Aniana Del Mar Jumps In by Jasminne Mendez
Aniana Del Mar Jumps In is a touching middle grade novel written in verse by Jasminne Mendez that features a twelve-year-old Dominican American girl passionate about swimming. In The Author’s Note, we learn that Aniana (Ani) is named after the real-life Dominican revolutionary and environmentalist Aniana Vargas (1930-2002). Vargas, better known as ‘The Mother of the Waters,’ (La Madre de las Aguas) was a Dominican political activist who worked with others to take down the ruthless dictator Rafael Trujillo, ruler of the Dominican Republic for 30 years until his assassination in 1961. Because of her activism, Vargas was persecuted and exiled from her native country to the United States in 1959 but continued to support her fellow activists from here.
Other characters in this emotional novel include Aniana’s supportive best friend Maria Tere (named after another anti-Trujillo activist Maria Teresa Mirabel (1935-1960)); Aniana’s parents (Mami and Papi), Matti (her younger brother), Madrina (Maria Tere’s mother and Aniana’s godmother), Mami’s twin brother Mateo, and doctors and physical therapists. Themes include being caught between two cultures (although the story takes place in Galveston Texas, both Mami and Papi were born and raised in the Dominican Republic), chronic illness and disability, intergenerational trauma, and the struggle of a young girl for independence.
The first few poems in the book’s Prologue introduce two stand-out themes addressed throughout the novel: Aniana’s love for her father and her passion for swimming. Here is one example:
In the first section of Aniana Del Mar Jumps In, we learn that Aniana’s family has moved to Galveston Texas:
After church on some Sundays, Aniana, her younger brother Matti, and Mami go to the beach. On page ten, we learn of her mother’s greatest fear: that the sea (la mar) will swallow Aniana up the way it swallowed Mami’s brother, her house, and her village during a hurricane when she was a little girl.
The author uses several poetic forms including Concrete/Shape, Haiku, and Tanka to tell Aniana’s story. On page 371 she defines each form and provides an example, urging readers to try writing their own verse, practicing each structure. In addition to these forms, Mendez makes creative use of typography, including capitalization, added space between words, lines and letters (such as G L I D E me down), and no space between words (such as sheholdsmeclose).
Members of my book club found it difficult to like Mami due to her overprotectiveness and controlling behavior. Her perspective often clashes with Ani’s needs and dreams. But I think Mendez does an excellent job in conveying that Mami’s behavior is caused by past trauma. The novel treats Mami’s trauma with compassion and honesty, which I loved. It respects her pain but does not diminish the pain her overprotectiveness causes Ani. The nuanced depiction of family trauma helps readers understand Mami’s motivations, even if they don’t always agree with her actions.
I will admit that novels in verse usually aren’t my thing, but I loved Aniana Del Mar Jumps In for many reasons. The verse is creative: both visually and emotionally representing Aniana’s journey. I don’t want to give away one of the major plot points, but I will say that Mendez offers readers a realistic and relatable look at life with a chronic illness and its physical and emotional challenges. It explores the journey of dealing with a chronic illness while finding a new sense of self after the diagnosis. The characters in the novel are exceptionally well-drawn, especially Aniana: her determination to continue swimming and her resolve to make her own choices about her body. Also, because the novel features a Dominican American family, exploring cultural identity and incorporating Spanish words into the narrative, it provides valuable representation.
I highly recommend Aniana Del Mar Jumps In for preteens, teens, and adults. It’s an inspiring story about inner strength, navigating challenges, and celebrating triumphs, both big and small.
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