The Weight of Water

The Weight of Water

Juvenile fiction
Cassie, Kasienka in her native Poland, has just moved to England
with her Mama. Her Tata (father) had left the family with just a
short note. Despite warnings that it would not to be good to chase
after him, her mother is doing just that. When she is not working or
sleeping she marks maps and walks the streets, house to house, asking
if anyone has seen her missing husband. She barely seems to notice
her present daughter.
Cassie is not having an easy time. They live in a one room
apartment in a derelict neighborhood. At school she is the foreigner,
the odd one. She describes poignantly how it is when she is one of
the students who is not chosen for a group project and has to be
assigned by the teacher.
"There is eye rolling and chair scraping
As we shuffle forward,
Unwanted and misused,
Like old boots dragged
From a river."
The girls in her class are cliquish, mean, keeping her in a state of
confusion as to what exactly is wrong with her. Sometimes they are
downright cruel as when one cuts chunks out of her hair in a school
assembly. The teachers never seem to notice a thing.
One day a neighbor gives Cassie her father's address. She is to
go there alone without her mother. When she does her world is torn
even more apart.
However, Cassie has swimming, a sport she excells in. Just
being in that other element makes her feel in control, secure.
"At the pool's edge I might be ugly
But when I swim strokes
I am beautiful."
There is also a boy who shares her interest and seems to feel that
she's someone special.
Told in poignant and vivid free form verse, The Weight of Water
is a coming of age story about a girl bravely making the most of a
confusing and often painful new life. It's a must read, especially
for anyone who has experienced the break up of family or peer cruelty.
On a personal note, my tree is so beautiful, especially the side where
I have my beloved cross stitch ornaments and delicate crocheted
snowflakes.
A great big shout out goes out to our teachers and principals,
juggling family time and the huge work load that must be done before
school lets out for holidays. Especially my buddy, Darcie.
Julia Emily Hathaway.


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