Sign-In
Cart
Chasing The Hoodie
Paperback
Series: Willowbank Swimming Club, Book 5
General Juvenile NonfictionSports & Recreation
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Apr 8 2026
Pages: 120
Weight: 0.38
Height: 0.25 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Chasing the Hoodie
Ten-year-old Gwen Rivers still loves the water-but now it's not just about swimming fast or laughing between lengths. When Coach Jess forms a new swim club, bringing together swimmers from across schools, everything feels bigger: more lanes, more pressure, and a lot more people to compare yourself to.
With official times, rankings, and Counties on the horizon, the squad isn't just a team anymore-it's a pathway. Some swimmers make it look effortless. Some chase every second. Some seem to belong there straight away.
Gwen isn't so sure she does.
With Lily and Bea beside her (mostly), Alfie keeping things chaotic, Owen chasing big goals, and new teammates changing the dynamic, Gwen has to find her place again. As the clock starts to matter more, she begins to wonder-when did swimming stop being fun?
Because getting a time is one thing.
But learning how to swim properly-and still love it-that's something else.
Chasing the Hoodie is a warm, funny, emotionally honest story about pressure, comparison, friendship, and rediscovering joy in something you care about. Perfect for early chapter-book readers, swim families, and anyone learning that growing stronger doesn't always feel easy.
Reasons to Read Chasing the Hoodie
A relatable story about pressure and self-doubt
Celebrates progress, not just performance
Humour that balances the seriousness of competition
A realistic introduction to competitive sport pathways
Strong friendship dynamics under pressure
Encourages resilience and emotional awareness
Perfect for developing confident readers
Perfect For...
Kids who:
- are moving from fun sport into more competitive levels
- compare themselves to others
- feel pressure to improve or keep up
- enjoy friendship-focused stories with humour
Parents & teachers who want:
- stories about handling pressure in a healthy way
- discussions around confidence, identity, and comparison
- positive coaching and growth mindset themes
Libraries & bookstores wanting:
- engaging early chapter fiction with sports progression
- relatable characters facing realistic challenges
- stories that balance humour, emotion, and development
Also in
General Juvenile Nonfiction
Disgustingly Delicious: The Surprising, Weird and Wonderful Food of the World
Mariño, Soledad Romero
Hardcover
You Got This!: Unleash Your Awesomeness, Find Your Path, and Change Your World
Penn, Maya S.
Hardcover
What to Do When Your Temper Flares: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Problems with Anger
Huebner, Dawn
Paperback
The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World
Haidt, Jonathan
Price, Catherine
Paperback
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs
Hughes, Catherine D.
National Geographic Kids
Hardcover
20th Century African American History for Kids: The Major Events That Shaped the Past and Present
Weston, Margeaux
Paperback
The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World
Haidt, Jonathan
Price, Catherine
Hardcover
The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs: 100+ Recipes That You'll Love to Cook and Eat
America's Test Kitchen Kids
Hardcover
Pokã(c)Mon Book of Battles: The Official Guide to Battles in Pokã(c)Mon Horizons the Series
Andreou, Katherine
Hardcover
How a Bear Became a Book: The Collaboration That Created Winnie-The-Pooh
Pimentel, Annette Bay
Hardcover
Bones and Berserkers (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #13): 13 True Tales of Terror from American History
Hale, Nathan
Hardcover
Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp
Tonai, Minoru
Gutiérrez, Jolene
Hardcover
My First Book of Hunting ABC: A Rhyming Alphabet Primer for Children About Hunting and Outdoor Life
McMurdie, Andrew
Hardcover
Terrifying True Tales: Haunting Histories, Creepy Cryptids, and Scary Stories from Around the World
Towler, Paige
Hardcover
Weird But True! Usa: Expanded Edition: 350 Fascinating Facts about the Fifty States
National Geographic Kids
Paperback
The Ultimate Unofficial World Cup Book: Legends, Stats, and Stories from Soccer's Biggest Game
Barbo, Maria S.
Paperback
Murdle Jr.: Curious Crimes for Curious Minds: Solve Your Way Through 40 Puzzle Mysteries!
Karber, G. T.
Paperback
Our Big Book of First Words: A Collection of 100+ Foundational Words for Language Development
Paige, Tabitha, MS CCC-SLP
Hardcover
Classic Collector's Handbook: An Official Guide to the First 151 Pokémon (Pokémon)
Watson, Silje
Sander, Sonia
Scholastic
Paperback
Juneteenth (a We Celebrate Book): A Board Book
Mitchell, Dolisha
Jefferson, Ashley
Little Feminist
Hardcover
National Geographic Kids Science Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition: Atom Smashing, Food Chemistry, Animals, Space, and More!
National Geographic Kids
Hardcover
Spooky Rivers: 25 Strange and Mysterious Rivers That Snake Across Our Planet
Rutherford, Geo
Hardcover
Weird But True! Usa: Expanded Edition: 350 Fascinating Facts about the Fifty States
National Geographic Kids
Hardcover
How to Draw Anything for kids: 300 Cute Step-by-Step Drawing Stuff: Amazing Food, Animals, Kawaii, Gifts and Other
Rogers, Patricia
Paperback
Seven Million Steps: The True Story of Dick Gregory's Run for the Hungry
Gregory, Christian
Barnes, Derrick
Hardcover
The Kingfisher Soccer Encyclopedia: Facts - STATS - Players - Teams - Skills and Tactics - Competitions
Gifford, Clive
Hardcover
Freedom to Read: The Story of Teacher Mary Peake and One Mighty Oak Tree
Cline-Ransome, Lesa
Hardcover
America Celebrates: The Most Incredible and Influential People, Places & Events of the Last 250 Years
Andrus, Aubre
Hardcover
National Geographic Little Kids First Encyclopedia of Almost Everything
National Geographic Kids
Hardcover
The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs: 100+ Sweet and Savory Recipes That You'll Love to Bake, Share and Eat!
America's Test Kitchen Kids
Hardcover
Follow the Water: The Unbelievable True Story of a Teenager's Survival in the Amazon
Cochrane, Ellen
Hardcover
The Lego Ideas Book New Edition: You Can Build Anything!
March, Julia
Hugo, Simon
Kosara, Tori
Hardcover
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two: The Official Playscript of the Original West End Production
Thorne, Jack
Tiffany, John
Rowling, J. K.
Paperback
An Anthology of Flowers: A Collection of Flowers from Gardens, Mountains and More, with Fascinating Secrets
Bailey, Maddie
Hardcover
The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity
Day, Nicholas
Paperback
There Are No Silly Questions: More Than 200 Weird and Wacky Questions, Expertly Answered!
Rampton, Mike
Hardcover
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Space
Hughes, Catherine D.
National Geographic Kids
Hardcover