In the vein of The Pisces and The Vegetarian Chlorine is a debut novel that blurs the line
between a literary coming-of-age narrative and a dark unsettling horror tale told from an
adult perspective on the trials and tribulations of growing up in a society that puts pressure
on young women and their bodies... a powerful relevant novel of immigration sapphic longing
and fierce defiant becoming.Ren Yu is a swimmer. Her daily life starts and ends with the pool.
Her teammates are her only friends. Her coach her guiding light. If she swims well enough she
will be scouted get a scholarship go to a good school. Her parents will love her. Her coach
will be kind to her. She will have a good life. But these are human concerns. These are the
concerns of those confined to land those with legs. Ren grew up on stories of creatures of the
deep of the oceans and the rivers. Ones that called sailors to their doom. Ones that dragged
them down and drowned them. Ones that feasted on their flesh. Ones of the creature that she's
always longed to become: mermaid. Ren aches to be in the water. She dreams of the scent of
chlorine?the feel of it on her skin. And she will do anything she can to make a life for
herself where she can be free. No matter the pain. No matter what anyone else thinks. No matter
how much blood she has to spill.
