"Swim the Fly" by Don Calame

So here it is, the first of many "go, run, find this book" reviews. We like many genres of books and will try to remember to tell you where they should be classified in your local bookstore or library. Without any further ado, let me introduce you to:

Swim the Fly

by Don Calame

Put out by Candlewick Press on April 19, 2009, this young adult novel is sure to be a hit with any young, or not so young, men in your life. Screenwriter Don Calame ("Employee of the Month", "Hounded") takes us back to an event very loosely based on an event in his own life:

Matt, Coop, and Sean have been friends forever. Every summer, they join the swim team and create a challenge to compete by summer's end; sometimes unrealistic and sometimes down right disgusting. This summer is no different. At 15, Coop decides their challenge is to see a real-live naked girl!

As they take on their challenge (and the crazy antics that go with it), Matt decides to impress the new girl on the team, Kelly, by agreeing to swim the 100-yard butterfly. What was this "broomstick in a speedo" thinking? (I myself couldn't help but think that nobody is worth swimming 100-yd fly. Having done it without any motivation from the other sex, I can assure you that it hurts, but it's doable) He finds himself challenged in more than one way during his discovery that one should in fact be careful what they wish for.

Do the boys get to see a naked girl? Does Matt get the girl of his dreams? Does he drown during the epic race? Well, you will have to get to your local bookstore or library and find this fantastic read. The 352 pages fly by making this reader more than a little sad that the "quasi sequel" won't be out until fall of 2010.

Want more about this book? Check out Calame's website : www.doncalame.com.

If you like this book, you might want to check out:

• Holes by Louis Sachar
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

And remember: Reading is FUNdamental!

(Is that copyrighted somewhere?)