"Packed full of emotion. . . . An influential read with a powerful
message."--Booklist
Whether goose or swan, I have wings. And I'll fly.
Gus's life is about one thing--swimming. And he knows that the only
coach in town who can get him to the Olympics is Coach Marks. So it
seems like a simple plan: convince Coach Marks to train him, and
everything from there on in is just hard work. Gus has never been afraid
of hard work.
But there are a few complications. For one thing, Coach Marks was
Danny's coach. Danny, Gus's brother, committed suicide after failing to
make the national swimming team--a big step on the way to the Olympics.
And for another, Gus and Danny didn't exactly get along; Gus never liked
living in Danny's shadow. A shadow that has grown even bigger since his
death.
In this powerful novel about the punishing and the healing nature of
sports, Gus's rage threatens to swallow him at every turn. He's angry at
his brother, his mother, his coach . . . even himself. But as he works
toward his goal and through his feelings, Gus does everything he can to
channel this burning intensity into excelling at the sport that he and
Danny both loved, and finds solace in the same place he must face his
demons: in the water.
In addition to Gus's incredible narrative, there are four pieces of
original art featured in Geese Are Never Swans. The art was curated by
TaskForce, a creative agency that collaborates with the most influential
nonprofits, brands, and people taking on the most pressing challenges
facing our nation and our world. TaskForce builds capacity and community
for those shaping a more empathetic society through public opinion and
policy. The artists' interpretations of their work are included in the
book.
