Review Detail

Capsized is a young adult sports mystery by Charlotte Lillie Balogh, told from dual perspectives that immediately hooks readers.

The story follows Jo Bryant, a freshman who has just moved to Boston to live with her father and attend the posh private school where he teaches. Hoping she will fall in love with the sport, her father signs her up for the Boston Rowing Club. Jo has big shoes to fill, as her dad is an Olympic champion rower. While we are introduced to many members of the club, the second perspective of the story is told through Margaret Douglas. Margaret is a senior and the varsity captain—or is she? Following a mysterious scandal over the summer, Margaret disappeared, prompting Coach Clay to strip her of her captain duties. Now, she must earn her seat back in the varsity boat. As we learn more about what led to Margaret’s summer disappearance, we dig into deeper secrets that can no longer be kept hidden.



What I Liked: From the very first chapter, which opens with a gripping scene of someone drowning, I was completely hooked. This is the type of book where you just have to read "one more chapter" to find out what happens, and before I knew it, I was halfway through. The pacing was absolutely perfect.

Because I don’t know much about rowing, the setting provided a really unique concept for a storyline. I enjoyed learning about the sport and seeing how the girls had to come together to compete, which made me appreciate the intense training the team endured to win. Alongside the fierce athletic competition and the central mystery, I also liked Jo’s storyline with her father. Their relationship was awkward and strained, filled with Jo's resentment over her father choosing rowing over her. While their relationship wasn’t perfect by the end of the story, there was clear healing and good intentions, even if they were occasionally misguided.

Readers who enjoy sports dramas and fast-paced mysteries will be captivated by Capsized.