Swimming to Chicago follows a tangle of characters. Gay teens Alex and Robby, their friend Jillian and Alex and Robby's parents. Alex is dealing with his mothers suicide and his newly realized sexuality and Robby who is new to town helps him cope. Jillian is unused to being separated from Alex and flaunts her sexuality and becomes entangled in a relationship with an older married man.
This was an interesting contemporary novel. It is not at all what I expected or what I usually read but I found myself unable to put it down. The book is written from multiple viewpoints (which I generally hate) which worked quite well. The reader is able to see the thoughts of all the characters involved including the parents (without much repetition) and how they interact. My only complaint about the story is that the detail in the sexual content didn't seem to fit with the type of story I was reading and I think it will turn off many readers.
Appropriateness: This novel is written for older teens. It has sexual content (homosexual and adult/teen) that is more graphic than most (although not erotica by any means and it is easily skipped). There is some drinking. None of the negative behaviorism are glamorized and the characters face repercussions for the things they have done. The characters are seventeen and approaching adulthood. The book covers topics for discussion including bullying, suicide, statutory rape, adultery and sexuality. I would recommend this book for teens aged 16+
