Undercurrents

by Willo Davis Roberts

Fourteen-year-old Nikki Simons has lost her mother to cancer. Her older sister, Bonnie, will soon be off on an exciting trip before heading to college, leaving Nikki to cope with things at home, including her little brother, Sam.

Nikki still grieves for her mother, knows she will desperately miss Bonnie, and feels inadequate to fill in for them at home. And then their father makes a shattering announcement: He is going to marry Crystal, a woman he met through work who is only slightly older than his daughters.

Not long after the peculiar wedding (none of Crystal's family or friends attended), Nikki learns that in place of a European trip the family had planned before her mother's death, they will be spending part of the summer in the village of Trinidad, in northern California, where Crystal has inherited a house on the beach.

Nikki decides that going to the beach is preferable to having no vacation at all. But soon she's troubled by more than just Dad's hasty marriage to a woman who doesn't make much of an attempt to relate to his children. Other things about Nikki's new stepmother remain unexplained: Why is she reluctant to return to the house where she spent some time as a child? And after Dad is called back to Seattle on an emergency, what awful secret causes Crystal to have nightmares that waken Nikki out of a sound sleep? How is Nikki, by herself, expected to cope with things that baffle and frighten her?

Then Nikki meets Julian Gyasi, an intriguing boy known as Spook who lives in a house on the cliff nearby. Why are there mysterious lights in the tower windows over there, and who is the man who frightens Nikki by watching her from the top of the cliff? As the days pass, Crystal's behavior becomes even stranger and Dad is still not there to help Nikki deal with either her stepmother or the increasingly mysterious situation at the Gyasi house.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens

232 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2002

About the author

Willo Davis Roberts was an American writer chiefly known for her mystery novels for children and young adults. She won Edgar Allan Poe awards in 1989, 1995, and 1997 for best juvenile and best young adult mysteries. Her books included The View from the Cherry Tree, Twisted Summer, Don't Hurt Laurie, Megan's Island, Baby-sitting is a Dangerous Job, Hostage, The Girl with Silver Eyes, The One Left Behind and Scared Stiff.

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to give this book a four star rating or beyond. For the first two-thirds of the book, Roberts created a story that I couldn't put down. I was up way-too-late, enchanted by the phenomenal environment and story set up that could have gone anywhere. I guess I could say that I didn't see the ending coming. But the reason why I couldn't was because it was horrible!

At the climax, there's the stereotypical "explanation of what is going on" scene. That was when things started going downhill...and not in a good "this is what happens after the climax" way. This story changed from a real page-turner to "come ON...how stupid is THAT?" that never recovered. Two-thirds of the book were a great, tucked-in-bed story designed to scare you out of your mind. Easily 4- or 5-star setup. The resolution was in two-star territory. I like Roberts' books overall, but this isn't an uncommon problem with her works...great idea, lost somewhere in the resolution. I probably should have seen it coming.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy read, semi-interesting story, but the plot seemed to lack direction. Each character or sub-story was never developed. In the idea that every person's unique story is worthy of capturing, the book is worthwhile, but the story did not seem to warrant need for telling - not real entertaining material, if that makes sense.

[Chey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, have you EVER mentally solved a mystery? Then it turns out you were right? That happened to me with this book...with few clues... Nikki has a stepmother 8 months after her mother's death, and Nikki thinks there is a BIG secrete that Cristal, her stepmother, is keeping from EVERYBODY! And she is right...

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't usually read the mystery type books, but this book was not bad. I definately could not put it down to find out what the big mystery is. It was a good story and I would recommend this book to someone who likes mysteries.

[Sashana Travers · Rating 4 out of 5]

dis book it tight i like it its about a girl whos mova died and her favawants to make dis lady her new step mova and da she has to approve of crystal first before he makes crystal nikki's new step mova

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading just about anything

[Sumidha K]

i really liked this book except for the ending. i think it was a little too abrupt.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This used to be my favorite book when I was younger. I thought it was so suspenseful. :)

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I do not know why I did not right a review on this earlier! Now I cant remember the details about it! But, I know it was GOOD!

[Ruth]

going to start this book soon hope it is good~!!!!!!

[Pam]

young adult

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

First half was interesting. The second half was not.

[Katie-Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay book. I recommend it.

[Natalie Schloss · Rating 2 out of 5]

i know, i know this was published in like 2002, i'm not gonna point out everything that bothered me because product of its time and whatever but:

"you think old men--or men in their forties--don't look at pretty girls? even dad does, when he thinks nobody's noticing. age has nothing to do with it." like great way to act like it's no big deal for grown men to look at literal children (she's fourteen!!! christ!!!)

then crystal tells nikki about her father asking crystal out and how he wouldn't take no for an answer like it's just a joke like christ

also nikki said multiple times that crystal was young enough to be her father's daughter and it was like, she said crystal was fourteen years older than her, she was twenty-eight and i thought her dad was like forty-ish so yeah sure technically but fourteen years is a decent gap between her and crystal it's not like crystal was only twenty or something, she's an adult

and my biggest issue is i thought for most of the book there had to be some sort of supernatural explanation for everything, for crystal's behavior, for her disguising herself from people in town, for the fact that she and nikki's dad got married only eight months after his wife died???? i thought she had to be some sort of supernatural being and she was gonna reveal like a truly evil nature or whatever but then it was just like "oh she's a normal person with major trauma", which means the dad really is just an asshole who married someone less than a year after his wife of probably at least twenty years died like i can't imagine any kid could be okay with that and nikki's sister keeps telling her to relax about it like?? and instead of having his family pack up and go home he lives his children with his new wife that he and his children barely know??? this dude truly sucks.

anyway yeah it was a quick read and all but it was pretty disappointing imo, especially the ending being kinda abrupt

[Studiosusie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts out as a good mystery, but then rushes through the "secret" in the last couple of chapters, making for a messy ending. Didn't feel finished.

[D.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book didn't have much action, but it was a good mystery. 3.5 stars.

[Lynette Lark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a young adult book. It had a few careless typos.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Davis spent a lot of time building the spooky setting, but them we get a really weak pay off. I was definitely disappointed in this book. I felt like I read a book with no point. This could have been way better than it was. It was too short to actually tell a decent story.

[Kellee Moye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally read March 24, 2009

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like it, although I'm not finished it yet

[Chyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the way the secrets are revealed in the book are epic.