Swim the Fly is a raucous PG-13 comedy. Don Calame, a screenwriter, serves up jokes and gross-outs in the style of filmmakers like Judd Apatow... In the war between the sexes on the young adult bookshelves, Swim the Fly occupies the low ground of offensive, knuckleheaded fun. Which is to say, boys will probably love it. This one did. * NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW *
Screenwriter Calame debuts as a novelist by perfectly channeling the adolescent male mindset.... The boys' pursuits make for a hilarious, if raunchy, what-I-did-last-summer narrative, supported by a cast of memorable adults, including a take-no-prisoners swim coach and Matt's grandfather, who is on a parallel romantic journey. This one will spread like athlete's foot in a locker room. * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *
This viscerally funny story of one boy's attempt to impress his ladylove by finishing four laps of the dreaded butterfly stroke in a swim competition by summer's end is sure to please fans of Pete Hautman's Rash (2006) and Randy Powell's Three Clams and an Oyster (2002)... Fully realized secondary characters, realistically raunchy dialogue and the scatological subject matter assure that this boisterous and unexpectedly sweet read will be a word-of-mouth hit. * KIRKUS REVIEWS *
Suffice to say that, of all the hilariously raucous scenes that stuff its pages, the most outrageous involves a bet (or is it blackmail?), cross-dressing and laxatives...an audacity in the humor and a sweetness in the conclusion that set it apart. * LOS ANGELES TIMES *
Reading like a cross between Fast Times at Ridgemont High and The Karate Kid... Calame delivers a fast-paced, well structured story that is laced with hilarity, sweetness and wisdom... Swim the Fly is, in fact, the sort of book that could tweak many boys to the fun of reading... Indeed, Calame, previously an elementary teacher and a screenwriter, shows tremendous sensitivity to the awkwardness, insecurity, and frustration of being a 15-year-old boy, and nails the exhilaration of young love. * QUILL & QUIRE *
A fast and fun read, I would recommend SWIM THE FLY to boys and girls alike - boys will repeatedly relate to Matt and his friends, and girls will be interested to see a bit into the mind of a typical teenage male. This book constantly delivered laughs... * TEENSREADTOO.COM *
funniest book I've read in a long time ... a great breath of fresh air in teen publishing ... a really fantastic read. * Waterstone's Online *
So much teen fiction seems to be aimed at girls and to have a supernatural theme, that I was delighted to see a new title specifically aimed at boys and set in the real world. Each summer Matt, Sean and Coop set themselves a goal for the summer. This year, the boys want to see a naked girl and Matt wants to swim the 100 yard butterfly. Teen boys will find this book full of humour and will readily identify with the well-portrayed characters, who are just like teen boys everywhere. It is already a huge success in the US and is set to repeat that here. * PARENTS IN TOUCH website *
I have one word for this book: hilarious! I was in my bed reading it and at one point I was laughing so much that I scared my cat away. And she's a tough cat. If you're wondering, it was Chapter 12 that tickled me so much. I couldn't believe what I was reading, it was so embarrassing and brilliant. Genius. * Wondrous Reads *
Swim the Fly is the funniest book I've read for a long time, and one of only a handful to make me laugh without being able to stop. It's mostly about friendship, but you'll find some girls and swimming in there too. * Wondrousreads.com *
Razor-sharp, rapid-fire and raunchy and beyond hilarious * The School Librarian *
