The Weight of the Water by Sarah Crossan
When Kasienka's father departs their family home in Poland to seek a new life, her heartbroken mother resolves to follow him to England. Reluctant to leave Poland, Kasienka finds their new, shabby home in Coventry to be damp and depressing. Compounding her difficulties, she faces constant ostracism at her new school, feeling like an outsider among her peers. At home, her mother's relentless search for her missing husband leaves little room for solace.
Amidst these challenges, Kasienka discovers solace in swimming and forms a meaningful friendship with a boy named William at the pool. This poignant narrative, conveyed through verse, intimately portrays the emotional journey of 13-year-old Kasienka. While the narrative delves into painful realities, it ultimately carries a message of hope, resonating with readers long after the final page is turned.
Sarah Crossan's diverse life journey has taken her from Dublin to London and New York before settling in Hertfordshire. With a degree in Philosophy and Literature, she further honed her skills by training as an English and drama teacher at the University of Cambridge.
Her literary success is evident in the accolades received for her works. Both "The Weight of Water" and "Apple and Rain" garnered nominations for the prestigious CILIP Carnegie Medal. In 2016, Sarah clinched the CILIP Carnegie Medal, along with the YA Book Prize, the CBI Book of the Year award, and the CLiPPA Poetry Award for her novel, "One".
Recognized as a leading figure in the realm of free verse novels in the UK and Ireland, Sarah currently serves as Laureate na nóg, Ireland's Children's Literature Laureate. Under her tenure, she champions the theme #WeAreThePoets, embarking on a two-year mission to inspire young individuals to unleash their creativity through poetry and verse.
See below for ‘The Weight of the Water’ words. You can also access an editable list here.
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