Review: The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan

Summary from Goodreads:
Carrying just a suitcase and an old laundry bag filled with clothes, Kasienka and her mother are immigrating to England from Poland. Kasienka isn't the happiest girl in the world. At home, her mother is suffering from a broken heart as she searches for Kasienka's father. And at school, Kasienka is having trouble being the new girl and making friends. The only time she feels comforted is when she's swimming at the pool. But she can't quite shake the feeling that she's sinking. Until a new boy swims into her life, and she learns that there might be more than one way to stay afloat.

Kasienka has been forced to leave her home in Poland and relocate to England with her mother, where her mother hopes to find her husband/Kasienka's dad (who left them a few years back) with the hope of starting over. Kasienka is subject to adapating, living in poverty, being bullied and discriminated. Her self-worth and confidence takes a huge hit.

Kasienka is dragged from door to door asking the neighbourhood for news about her father since her mother speaks Poor English. The author created a captivating voice for Kasienka. The poetry style was really fitting (e.g. I really liked the use of tabbed sentences when stairs are mentioned) and the select words without the lengthy descriptions really pulled me in. It was like I was reading her thoughts just as they occurred.

The Weight of Water was a heartfelt coming of age read. Kasienka was a relatable character, with her trying to fit in a foreign environment. The only thing I disliked was the overwhelming lack of support she had from the adults (mother, father and teachers). Anyway, It was a joy to read Kasienka's thoughts transform from pessimistic to optimistic when she learnt how to make the best of her situation.