Sharks & Boys

Gr 6—9—When Enid's boyfriend, Wick, decides to go to an out-of-town party against her wishes and declares that he wants "to take a break," jealousy overcomes her. The eavesdropping 15-year-old overhears the name "Gretchen" and ditches her mother during a catering job to tail her ex, his friends, and her own twin brother, Landon, over 500 miles from Vermont to an Annapolis marina. Enid discovers that the boys plan a nighttime cruise on the Gretchen, a boat owned by Skate and Burr's parents, who have recently died in an airplane explosion. While the boys continue drinking beer, Enid stows away and a storm sinks the boat, leaving eight teens clinging to a small life raft. Enid's dating insecurities, partly fostered by an absentee father, is just one contrivance that sets the stage for the survival tale. Despite the obvious dangers, including sharks, dehydration, and hypothermia, the plot revolves around the relationship among the four sets of twins. More is learned about the psychological testing that brought them together as friends, and some inborn weaknesses that ultimately lead to disaster. Enid and Landon come to terms with their own strained relationship and Enid struggles to trust Wick again. While it may be difficult for picayune readers to believe that they all had cut communication with friends and family, or that heavily traveled waters near Annapolis wouldn't have spotted the group for days, it will not detract from a tension-filled climax and satisfying ending.—Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY