Dagmar Geisler Wer küsst schon unter Wasser? (You Can't Kiss Underwater) Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, October 2006, 192 pp ISBN: 3-423-71187-6 This delightful book tells the story of two girls, Melanie (Melle) Barofsky and Georgina (Georgie) Sander, growing up in two completely different but loving families. They are best friends and dream of living together on an island in the Atlantic, where they will work as marine biologists. They will never fall in love - boys would simply upset their plans. Then two boys join the swimming club of which they are both keen members (Georgie, the tomboy, being the more competitive of the two), and their idyllic friendship takes a plunge. One of the boys is the school pin-up, Robbie, for whom Melle develops a deep crush, while his friend Matthis falls for Georgie. There are mutual misunderstandings between the two girls and it takes some time to find who is the love-rat. Robbie, of course! The book is written, in what amount to diary entries, from the point of view of each girl, so the reader is able to understand the feelings of both of them. It handles the difficulties of a girl's first love (and first period), and the realisation that looks aren't everything. Their contrasting families are also well described. Melle's are middle class, with a mother obsessed with diet, exercise and her appearance. Georgie's are former hippies turned teachers. Both are a hundred per cent involved in their daughters' lives and we watch both struggling to understand their emotions. We come to realise that both approaches are equally valid in their own way and warm to the fact that their daughters appreciate their efforts. There are no dysfunctional families here. That is one of the book's particular attractions - and distinctions. Although the girls' experiences are life-changing for them both, they are handled in a humorous, down-to-earth way which, in a world where children are bombarded with brand images and the need to grow up fast, is wonderful to read. The German setting is no disadvantage and translation would present no problems. Warmly recommended