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A Boy Called Ocean
Kai frustasi saat melihat Jen dekat dengan orang lain. Kai memutuskan untuk berselancar dan mengikuti arus sampai hatinya tenang. Tanpa sadar, ia sudah berada jauh dari pinggir pantai dan terdampar di tengah laut.
Kai berusaha bertahan hidup, tapi keadaan yang dilaluinya semakin berat. Kelaparan, kedinginan, dan ada hiu di dekatnya.
Mampukah Kai bertahan dan kembali pulang?
Kai berusaha bertahan hidup, tapi keadaan yang dilaluinya semakin berat. Kelaparan, kedinginan, dan ada hiu di dekatnya.
Mampukah Kai bertahan dan kembali pulang?
- GenresRomanceYoung Adult
296 pages, Paperback
Published September 16, 2019
3 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 11, 2018
A very quick read; A Boy Called Ocean is at once romance with a hint of mystery and a lot of teen angst, but also a love letter to the sea and its beauty and majesty. I liked the quick pace of the text and the different viewpoints of the main characters.
November 23, 2020
3.5 ***
November 1, 2019
Saat membaca sinopsis cerita A Boy Called Ocean saya langsung teringat pada novel Life Of Pi. Di mana tokoh utamanya yang terjebak dan harus bertahan di tengah laut. Hanya saja cerita A Boy Called Ocean tidak sekompleks Life of Pi dan cenderung lebih ringan dan ringkas. Dari sampul bukunya sudah bisa dipastikan ceritanya akan berhubungan dengan laut. Gambar siluet seorang laki-laki di atas papan selancar sudah mengindikasikan isi ceritanya. Aksen laut dan ikan hiu di dalam sampul semakin menambah dan menguatkan jalan ceritanya. Didominasi warna biru cerah sampul buku ini mungkin akan mudah menarik perhatian pembaca. Namun, entah kenapa menurut saya sampul bukunya ini terlihat terlalu biasa dan kurang menarik. Mungkin dengan warna yang sedikit gelap untuk langit dan lautnya bisa lebih mendramatisir sampul bukunya.
Chris Higgins mengambil topik tentang kehidupan remaja dengan premis cerita sebuah tragedi yang menimpa tokoh utamanya. Kai yang berniat melamar sahabat dekatnya Jen untuk menjadi kekasihnya harus dihadapkan pada kesalahpahaman. Kai yang emosi dan cemburu memutuskan untuk melarikan diri dengan pergi berselancar ke laut. Naasnya Kai malah terseret ombak pasang dan pergi jauh meninggalkan bibir pantai. Kai pun terjebak di tengah laut dengan pertaruhan hidup dan mati. Mungkin cerita terjebak di tengah laut bukanlah sesuatu hal yang baru. Namun, bagi saya ini merupakan cerita remaja pertama yang memasukkan hal tersebut ke dalam jalan ceritanya. Meskipun ceritanya tentang Kai yang terjebak di tengah laut, tapi penulis tidak lupa untuk memasukkan unsur cinta, persahabatan, dan keluarga. Meskipun terkesan minim dab sedikit, tapi cukup terasa. Saya suka dengan cara penulis yang langsung to the point pada masalah utama novel ini. Sehingga tidak terkesan bertele-tele. Sayangnya penulis masih kurang bisa menuliskan ceritanya secara padat dan terlalu ringkas.
