★"The love between Kwesi and his grandmother is both powerful and empowering, and readers will be inspired to see not only a child but also an adult naming their fears and drawing on deep roots to help the family overcome historical obstacles and personal anxiety." - Elisha Brookover, Booklist
★ All together, this is a multilayered and rewarding reading experience....A wonderful story to show how it is possible to overcome our fears of doing something new by accepting help from others.-Myra Zarnowski, School Library Journal
Kwesi accompanies his friends to Lagoon Lake, but his fear of the water keeps him on the pier, which prompts teasing from his peers. Crestfallen, Kwesi hides his tears as his mother drives him home. After enjoying a scrumptious meal of peanut soup and fufu made by his Nana Ruby, he opens up about what happened at the lake. Nana Ruby--who moved to the U.S. from a small Ghanian village as a child--tells her grandson that she never learned to swim. When she was young, white Americans filled pools with dirt rather than integrate them. But she strikes a deal with Kwesi: She will learn to swim if he does. Commeh integrates many aspects of Ghanaian culture into this story, among them the African water spirit Mami Wata (who serves as inspiration as both grandmother and child begin swim lessons), Adinkra symbols, the djembe drum, the game oware (also called mancala), and more. All of this makes for wordy though heartfelt text that's sometimes weighed down by explanations. Quintino's mixed-media illustrations are dominated by oranges, greens, and deep blues; vibrant nature scenes alternate with warm domestic tableaux. Commeh brings the narrative to a triumphant conclusion as both Kwesi and Nana Ruby dive into Lagoon Lake together. An informative and celebratory, multigenerational story of swimming. - Kirkus Reviews
"When Kwesi confides to his Nana Ruby that he is embarrassed by his inability to swim, she makes him a deal: if he learns to swim, she will, too. Surprised that Nana Ruby can't swim, Kwesi learns about segregation--and its lingering consequences for Black Americans. Inspired by a story about an African water deity, Kwesi agrees to the deal. The illustrations reflect the geometric patterns and saturated colors of traditional kente cloth, honoring the history and heritage of the book's Ghanaian characters." - Foreword Magazine