The Sea of Light by Jenifer Levin
When hurricane Angelita hits the Sargasso Sea, it brings down a plane carrying a team of star-quality swimmers, young men and women groomed from childhood to compete at the international level. Babe Delgado, a Cuban-American woman, survives - but barely, damaged in body and soul - and is recruited for a small university team. Coach Brenna Allen is tough, determined to build up Babe's strength, and driven to win. Ellie Marks, team captain, is a mediocre swimmer and the daughter of Holocaust survivors; she is struggling with her sexuality as much as she's working to win for Brenna - but she might have enough love in her to save Babe and herself. A sensitive, powerful tale of self-discovery, sexual identity, and violent emotions unleashed by sudden disaster, The Sea of Light is a haunting and brilliant novel.