Hampir semua tokoh yang ada terlibat dalam jalan ceritanya. Tokoh Kai yang merupakan remaja lima belas tahun memiliki sifat yang agak pendiam, aneh, dan tertutup. Hanya pada sahabatnya Jen, Kai bisa melupakan seluruh perasaannya. Masa lalu Kai turut memengaruhi kehidupannya saat ini. Tokoh Jen merupakan gadis yang energik, cantik, dan populer. Jen menjadi sosok yang sangat dekat dengan Kai. Maka saat Kai menghilang, Jen menjadi orang pertama yang mencarinya. Lalu ada tokoh Ellie yang memiliki karakter drama, heboh, dan genit. Selanjutnya ada Jay, kakak sepupu Jen, yang merupakan seorang penjaga pantai. Terakhir ada Macca yang merupakan pendatang dari Australia. Macca memiliki fisik yang rupawan dan memjadi idola para gadis. Jumlah dan porsi setiap tokoh sebenarnya terbilang pas dan tidak berlebihan. Namun, sayangnya karakter setiap tokohnya masih kurang tergali dan lemah. Saya masih belum bisa merasakan perbedaan dari setiap karakternya secara menyeluruh. Penulis hanya menggambarkan sekilas sehingga masih sulit untuk merasakan chemistry di antara setiap tokohnya.
Penggunaan dua sudut pandang, yaitu di awal dibuka dengan sudut pandang orang ketiga dan untuk seterusnya menggunakan sudut pandang orang pertama hampir semua tokohnya. Bagi saya sendiri mungkin akan lebih konsisten jika penulis hanya menggunakan sudut pandang orang pertama. Gaya bahasanya ringan dan menyenangkan, sehingga hanya dengan sekali duduk kita bisa menyelesaikan buku ini. Terjemahannya pun enak dibaca dan nggak kagok. Alur ceritanya berjalan cepat dengan beberapa bagian adegan flashback. Adegan flashback-nya tidak terlalu penting dan mungkin jika dihilangkan pun tidak terlalu berpengaruh pada jalan ceritanya.
Penulis bisa membawa perasaan pembaca untuk tetap ikut larut dan penasaran dengan apa yang akan terjadi pada nasib Kai. Konflik saat Kai terbawa hanyut oleh gelombang air pasang laut, terbagi menjadi dua. Pertama bagaimana Kai berusaha bertahan dan tetap sadar di atas papan selancar. Kedua bagaimana orang-orang di sekitar Kai yang berusaha untuk mencarinya. Untuk konflik yang pertama kita akan lebih banyak diberi pemikiran dan halusinasi yang mulai menggerogoti kesadaran Kai. Secara perlahan-lahan Kai mulai kehilangan kesadarannya sehingga menyebabkan beberapa imajinasi dan halusinasi yang memunculkan ingatan di masa lalunya. Sedangkan konflik kedua lebih berfokus pada usaha orang-orang, khususnya Jen, dalam mencari keberadaan Kai. Di sini saya sangat penasaran bagaimana mereka bisa menemukan dan menyelamatkan Kai. Namun, entah kenapa bagi saya kedua konflik ini masih kurang kuat dan memuaskan. Penulis terlalu terburu-buru dalam mengeksekusi konfliknya. Maka tak heran konflik yang sebenarnya memiliki potensi menarik jadi terasa hambar dan datar.
Terlalu singkat dan ringkas menjadi kelemahan bagi A Boy Called Ocean. Penulis terkesan terlalu cepat dalam menampilkan permasalahan ceritanya. Sebenarnya tidak ada yang salah dengan itu semua. Hanya saja cara penulis dalam membangun itu semua masih kurang padat dan berisi. Banyak sekali keadaan dan hubungan antar tokohnya yang masih minim chemistry. Masa lalu Kai pun terkesan hanya tempelan dan tidak jelas penyelesaiannya. Padahal jika penulis bisa lebih sabar dan teliti dalam membangun pondasi cerita dan karakter tokohnya, mungkin A Boy Called Ocean bisa menjadi cerita remaja yang mendebarkan. Saya tetap mengapresiasi ide penulis yang terbilang unik untuk ukuran remaja. Saya bisa merasakan atmosfer kota pinggir pantai yang indah dengan penduduknya yang ramah. Secara keseluruhan A Boy Called Ocean menjadi novel remaja yang berpotensi meningkatkan rasa penasaran pembacanya.
