In the Break

VOYA

This captivating novel by an author who is a surfer is about surfing, adolescence, friendship, and loyalty. The main character, Juan, is an intense young man making his way toward adulthood amidst all the struggles, angst, and joy of life. Surf lovers will take great delight in Juan's quest for "the" perfect wave, which leads him and his pals to La Isla de los Delfins, where they share the most amazing surf with hundreds of dolphins. Ordinarily he prefers to snatch sleep on the floor of the shower, pelted by the water, undisturbed by his family. But Juan, true and loyal to his best friend, Jamie, and Jamie's sister, flees on an extreme adventure that he describes as one parallel to something penned by Twain, "my mom's 4Runner our raft, the Pacific our Mississippi," where his bed is often the seat of the car or the ground itself. In his first young adult novel, the author easily conveys the power and excitement of surfing in a well-written tale, and it will be an easy and popular sell to anyone with an interest in surfing or adventure. Surfing and the culture that surrounds it hold popular and universal interest for teenagers, and this book will make them feel involved in it. It is an ideal recommendation for pleasure reading for young adults of both genders. VOYA CODES: 4Q 5P J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2006, Little Brown, 208p., Ages 12 to 18.
—Ava Ehde

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Tenth graders Jamie and Juan are best friends who live to surf. When Jamie gets into trouble for beating up his abusive stepfather, his older sister, Amber, runs to Juan for help. Juan decides to drive from California to his aunt's trailer in Mexico, where his friend can stay until things cool down. He steals his mother's car, and the three teens embark on a wild road trip that results in a tragedy that changes their lives forever. Although the writing is uneven at times, the mood and emotions ring true, and the fast-paced plot holds readers' attention throughout. The characters are realistically drawn, and their relationships are complex, even though the dialogue can be stilted at times. Street language and sexual situations are presented in a matter-of-fact manner. Teens will identify with Juan and the choices, both good and bad, that he makes in order to help his friend.-Melissa Christy Buron, Epps Island Elementary, Houston, TX Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

When streetwise surfer Juan's best friend Jamie pounds the daylights out of his bullying stepfather, Juan sees no option for him except to get out of town as quickly as possible. He, Jamie and Jamie's sister Amber steal his parents' car and drive south from California to Mexico, where surfing, romance and disaster await. Lopez's debut shares much of the atmosphere and elements seen in urban fiction, and he nails the conversations between Juan, Jamie, Amber and their friends with a gritty, dead-on teen-speak that surges through the pages, giving extra shots of hang-ten adrenaline to the already fast-paced plot. In contrast, Juan's inner voice, through which the story unfolds, utilizes a more sophisticated language that, while fumblingly poetic as a surfer dude should be, occasionally feels at odds with the dialogues and plot. Still, the story moves quickly, and despite an over-packed, rushed ending, this first effort will score big with surfing and sports fans. (Fiction. YA)