• Age: 9 to 13
• Grade: 4 to 8
• Reading age: 7 to 10

Dario Cavalito has his summer plans all mapped out: he's going to split his time between the basketball court and his Uncle Vinny's café, the Via Granita, off Commercial Drive in a funky Vancouver neighborhood.

His plans are derailed, however, when his mother tells him he's going to summer camp--to a water sports camp, no less. Dario can barely do the dog paddle, so he's not exactly thrilled. When he finally gets tired of playing sick and hiding in the camp's infirmary, he finds he actually kind of likes the water. As the camp's sailing regatta approaches, he fights to overcome the last of his reluctance and to win big.

Packed with action and humour, Sink or Swim is a story about a boy overcoming his fears and striving for his best performance.

WILLIAM PASNAK, a Vancouver writer, has twice won the R. Ross Annett Award for children`s literature, given by the Writers` Guild of Alberta. He is also the author of Exit Stage Left and Sink or Swim.

William Pasnak's profile page

• Winner, Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice Selection

"This satisfying story is fast-paced and easy to read. Dario's experience at camp are both authentic and entertaining. The appeal of the book is in the author's aproach to resolving differences and in the underlying theme of always trying to do your personal best. Recommended."

Canadian Children's Literature