Chris Higgins mengambil topik tentang kehidupan remaja dengan premis cerita sebuah tragedi yang menimpa tokoh utamanya. Kai yang berniat melamar sahabat dekatnya Jen untuk menjadi kekasihnya harus dihadapkan pada kesalahpahaman. Kai yang emosi dan cemburu memutuskan untuk melarikan diri dengan pergi berselancar ke laut. Naasnya Kai malah terseret ombak pasang dan pergi jauh meninggalkan bibir pantai. Kai pun terjebak di tengah laut dengan pertaruhan hidup dan mati. Mungkin cerita terjebak di tengah laut bukanlah sesuatu hal yang baru. Namun, bagi saya ini merupakan cerita remaja pertama yang memasukkan hal tersebut ke dalam jalan ceritanya. Meskipun ceritanya tentang Kai yang terjebak di tengah laut, tapi penulis tidak lupa untuk memasukkan unsur cinta, persahabatan, dan keluarga. Meskipun terkesan minim dab sedikit, tapi cukup terasa. Saya suka dengan cara penulis yang langsung to the point pada masalah utama novel ini. Sehingga tidak terkesan bertele-tele. Sayangnya penulis masih kurang bisa menuliskan ceritanya secara padat dan terlalu ringkas.
Hampir semua tokoh yang ada terlibat dalam jalan ceritanya. Tokoh Kai yang merupakan remaja lima belas tahun memiliki sifat yang agak pendiam, aneh, dan tertutup. Hanya pada sahabatnya Jen, Kai bisa melupakan seluruh perasaannya. Masa lalu Kai turut memengaruhi kehidupannya saat ini. Tokoh Jen merupakan gadis yang energik, cantik, dan populer. Jen menjadi sosok yang sangat dekat dengan Kai. Maka saat Kai menghilang, Jen menjadi orang pertama yang mencarinya. Lalu ada tokoh Ellie yang memiliki karakter drama, heboh, dan genit. Selanjutnya ada Jay, kakak sepupu Jen, yang merupakan seorang penjaga pantai. Terakhir ada Macca yang merupakan pendatang dari Australia. Macca memiliki fisik yang rupawan dan memjadi idola para gadis. Jumlah dan porsi setiap tokoh sebenarnya terbilang pas dan tidak berlebihan. Namun, sayangnya karakter setiap tokohnya masih kurang tergali dan lemah. Saya masih belum bisa merasakan perbedaan dari setiap karakternya secara menyeluruh. Penulis hanya menggambarkan sekilas sehingga masih sulit untuk merasakan chemistry di antara setiap tokohnya.
Penggunaan dua sudut pandang, yaitu di awal dibuka dengan sudut pandang orang ketiga dan untuk seterusnya menggunakan sudut pandang orang pertama hampir semua tokohnya. Bagi saya sendiri mungkin akan lebih konsisten jika penulis hanya menggunakan sudut pandang orang pertama. Gaya bahasanya ringan dan menyenangkan, sehingga hanya dengan sekali duduk kita bisa menyelesaikan buku ini. Terjemahannya pun enak dibaca dan nggak kagok. Alur ceritanya berjalan cepat dengan beberapa bagian adegan flashback. Adegan flashback-nya tidak terlalu penting dan mungkin jika dihilangkan pun tidak terlalu berpengaruh pada jalan ceritanya.
Penulis bisa membawa perasaan pembaca untuk tetap ikut larut dan penasaran dengan apa yang akan terjadi pada nasib Kai. Konflik saat Kai terbawa hanyut oleh gelombang air pasang laut, terbagi menjadi dua. Pertama bagaimana Kai berusaha bertahan dan tetap sadar di atas papan selancar. Kedua bagaimana orang-orang di sekitar Kai yang berusaha untuk mencarinya. Untuk konflik yang pertama kita akan lebih banyak diberi pemikiran dan halusinasi yang mulai menggerogoti kesadaran Kai. Secara perlahan-lahan Kai mulai kehilangan kesadarannya sehingga menyebabkan beberapa imajinasi dan halusinasi yang memunculkan ingatan di masa lalunya. Sedangkan konflik kedua lebih berfokus pada usaha orang-orang, khususnya Jen, dalam mencari keberadaan Kai. Di sini saya sangat penasaran bagaimana mereka bisa menemukan dan menyelamatkan Kai. Namun, entah kenapa bagi saya kedua konflik ini masih kurang kuat dan memuaskan. Penulis terlalu terburu-buru dalam mengeksekusi konfliknya. Maka tak heran konflik yang sebenarnya memiliki potensi menarik jadi terasa hambar dan datar.
