How to Breathe Underwater

How to Breathe Underwater is a collection of nine short stories that focus on young girls and women facing pivotal moments in their lives. The stories take place across various settings, from summer camps to dance studios to high schools. The characters navigate complex relationships with family members, friends, and themselves while dealing with loss, illness, social pressure, and growing up. Each narrative centers on a moment of transition or revelation that forces the protagonist to confront difficult truths. The collection addresses universal themes of youth and femininity through a contemporary American lens. Through these stories, Orringer examines how young people learn to survive emotional and physical challenges, and how they develop resilience in the face of change.

Readers describe these short stories as intense explorations of young women and girls navigating difficult situations, with most stories containing elements of loss, grief, or trauma. Readers appreciate: - Raw, honest portrayal of female adolescence - Sharp character observations - Emotional depth without melodrama - Clear, precise writing style One reader noted: "Each story hits like a punch to the gut" Common criticisms: - Stories can feel too similar in tone - Heavy subject matter becomes overwhelming - Some characters blur together - Endings occasionally feel unresolved Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (80+ ratings) The collection's opening story "Pilgrims" receives frequent mention as a standout. Multiple readers cite "Note to Sixth-Grade Self" as particularly memorable for its unique second-person perspective. Several reviewers note the stories work better when read separately rather than in quick succession due to their emotional intensity.

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok The immigrant experience of a young girl and her mother in New York City echoes themes of isolation and resilience found in Orringer's work.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt A fourteen-year-old girl navigates grief, family relationships, and self-discovery in 1987 New York.

The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank Connected stories follow a young woman's journey from adolescence to adulthood through relationships and life changes.

An Untamed State by Roxane Gay The story of a privileged Haitian woman's kidnapping explores trauma and survival in ways that mirror Orringer's examination of characters under duress.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros Vignettes of a young Latina girl's life in Chicago capture the same coming-of-age intensity found in Orringer's collection.

🌊 "How to Breathe Underwater" was Julie Orringer's debut book, published in 2003 and winning the Plimpton Prize for New Writers. 📖 The collection of nine short stories focuses primarily on young female protagonists navigating difficult transitions and loss, often involving water as a metaphor for both danger and salvation. ✍️ Orringer wrote much of the book while attending the Iowa Writers' Workshop, one of the most prestigious creative writing programs in America. 🎭 The author drew from her Jewish heritage and family history for several stories, particularly "The Smoothest Way Is Full of Stones," which explores Orthodox Jewish traditions through a secular teenager's eyes. 🏆 The book received widespread critical acclaim and was selected as a New York Times Notable Book, leading to Orringer receiving a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to continue her writing career.