Noah and Walt are two seventeen-year-old boys looking for cool. Noah has been in love with his best friend for years, but doesn’t know how to tell her. Walt dreams of playing baseball, but has been cut from the high school team three years in a row. Their search leads the boys through motivational podcasts, trips to the thrift store, immersion in Jazz music, and hours in the batting cages. And for a while things are looking good, but life has a way of sending curve balls and Noah and Walt are no exception.
This story plays out in beautifully written verse. The characters are wonderful with real struggles that will ring true with most high school readers. Swing is a powerful celebration of determination, young love, friendship, and life. Most is joyful, but some of the harsh realities it also reveals would have me recommend this for 14 and older readers.
Recommended ages--14 and up