Terlalu singkat dan ringkas menjadi kelemahan bagi A Boy Called Ocean. Penulis terkesan terlalu cepat dalam menampilkan permasalahan ceritanya. Sebenarnya tidak ada yang salah dengan itu semua. Hanya saja cara penulis dalam membangun itu semua masih kurang padat dan berisi. Banyak sekali keadaan dan hubungan antar tokohnya yang masih minim chemistry. Masa lalu Kai pun terkesan hanya tempelan dan tidak jelas penyelesaiannya. Padahal jika penulis bisa lebih sabar dan teliti dalam membangun pondasi cerita dan karakter tokohnya, mungkin A Boy Called Ocean bisa menjadi cerita remaja yang mendebarkan. Saya tetap mengapresiasi ide penulis yang terbilang unik untuk ukuran remaja. Saya bisa merasakan atmosfer kota pinggir pantai yang indah dengan penduduknya yang ramah. Secara keseluruhan A Boy Called Ocean menjadi novel remaja yang berpotensi meningkatkan rasa penasaran pembacanya.
May 29, 2018
A heart pounding at times heart stopping read as you hope and pray for the characters in this book. This read highlights the safety issues of the sea and leaves you gasping for air. Took me a little while to get into. But once into it. I enjoyed it.
July 11, 2020
It was ok. The start was really good but i think it wrapped up to quickly. It was kinda chill at the end and i think that there should have been some tension between Kai and Jen before they got together rather than just being all good with what happened. Another thing I think is that Macca should have been at least a little angry with Kai stealing his board and stuff because it was said that they were the things that meant the most to him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2024
soo cute
December 18, 2024
Loved the book!!
I really liked the chapters where Kai was all by himself, the thoughts he had was intruging I also enjoyed the different points of view. I just feel that the end should maybe have had more than just Jen and Kai talked and everything was fine. Maybe a description of what was said and one getting mad and then at the end they got together.
I really liked the chapters where Kai was all by himself, the thoughts he had was intruging I also enjoyed the different points of view. I just feel that the end should maybe have had more than just Jen and Kai talked and everything was fine. Maybe a description of what was said and one getting mad and then at the end they got together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2024
This is basically a story about Kai being pulled out to sea on a surfboard, but he didn’t tell anyone where he was. It jumps back a few hours at the start to show us how he got in this predicament, then the trials he has while out there slowly running out of energy and having his body shut down.
It comes across as very Australian for something that’s supposed to be British. I know it was doing the surfer dude vibes, for some characters, but the ‘mates’ and a lot of the word choice really struck me as Australian fiction in style. Think Children’s Bookweek type narratives, but with less people dying. (Bookweek choices are always brutal). I’d categorise this one as junior fiction too, despite the MC being fifteen. The stye of writing and way it’s present doesn’t hit the YA mark.
I liked how the narrative style changed as the hours wore on and became these brief snippets of rambling thought that really showed his decaying mental state without being too extreme. It’s very reminiscent of a children’s natural disaster story, but in this instance the disaster is just the fact he’s floated out to sea.
We get a number of viewpoints to really show what goes down from every angle and how things have played out (again, reminding me of a natural disaster style narrative) and a bit of character backstory thrown in.
