Synchro Boy is a funny, bittersweet story of a teenaged boy’s self-awareness and acceptance, set within that ultimate crucible of teenage lust: the swimming pool. By joining synchro, Bart pushes against the narrow cage of masculinity, only to discover just how hard the bars will push back. Armed with perseverance, hope, and some edifying relationships, he finds the courage to follow his synchro dreams. Readers will come to know and appreciate the challenge and camaraderie of synchronized swimming. -Douglas Davey, author of Switch
Synchro Boy is the kind of book the world needs more of: a book that challenges readers to think more deeply about gender and gender expression. Bart’s story — of a boy who has never fit easily into a gender stereotyped box, who has endured years of gender policing, who is bravely determined to find his own path in both sports and relationships — is an important and powerful one. Readers will cheer Bart on as he swims his way towards “living a different kind of maleness.” -Robin Stevenson, author of Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community
Bart’s eventual acceptance that he is bisexual gives him the confidence to lean into synchro while easing off on the need to validate his own masculinity through sporting achievements. A nuanced, compassionate exploration of male sexuality and identity. –Kirkus Reviews
I love Synchro Boy! I think it is very true to the sport of synchronized swimming. Thank you so much for writing this! -Bill May, synchronized swimming champion
A sports novel with so much heart, Synchro Boy dives deep into a pool of assumptions, cruelty and other people’s expectations, and emerges victorious and hopeful. -Karen Rivers, author of Love, ish and The Girl in the Well Is Me
With sparkling dialogue and outstanding, believable supporting characters, Shannon McFerran has crafted a captivating debut novel with Olympic-size heart and depth about a young man who bucks gender stereotypes to follow his own path to happiness. Synchro Boy will have you cheering and leave you breathless. Dive in! -Warren Firschein, author of Out of Synch