Single Fin

by Aaron Topp

Award-winning YA novel set in a surfing culture. The page-turning story traces Fin's journey from hitting rock bottom to making his way back to the surface .

Jamie Finland is a 19-year-old who has turned his back on his mum and headed north to the coast. When local 'soul' surfer Mike Taylor saves his life one day, a strong friendship is formed. Fin lives on the thought of surfing that next wave and partying hard with his best mate and new life mentor. But Mike is killed and Jamie is left alone.

After the accident, Fin is 'adopted' by Mike's Uncle Bobby, who runs a large farming operation down the coast. Fin is starting to get used to his new life when Mike's younger cousin, Jack, freshly expelled from boarding school, arrives on the farm to learn a work ethic. Jack is the complete opposite to Mike and this causes friction with Fin.

Then Jack discovers surfing, and Fin is pressured into fighting the demons he thought he had shut away for good.

Winner of the Best First Young Adult Fiction Book at NZ Post Children's Book Awards 2007.

186 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2011

About the author

Hawkes Bay based Aaron Topp is a former teacher and a writer. His first book Single Fin is a coming-of-age story about a boy obsessed with surfing. Based on a true story, Single Fin won an Honour Award in the Young Adult Fiction Category of the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2007. His second book, Creating Waves, is a series of mini-biographies of famous creative New Zealanders who surf. 2015 saw the publication of Topp's Young Adult novel Hucking Cody. The novel tells the story of Cody, a young mountain biker whose unlucky run with girls, his family, and his job starts him on a journey of self-discovery.

Hucking Cody received a Storylines Notable Book Award in 2016 and was a finalist for the Young Adult Fiction Award in the 2016 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Reviews

[whatbooknext · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age - 14+

Jamie Finland (or Fin for short), loves surfing, drinking, fighting and hanging out with his best mate Mike. But when Mike is killed in a car accident, Fin is devastated. He falls apart, seeing Mike everywhere and avoiding everyone. His surfboard gathers spiderwebs, he loses weight and moves in with Mike's boss (Bobby) on a farm - the hard work numbing him from the world and his loss.

When Bobby's nephew Jack comes to stay after being expelled from his Auckland school, Fin has something else to focus on. Especially when Jack's older sister is visiting. Jess needs someone to write a final uni paper on and won't take no for an answer. Fin's training starts in earnest, the most exercise he's ever done, and he notices a change in himself, inside and out.

Asked when he will ride the waves again, he can't think of anything worse. He knows the loss of Mike will be even more real and raw in the surf. But these new people who have become close to him are helping him heal. Could he face the ocean again? Can he find the answers he needs to get over his loss?

By an Award winning Hawkes Bay Author, Single Fin has been re-released onto shelves this year. Just like his recent novel Hucking Cody, this story is perfect for boys 14+. Its straight talking, down-to-earth kiwi bloke language and realistic characters, draw the reader in. Anyone who loves to surf will devour it. Loved it!

[Miss Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story of friendship and loss which sticks to the male stereotype. Clever title.

[Chhaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The gender of this book is sports.This book was about surfing