It comes across as very Australian for something that’s supposed to be British. I know it was doing the surfer dude vibes, for some characters, but the ‘mates’ and a lot of the word choice really struck me as Australian fiction in style. Think Children’s Bookweek type narratives, but with less people dying. (Bookweek choices are always brutal). I’d categorise this one as junior fiction too, despite the MC being fifteen. The stye of writing and way it’s present doesn’t hit the YA mark.
I liked how the narrative style changed as the hours wore on and became these brief snippets of rambling thought that really showed his decaying mental state without being too extreme. It’s very reminiscent of a children’s natural disaster story, but in this instance the disaster is just the fact he’s floated out to sea.
We get a number of viewpoints to really show what goes down from every angle and how things have played out (again, reminding me of a natural disaster style narrative) and a bit of character backstory thrown in.
December 23, 2018
Actual rating 3.5 Stars. Read the full review on www.yourwordsmyink.com
A boy lost at sea with only his thoughts to accompany him. I loved the premise of this book, but the characters annoyed me to no end. It took me a while to get into this book, and I almost put it down thanks to every single character's inability to communicate properly, and the drama ensuing from said miscommunication. Miscommunication between characters to create drama is one of my biggest pet hates. Normal people actually talk to each to each other.
I pushed on though because I really wanted to read Kai's journey. The book follows multiple POV's and changes from the third person to first person narrative within the first 50 pages. This also annoyed me, considering we got character POV's that were completely unnecessary and we should have just gotten Kai and Jen's POV's from the start.
All in all this book was very well written, and Kai's chapters where he's lost at sea are really beautiful, but the rest of the characters just don't do it for me.
A boy lost at sea with only his thoughts to accompany him. I loved the premise of this book, but the characters annoyed me to no end. It took me a while to get into this book, and I almost put it down thanks to every single character's inability to communicate properly, and the drama ensuing from said miscommunication. Miscommunication between characters to create drama is one of my biggest pet hates. Normal people actually talk to each to each other.
I pushed on though because I really wanted to read Kai's journey. The book follows multiple POV's and changes from the third person to first person narrative within the first 50 pages. This also annoyed me, considering we got character POV's that were completely unnecessary and we should have just gotten Kai and Jen's POV's from the start.
All in all this book was very well written, and Kai's chapters where he's lost at sea are really beautiful, but the rest of the characters just don't do it for me.
October 24, 2024
I really liked this novel. It started so well that it got me hooked from the beginning. As it opens, Kai is on a surfboard, being swept out to sea. He took a risk, he went to far, and now he needs to face the consequences of his stupid tantrum and poor decision-making and hope like hell someone will figure out where he is. He likes a girl, he has always like her, but he seems to be permanently friend-zoned and passed over for the cooler guy. However, is perception is not reality and the girl does really like him. She's always liked him. In a comedy (but not really a comedy) of errors, now he's tossed his toys and alienated a bunch of people who care about him and she can't get people to understand that he is really missing.
This is tagged as romance, but it is only really romance towards the end. I think it is more philosophical journey, a novel of understanding who you are and where you fit. It's interesting because it is a surf novel and it is British, not something I often expect. The characters are likeable and it has much to recommend it. Also, the cover is gorgeous.
This is tagged as romance, but it is only really romance towards the end. I think it is more philosophical journey, a novel of understanding who you are and where you fit. It's interesting because it is a surf novel and it is British, not something I often expect. The characters are likeable and it has much to recommend it. Also, the cover is gorgeous.
September 28, 2020
Would give 3.5 if poss as the plot was so unusual and I like the concept as I'm an RNLI supporter myself and enjoy their program Saving Lives at Sea. The multiple perspectives meant it was fast paced hence why I've read it in about 14 hours. Wasn't that connected with the characters though because of it as you didn't get much time with any of them. Think the ending would have had more punch if I'd grown to know Kai in particular a bit more as for me it wasn't as good as the middle section where he was stuck at sea.
May 20, 2022
This was one of the best books I have ever read! I really recommend 💕….the plot in This story is 👌🏻. It is a real page turner. U must read it. Basically a girl and boy fall in love with eachover without knowing. The boy does something without thinking leaving everyone on edge and wondering where he is!
