn't know about what Nick's father does to him, or why he abused Caitlin.
  • Mrs. McCourt: Caitlin's mother who often dresses too young for her age. She also criticizes Caitlin quite a bit.
  • Mario Ortega: He teaches Nick's family violence class.
  • Kelly Steele, Leo Sotolongo, Tyrone/Tiny Johnston, A.J./Psycho, Ray DeLeon: Members of Nick's family violence class.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Carter: Tom's parents who treat Nick like one of the family because he's there so much, but who are not accepting of anyone outside their social circle.
  • Liana Castro: A girl Tom dates, despite his parents' disapproval.
  • Saint O'Connor: Star quarterback, Tom's new best friend and Caitlin's new boyfriend. Nick really never liked him.
  • Miss Higgins: Nick's honors English teacher, who sees more of Nick than he knows he's revealed.
  • Derek Wayne: He's in choir with Caitlin and is smart and geeky.
  • Neysa: Leo's girlfriend.
  • Elsa: Caitlin's best friend.
Show all 16 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “I can breathe underwater”
    Nick

Setting & Locations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

I've never been in a courthouse before.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Alex Flinn (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: HarperTeen
Country: USA
Publication Date: April 24, 2001
ISBN: 0060291982
Page Count: 272

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