Haze

by Erin Thomas

When trouble arises on Bram's swim team, he struggles to find out who hurt his friend and to protect his coach from blame.

187 pages, ebook

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

Erin Thomas has been an avid reader since childhood. She admits to going through a very long Nancy Drew phase, and then having an even longer love affair with fantasy books. As a children’s author, she likes to write stories that feature action and a little bit of mystery, and sometimes a touch of the supernatural.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was good at the start, but as it got closer to the end it just became so unbelievable. Why were the events unfolding as they did? There was never a reason for it, or I missed it. I liked the sports aspect and the mystery too, but felt the mystery wasn't put to it fullest potential. All in all, this was just an okay read.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read and perfect for students who don't want something "long".

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

For 15-year-old Bram Walters, the most important thing in his life is to make the swim team at Strathmore Academy and become one of the Sharks, instead of being harassed by the upperclassmen and called pond scum. So Bram is willing to put up with the little hazing that occurs, like having to wear diapers while swimming or getting locked in the sauna for an extended time.

Bram is surprised when his idol, senior Jeremy Blackburn from his home town, warns him against attending the swim team initiation party. Bram shrugs it off as the swim team trials haven’t ended yet. Later that night, Jeremy tells Bram how three years ago, Marcus, a swim team member, died from alcohol poisoning after being hazed by the Sharks at a party.

Everything was hushed up after Marcus’s death and he ended up being described as a binge drinker, with little mention of the swim team and no mention of possible hazing. Jeremy plans to meet Bram the next day as he hinted about having evidence of the hazing death. However, Jeremy is brutally run over by a car and ends up clinging to life in a coma. When Jeremy’s younger sister, Abby, starts investigating who almost killed her brother, Bram insists on helping her to keep her safe. Who is to blame for Jeremy’s accident? Is it Swim Coach Gordon..or another Shark? As the investigation increases, so does the danger for Abby and Bram. Like most Orca novels, reluctant readers will enjoy this fast-paced mystery, especially if they like swimming. This book’s reading level is 2.9.

[Tony Zalmanov · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think that anybody can read this book. It is very short and the vocabulary is very basic. I would say that from sixth grade to twelfth grade is a good age group to put this book in. Although it has simple vocabulary some of the topics in the story are aimed for a mature audience and may not be appropriate for younger kids. Also young adults with an interest in sports such as swimming would enjoy this book because it incorporates school with the daily pressures of being an athlete and dealing with team mates.

I found that this book was extremely dissatisfying. Although it had a very solid ending and plot I felt that because of the lower level of this book the limited vocabulary made the book wordy at times and I thought it lacked allot of detail that I would love to have had. I thought the beginning was too drawn out and lacked allot of action but the end had too much action and was crammed into only a couple of chapters. Although I can say that the characters were well developed and the story was very easy to follow.

[Britney Senger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was inspiring to me. It had a lot to do with not giving up on people you love. Bram and Abby are my favorite Characters in the book. Bram and Abby are determined to find out what happened to Jeremy. Abby is a caring, love. There’s a Little bit of love and a lot of mystery. This book has inspired me to not give up on people I love and the sport I love. I really recommend this book. I'm not a fan of reading but I didn't want to put this book down! :)

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Make that a 3.5. For a quick read, pretty good. Kept my attention, believable characters, well-paced (suspense builds, romance builds), mystery remains mystery until near the end. However, some events, especially near the end, just seem too far-fetched to really swallow. But for reading entertainment, it will join the other hi-lo fiction on the library book spinner.

[Amy Mathers · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://amysmarathonofbooks.ca/haze/