May 23, 2019
This book was equally beautiful and heartbreaking. It flows quite fast and it's a really page turner. I absolutly loved this book. It's turned into one of my favorite books. I loved reading Kai's thoughts unfolding in such a delicate and raw manner.
August 9, 2021
This book was so well written and kept me hooked with the different perspectives on a life changing event. I really enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone who wants a love story portrayed in a different manner.
January 27, 2019
Some elements were very poetic but overall just felt oddly perfect (as much as the concept allowed it to be) and not at all believable
May 7, 2019
I enjoyed this teen read.
February 9, 2020
Very thought provoking. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. A real page turner, you won't want to put it down until the story gets resolved!
December 23, 2021
Fast paced. Short and sweet!
November 12, 2023
beautiful
April 2, 2024
The author visited my school and did a reading of a few chapters which was pretty cool
December 12, 2024
2.5 estrellas en realidad. Me costó un poco de trabajo leer este libro porque sentía que no pasaba nada cuando kai estaba atrapado en el océano, pero me encantó que también pude verlo como una carta de amor hacia el océano.
July 26, 2025
I quite like the book but I think it drags on a bit if it had more of a plot when Kai was in the water I think I would've given it a 5 but it just felt like it was dragging on and on and on
April 19, 2024
Representation: N/A
Trigger warnings: near death experience in the ocean
Score: Six out of ten.
Looking back at this it wasn't a great romance novel and I've read far better ones ever since I first picked up this book awhile back but I highly doubt that I'd pick this one up again especially after noticing all the glaring flaws within this; I'm surprised it's such an obscure book, more people should read this to hopefully enjoy it more than I could. After seeing the rather eye catching cover it starts off with the main characters Kai and Jen living in the UK and they used to be close to each other until Jen grew closer to the Australian surfer who moved there called Macca however I couldn't connect to them because they weren't developed or fleshed out enough and they sometimes irritated me witch I disliked; the multiple POVs didn't work either. Only around 50 pages in Kai was frustrated by this development and decided to go off into the ocean and maybe he was there for a quick surf to release his anger when suddenly he was swept out from shore and he was alone throughout most of the book. As the other characters worried for him and thought he might've already died, he still lived despite the circumstances and the challenges he faced but it's a shame that that part wasn't suspenseful enough but anyways he spends time thinking about his life and in the end he was rescued wrapping up the book on a high note.
Trigger warnings: near death experience in the ocean
Score: Six out of ten.
Looking back at this it wasn't a great romance novel and I've read far better ones ever since I first picked up this book awhile back but I highly doubt that I'd pick this one up again especially after noticing all the glaring flaws within this; I'm surprised it's such an obscure book, more people should read this to hopefully enjoy it more than I could. After seeing the rather eye catching cover it starts off with the main characters Kai and Jen living in the UK and they used to be close to each other until Jen grew closer to the Australian surfer who moved there called Macca however I couldn't connect to them because they weren't developed or fleshed out enough and they sometimes irritated me witch I disliked; the multiple POVs didn't work either. Only around 50 pages in Kai was frustrated by this development and decided to go off into the ocean and maybe he was there for a quick surf to release his anger when suddenly he was swept out from shore and he was alone throughout most of the book. As the other characters worried for him and thought he might've already died, he still lived despite the circumstances and the challenges he faced but it's a shame that that part wasn't suspenseful enough but anyways he spends time thinking about his life and in the end he was rescued wrapping up the book on a high note.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2022
Very basic book and didn’t have enough thrill for me
August 28, 2025
Honestly this book is perfect I liked every part of it
But I don't get why macca didn't care about kai literally breaking into his house and stealing something he said meant everything for him
The plot was nicely thought through and taken time on
And the drama was perfect and I love misunderstanding and this book had plenty of it
This has to be one of my favourite book and I totally recommend reading jt
But I don't get why macca didn't care about kai literally breaking into his house and stealing something he said meant everything for him
The plot was nicely thought through and taken time on
And the drama was perfect and I love misunderstanding and this book had plenty of it
This has to be one of my favourite book and I totally recommend reading jt
May 9, 2018
Jen, Ellie, Macca and Kai are all supposed to be meeting at the beach and hanging out.
