Mary is bolstered by the love and support of those around her. With her new found success, Mary feels her inner strength and remembering Joan of Arc, stands up to her father, leaves home with her mother’s blessing to live with her loving Aunt Betty and her wife, and reports the abuse to the social worker and the authorities. With the money Mary makes at her summer job at the public library, she’s able to purchase the parts and material necessary to complete her project. A submarine scientist agrees to guide her, hands her the book he’s written on the subject, and tells her to get to it. With help and encouragement from her Aunt Betty, love interest Kip, and best friend Lydia, Mary is determined to build a submersible craft to journey the seven miles across Chesapeake Bay. She looks to Joan and repeats her affirmation, “I am not afraid. To find strength to get through the hard times, Mary carries a photo of Joan of Arc, the young girl who led the French army in a victory against the British, as inspiration. She fears they will perceive her as a loser-that somehow, it’s her fault that her father physically abuses her. She doesn’t want to admit to her friends, teachers or social worker what’s going on at home.

Although he’s often imprisoned for his abusive behavior, whenever he returns, Mary lives in fear for her well-being and most often sleeps at a neighbor’s house. Her mother doesn’t stand up to him to protect her daughter or herself. Her father leaves her scarred and black-and-blue whenever he decides he doesn’t like what she’s doing. Thirteen-year-old eighth grader Mary Murphy has a problem. Book Review: Mary Underwater by Shannon Doleski (2020) (Middle Grade) (Teen) 4 Stars ****

Mary underwater book