Fifteen-year-old Nick is a shy homeschooler whose best friend is his

younger sister. Growing up on a farm, they both like the Australian
horse-riding sport campdrafting, but Nick is too nervous around other people to
compete. Tired of watching his sister making friends wherever she goes, Nick
joins a local swim squad to challenge himself.

There he begins to come out of his shell, especially when he is
befriended by four of his teammates who show him how to be friendly and
self-confident. He soon discovers that he is great at swimming the breaststroke
and finds the assurance to compete in meets. As his friendships and self-esteem
grows, his shyness diminishes, but will that be enough to help him compete in
the next campdraft event?

Written by a homeschooling mother of six, Holding Back provides an
authentic look at what homeschooling is like and how hard it can be for
homeschooled kids to challenge themselves in social situations.

Rhiza Shorts are teen novellas for reluctant readers.