Final Crossing

by Sean Rodman

Will is the most uptight criminal. Ever.

Will and Big O are brothers and best friends—and small-time crooks. Ever since their dad went to prison, they’ve been stealing to survive. On a ferry ride from the big city, they hatch a plan for one more score: they’ll break into the cars on the ferry during the trip and scrape together enough to get out of town. And maybe out of the criminal life forever. But everything goes south when they discover one car that contains more than they bargained for: a young kidnap victim. Pursued by a crazed professional criminal, the brothers must now survive the night and a final crossing into a new life.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Adventure, Teen, Realistic Fiction

112 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

I live and work in Victoria, British Columbia. I am the child of two anthropologists, which gave me a keen eye for observation and a bad case of wanderlust. My interest in writing for teenagers came out of working at a number of interesting schools around the world. In the Snowy Mountains of Australia, I taught ancient history to future Olympic athletes. Closer to home, my family and I lived and worked with students from over 100 countries at a non-profit international school.

Reviews

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Rule number one is knowing your limitations. stars

I haven't read a book in a while so I decided to pick up a very short one, which happened to be young adult. Before my hiatus I was beginning to go-off young adult, but thought I would give it a try anyway seen as I won't be able to tell a good book as well as I could before. It was short, which was perfect for what I wanted, it was entertaining (at first), and then it became boring and predictable.

The characters and the fighting scenes could all do with improvements. However, I think this would suit a younger audience (e.g. 7-10) who like drama, breaking into things and fight scenes.

But I did enjoy how it has convinced me to get back to reading!

Thanks for reading and I should get back into the jigg of reviews soon!

A copy of Final Crossing was kindly provided to me by Orca Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

[Bibliotekstanten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valle och Bigge (egentligen Valdemar och Birger) har haft en tuff uppväxt. Mamma försvann tidigt och sedan deras pappa hamnade i fängelse har de bott på ungdomshem. Bigges heta temperament gjorde att bröderna hamnade i nog trubbel för att bestämma sig för att rymma. Pappa pratade då och då om deras farbror i Finland, så det är dit de är på väg. Pengar är ett stort problem, de har i stort sett ingenting efter att ha betalat färjebiljetten, men har man haft deras uppväxt finns det lösningar på sådana problem. Bröderna har bestämt sig för att göra inbrott i bilarna på färjan för att finansiera resten av resan, men efter att ha länsat x antal bilar bryter de sig in i en skåpbil. Och där ligger en bunden, kidnappad tjej!

Helt okej bok. För mig personligen är den lite för platt och lite för ologisk och lite för springa-hit-och-dit, men jag tror ändå att den fungerar bra för de elever som "hatar att läsa". Boken kommer igång direkt och det är ganska spännande.

[Jeliya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read. It doesn't give much background story of Big O and Will except that their dad is in prison and they've been stealing their whole life or follow up or subsequent steps in their lives other than they won't be stealing anymore.

I also would have loved some more development of Marissa getting saved and Mr. Blank getting arrested. Aside from Mr. Dorkney coming in to find them in the kitchen area and Marissa telling Big O and Will to leave (to protect them from any trouble with the law), I wish there was something more added to fill in that gap from that scene to the brothers leaving to go to their Uncle's place.

The skeleton of the plot is pretty good, fast paced and right to the point. I would have appreciated a little more detail in some more areas but all in all, this was a good read.

[Adele · Rating 3 out of 5]

The copy of this from my library has a "Literacy" sticker across the spine. I couldn't find anything on the book itself that explicitly identified it as high interest low reading level, but the imprint is orca soundings, which I learned is, in fact, High/Low for teens. I don't know if it would have mattered if I had known that when I was putting this on my To Read list.

Anyway, it is fine. Good even. There are brothers and the story is fast-paced and, as promised, this is a really quick read. I was not as drawn in and engaged as I expect from a book I would give a higher rating. I can't point to anything specific, but whatever the constraints of qualifying for the High/Low label are, I feel they might restrict the author and negatively impact the story.

[Abby Mcnish · Rating 5 out of 5]

going from the bad guys to the good guys... they start breaking into cars to steal money and come upon a girl being kidnapped. they save her and they get caught by Mr. blank. they run but there is a storm coming to they can't be out on the deck. they get separated from Big O. they meet in the cafeteria and Mr. blank and big O are there but they hit Mr. blank in the head and they all get away.

[Anna Stina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bättre i början än i slutet. Svår att läsa högt med tanke på att den var lättläst. Eleverna gillade den inte heller.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though the title suggests someone crossing the border from Mexico to the US, this is actually a story set in Washington state, on the ferry system in the Puget Sound to be exact. Will and his brother Big O are on the ferry and hatch a plan to steal money from cars to get enough funds to make it to their uncle's house. While they are executing said plan, they get a big surprise when they break into one of their targeted vehicles.
Lots of action, adventure, bad decisions, and good intentions. Some violence and swearing.

[Lisa McManus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Orca Books for kids/teens, and the Soundings line is always a hit. This story, by author Sean Rodman, of two teens and the trouble they get themselves into, and out of, all in the course of a ferry ride, was a thrill! Perfect! I bought this at a book launch by Orca Books.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced...if incredibly unrealistic. And it only took me an hour to read but for some, it's just the ticket.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick but good read. Reads like a short story. I did notice a couple of spelling/grammar errors though.

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only read it to keep up with my reading challenge. Just like the rest of the orca books.

[Mel Raschke]

Will who is the main character and Big O who are brothers as well as minor criminals that get caught up in a kidnapping with a serious criminal on a ferry from the city to their new life. Will and Big O have relied on being criminals to survive ever since their father went to prison. They commit minor crimes like breaking in and stealing cash from people's cars. During the book they are on a ferry from the big city so they can get to their Uncle's house and maybe even quit being criminals forever. They decide they only need one hundred dollars to make it to their Uncle's so they break into the cars in the ferry and scavenge for cash. All seems well until they break into a certain car and find more than they bargained for.

[Steven]

This book was very good and action packed. It was also funny since they were comiting a crime when they became heros.