Kai wants to have a nice date with Jen at the beach front cafe where he plans to ask her to be his girlfriend. She doesn't know of the impending date but goes to meet him at the cafe only to learn he needs to work late now thanks to his boss.
Ellie persuades Jem to stay out with her and Macca and Jay on the beach but Kai sees and gets angry lashing out at customers and breaking cafe property which he then gets fired from and storms off, the grab Macca's surfboard and plunge into the sea...
As Jen stays out with Macca, Ellie reads the situation wrong assuming that Men fancies him now which upsets her deeply as she likes Macca.
The Jem discovers Kai isn't home, that's why he hasn't answered her calls or texts, no one knows where he is, so lifeboats are launched and a rescue operation over a underway to rescue him before it's too late...
As kai is stranded we learn of the domestic abuse his mother suffered and why they escaped to Cornwall, originally they loved Cornwall thanks to the stories she used to tell Kai about mermaids. His thoughts about Jen all keep him going while stranded at sea and when he sees a seal and realises it's not a dangerous shark, he feels comforted even if the seal can't help him.
He wants his future and holds onto his life as best he can while stranded out at sea. Jen, the girl he cares for so much is highly anxious and impatient awaiting news of him as lifeboats and helicopters get deployed and shows how a big scale rescue goes down whether fiction or real life it's awe inspiring the life saving work they do all year, all day round. There's also a final addition at the end of the book with Kai's mum talking about why she left Kai's father and her possible probable postnatal depression which caused her to rely on alcohol.
The issues around safety in the sea are issues which should be raised more in teens and children's fiction in my opinion but at least they are in this stunning book, much praise to Chris for this!
It was a gripping read that leaves your heart skipping beats in anticipation.
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
Kai wants to have a nice date with Jen at the beach front cafe where he plans to ask her to be his girlfriend. She doesn't know of the impending date but goes to meet him at the cafe only to learn he needs to work late now thanks to his boss.
Ellie persuades Jem to stay out with her and Macca and Jay on the beach but Kai sees and gets angry lashing out at customers and breaking cafe property which he then gets fired from and storms off, the grab Macca's surfboard and plunge into the sea...
As Jen stays out with Macca, Ellie reads the situation wrong assuming that Men fancies him now which upsets her deeply as she likes Macca.
The Jem discovers Kai isn't home, that's why he hasn't answered her calls or texts, no one knows where he is, so lifeboats are launched and a rescue operation over a underway to rescue him before it's too late...
As kai is stranded we learn of the domestic abuse his mother suffered and why they escaped to Cornwall, originally they loved Cornwall thanks to the stories she used to tell Kai about mermaids. His thoughts about Jen all keep him going while stranded at sea and when he sees a seal and realises it's not a dangerous shark, he feels comforted even if the seal can't help him.
He wants his future and holds onto his life as best he can while stranded out at sea. Jen, the girl he cares for so much is highly anxious and impatient awaiting news of him as lifeboats and helicopters get deployed and shows how a big scale rescue goes down whether fiction or real life it's awe inspiring the life saving work they do all year, all day round. There's also a final addition at the end of the book with Kai's mum talking about why she left Kai's father and her possible probable postnatal depression which caused her to rely on alcohol.
The issues around safety in the sea are issues which should be raised more in teens and children's fiction in my opinion but at least they are in this stunning book, much praise to Chris for this!
It was a gripping read that leaves your heart skipping beats in anticipation.
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
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January 13, 2019Too many POV characters and I didn't actually feel any tension, which is perhaps due to the writing style. This was a DNF for me.
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