Surf Zone

Emily Walters Gregor is a graduate student in 20th-century American
literature and an ESL writing tutor at the University of Minnesota.

Jake and Peter have landed jobs as adventure guides off the B.C.
coast. During their weekend off, a scuba-diving exploration of an
underwater cave traps them and Valerie, the daughter of one of their
clients, on a small island with no means of communication. After
sheltering in a small cabin on the island for several days, eating
octopus and berries, the teens find three surfboards and decide to try
to surf the three miles to the mainland. An hour into the exposed
ocean, a storm blows up, with 20–foot swells that push them towards a
rocky shore.

Surf Zone is an action-oriented story, and many readers will find the
plot intriguing. The action is laid over imagery of coastal legends and
addresses the importance of respecting both the nature and the culture
of the region.

Occasionally, too much description and too little dialogue slows the
pacing, as does the unconventional third-person narration that shifts
between the perspectives of the two main characters. Somewhat
disappointing is the female lead character, who twice requires rescue by
Peter and Jake and adopts a caretaking role on the island. Though the
plot is unique and well-researched, the issues with character
development and pacing prevent the action from drawing the reader
through the book. Not a first-choice purchase.