Synopses & Reviews
A smart, darkly funny, yet poignant debut novel about coming of age without coming undone. Seventeen-year-old George Flynn-an all-around decent guy-has just moved with his family to Des Moines, a place where he knows no one and is pretty much nobody. Despite this inauspicious start to his junior year, he soon finds his niche, falling in with the unique, enchanting Schell sisters. Emily, an aspiring actress and free spirit, becomes the object of George's mostly unrequited yearnings. But it's Katie, with her quirks, her scathing deadpan humor, and her brave battle with multiple sclerosis, who really gets George hooked on the Schells. When an out- of-the-blue tragedy strikes, upsetting the delicate balance of all their lives, George must figure out a way to help Emily in order to save himself.
Told with both razor-sharp wit and deep empathy from George's later adult perspective, this is a moving, memorable debut novel about friendship and first love-about dealing with grief and trying to grow up without losing yourself along the way.
Review
"A blood-red first love story, a raw dealing of tragedy and its aftermath, and a wild spin through the lust and grief-addled mind of one of the most honest and deliriously inventive narrators I've ever read. Weeping Underwater will leave you hoarse from laughing, weak in the knees, possibly craving Iowa State Fair pickles, and helplessly in love." Karen Russell, author of St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves
Synopsis
A smart, darkly funny yet poignant work, this memorable debut novel is about friendship and first love, about dealing with grief and trying to grow up without losing oneself along the way.
Synopsis
"Smart, ironic prose...reminiscent of Dave Eggers." -Library Journal George Flynn is the new nobody at St. Pius High School, until he falls in with the enchanting Schell sisters. Emily, an aspiring actress, is the object of his infatuation. But there's something special about her quirky younger sister, Katie, who has her own crush on George, not to mention a scathing deadpan sense of humor in the face of multiple sclerosis.
When an accident destroys their delicate balance, George and Emily find themselves searching for forgiveness yet losing each other.
With no-holds-barred honesty and razor-sharp wit, Michael J. White's debut novel explores friendship, first love, and a young man's need to come of age without coming undone.
About the Author
Michael J. White was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, though he did spend a few formative years in Des Moines. He is a Columbia MFA graduate and now lives in Brooklyn.