Home Before Dark

Kristin Butcher writes novels for young adults. Her most recent works
are The Trouble with Liberty, Zee’s Way, and Chat Room.

Set off British Columbia’s west coast, Home Before Dark follows the
adventures of five teens as they explore the waters and islands of the
area. Possessing above-average survival skills on land and sea, with
boats, motors, and various land vehicles at their disposal, the group is
largely independent. Although they have parents to answer to, and though
they overstep their bounds on several occasions, the teens pretty much
roam at will. During their travels, they repeatedly cross paths with a
disreputable fellow named Bleddyn who camps out on the islands, wields a
shotgun, helps himself to other people’s boats, regularly practices
sabotage, and skulks in the local mall. When the teens make friends with
Gary, an elderly man who lives alone on a remote island, they discover
that Bleddyn is his cousin and that he has designs on Gary’s property.
When he tries to murder Gary to acquire it, the teens come to the
rescue.

This is Hammond’s first novel, and though she has attempted to write
an interesting and exciting story, her efforts fall short. There are too
many protagonists, the plot is thin, and the story rambles. In addition,
Hammond tends to tell the story, rather than show it. The characters are
underdeveloped and the dialogue is wooden. Hammond clearly knows her
subject, but she has included far too much information that, rather than
breathing life into the story, tends to drag it down. Not a first-choice
purchase.