Anna Jarzab

Anna Jarzab brings her experience as a competitive swimmer to contemporary teen fiction. Breath Like Water, published by Inkyard Press in 2020, follows sixteen-year-old Susannah Ramos as she tries to recover her confidence and reach the Olympic Trials after an early world championship. Jarzab gives the pool scenes technical clarity while keeping the story focused on the costs of ambition, changing bodies, family sacrifice, and a demanding coach. Susannah's Mexican American background also informs her sense of belonging in a predominantly white sport. Her growing friendship with teammate Harry develops into a romance complicated by team rules and his mental-health struggles. Jarzab approaches victory as only one part of an athlete's life, drawing on the pressure and discipline she knew in the sport. Breath Like Water therefore works as both a sports novel and a coming-of-age story, asking what remains when a long-held dream changes shape.