Why Is 'Breathing Underwater' Banned In Some Schools?

Asking as a parent concerned about school book bans and controversial YA novels. Heard 'Breathing Underwater' deals with graphic themes like teen domestic violence.
2025-06-16 20:52:02
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8 Answers

Best Answer
LukeOwens
LukeOwens
Active Reader Veterinarian
'Breathing Underwater' has been challenged in some schools due to its explicit depiction of domestic violence and abusive relationships, which some parents and administrators feel is too mature for the assigned age group. The novel's raw, first-person portrayal of the protagonist's toxic mindset can be intense. It made me think about another story, 'The Teacher's Obsession', which also examines dangerous relationships and psychological control, but from the perspective of a student uncovering a faculty member's secret past. The tension comes from the slow reveal of manipulation within a supposed place of safety.
2026-07-21 15:55:06
54
Abigail
Abigail
Book Clue Finder Consultant
I teach at a high school where 'Breathing Underwater' was pulled from shelves last year. The banning came after complaints about its depiction of violence and what some called 'toxic relationship goals.' The scenes where Nick controls Caitlin's clothing choices or isolates her from friends hit too close to home for certain communities. There's also discomfort with how the book portrays therapy sessions - some feel it oversimplifies mental health interventions for abusers. What these challenges overlook is how the story's structure forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths. The dual timeline showing Nick's abusive actions alongside his therapy journal creates a powerful contrast most banned book lists ignore.
2025-06-21 11:42:18
4
Liam
Liam
Active Reader Office Worker
'Breathing Underwater' getting banned doesn't surprise me but definitely disappoints. The novel tackles intense themes like domestic violence through its raw portrayal of Nick's abusive relationship with Caitlin. Schools often challenge it because the abusive scenes are graphic and unsettling - Nick's psychological manipulation and physical violence are depicted with uncomfortable realism. Some parents argue teens shouldn't be exposed to such dark content without proper context.

The irony is that this exact realism makes the book so valuable. It doesn't glorify abuse but shows the devastating cycle from the abuser's perspective, which is rare in YA literature. The emotional manipulation scenes are particularly groundbreaking, showing how abuse isn't just physical. Objections also cite strong language throughout the novel, but that language reflects how actual teenagers speak during traumatic experiences. What critics miss is how effectively the book fosters discussions about healthy relationships and accountability - the very conversations we need teenagers to have.
2025-06-21 15:28:50
33
AlexJay
AlexJay
Responder Nurse
It’s the POV. That’s the heart of the controversy. Telling the story from the abuser’s perspective is a bold, risky choice that makes readers complicit in his justification. You feel his anger, his jealousy, his sense of victimhood. For a young reader without strong media literacy, that could be confusing—they might not immediately see the narrative distance. Some educators argue that requires a teacher’s guidance to unpack. Rather than provide that guidance, some schools decide the risk of misinterpretation is too high and ban it. It’s treating students as incapable of complex thought, which is a terrible precedent for education.
2026-07-31 04:37:42
25
AlexStar
AlexStar
Ending Guesser Student
I wonder if the bans are more about the parents' discomfort than the kids'. Discussing this book in class might lead to conversations at home that some parents aren't prepared to have. It's easier to label the book 'inappropriate' than to confront your own potential failings in discussing healthy relationships with your child. Or to face the possibility that your child could be a Nick or a Caitlin. Literature holds up a mirror, and sometimes people don't like what they see—in society, in their families, or in themselves. Banning the book is like breaking the mirror.
2026-08-01 12:05:48
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2 Answers2025-06-16 04:05:31
Reading 'Breathing Underwater' was an emotional rollercoaster, and the protagonist, Nick Andreas, left a lasting impression. He's this complex high school kid who seems to have it all—good looks, popularity, a wealthy family—but beneath that perfect facade, he's drowning in anger and insecurity. The story unfolds through his journal entries, which he's forced to write after a violent incident with his girlfriend, Caitlin. What makes Nick so compelling is how uncomfortably real he feels. His journey isn't about supernatural powers or epic battles; it's a raw, painful look at how toxic masculinity and learned behavior can destroy relationships. Nick's character arc is brutally honest. At first, he rationalizes his abusive behavior, blaming Caitlin or circumstances, but through writing, he slowly starts confronting his own flaws. The book doesn't offer easy redemption, which makes it more powerful. You see Nick struggle with guilt, denial, and eventually some glimmers of self-awareness. His relationship with his father adds another layer—it's clear where some of his warped ideas about love and control come from. 'Breathing Underwater' stands out because Nick isn't a typical likable hero; he's a perpetrator forced to face the damage he's caused, and that makes his story all the more important for young readers navigating relationships.

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2 Answers2025-06-16 15:10:17
Reading 'Breathing Underwater' was like watching a car crash in slow motion—horrifying yet impossible to look away from. The novel digs deep into toxic relationships through Nick’s perspective, showing how love can twist into something ugly and controlling. His obsession with Caitlin starts as passion but quickly spirals into jealousy, manipulation, and outright violence. What’s chilling is how the book makes you understand Nick’s mindset without excusing it. The way he justifies his actions—blaming her, gaslighting, isolating her—mirrors real-life abusers. The dual timeline is genius, contrasting his ‘perfect boyfriend’ facade with the court-mandated journal where he slowly confronts his own toxicity. The supporting characters add layers too. Tom’s abusive behavior toward his girlfriend shows how normalized this toxicity can be among peers, while Caitlin’s friends’ helplessness mirrors how hard it is to intervene. The book doesn’t offer easy solutions, which makes it hit harder. Even Nick’s ‘redemption’ feels shaky, because healing isn’t linear. The emotional abuse scenes—like him mocking Caitlin’s poetry—linger longer than the physical violence because they’re so insidiously common. It’s a brutal mirror held up to how society often romanticizes possessiveness as ‘love’ and how teens especially absorb those dangerous ideas.
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