Children's Book Review: Swim the Fly

Swim the Fly by Don Calame (Candlewick, $16.99, 9780763641573/076364157X, 368 pp., ages 14-up, April 2009)

In his first novel, screenwriter Calame displays the pacing of an American Pie film, with three boy buddies instead of four. Ringleader Cooper Redmond lays out the plan in the first paragraph: "A real, live naked girl. That's the deal. That's our goal for this summer." Friends since kindergarten, this trio of 15-year-olds has swum on the Lower Rockville Razorbacks swim team since third grade. Sean Hance lacks a sense of humor, and, even worse, narrator Matt Gratton has a conscience--and also a crush on newly relocated Kelly West. Formerly a Dowling Dolphin, Kelly is a gold-medal-winning backstroker, and Matt only has eyes for what breaks the surface--oh, and her short brown hair and bright green eyes, too. That's why, when his teammate is out for the season because of a dirt bike incident, Matt volunteers to swim the butterfly stroke (hence the title) in hopes of winning the girl.
 
In the single-minded pursuit of their goal, the three go to any lengths to get a glimpse of female flesh, which leads to some outlandish predicaments. Picture the teen trio in drag (caught by Sean's sister--who ensures the success of their disguise for her own devious purposes), sneaking into the girls' locker room at the community center only to be undone by a mix-up in Max's mother's product packaging (between protein powder and fiber laxatives--you saw that one coming); or hiding in a bedroom closet, three-stooges-like, waiting to witness a coital rendezvous; or Sean and Coop stationed on either side of the dressing rooms where Kelly and her best friend, Valerie, are trying on bikinis at the mall, while Matt keeps lookout. Sex is on everyone's mind, it seems. Matt's older brother, Pete, makes out with Melissa in his room (she advises Matt: "Girls don't mind if you notice their breasts. Noticing can be flattering. Staring is creepy"), and even Grandpa Arlo has the hots for newly widowed Mrs. Hoogenboom. One of the book's laugh-out-loud scenes involves Matt and Grandpa Arlo role-playing, with Matt as Mrs. Hoogenboom. Matt's budding friendship with Valerie, and the relationship he forges with the lifeguard, Ulf, after he sneaks into a country club to practice the fly add a measure of poignancy to the mix. The relationship between Matt and his brother doesn't feel fully developed, but this is mostly a comedy, after all. With a spot-on cover that telegraphs its high-interest contents, this book will be passed eagerly among the guys.--Jennifer M. Brown