Ross, Jeff. Coming Clean. (Orca Sounding series)

Ross, Jeff.  Coming Clean. (Orca Sounding series)     Orca  112p  $9.95 

978-1-4598-0331-2      2012  ms/hs   VG-BN      Realistic Fiction

Rob dreams of being a DJ.  He spends his time in his bedroom working on beats with his turntables.  His brother Adam gets him a gig as a substitute DJ at an all-ages club, and this is his big chance.  The set goes well, and he is packing up his gear when the lights go out.  In the following panic, Rob stumbles over a body.  It is girl from his school who has died from a drug overdose.  Rob finds out that his brother has been the runner giving drugs to club goers and then giving the money to the supplier.  He is keeping none of the money for himself.  Adam decides that the best thing is to come clean to the police, rather than let Rob become involved by innuendo.  Rob plans to visit his brother in jail, but Adam doesn’t want that.

Written in crisp prose, with believable characters and up-to-date references, this cross between a short story and short novel will appeal to teens.  It shows how easily unsuspecting teens can slip into illegal activities that can lead to jail.  The story is presented in a straightforward style without being preachy.  This will hold the attention of readers.

Drug Dealing-Fiction                                       --Joan Theal

Ross, Jeff. Dawn Patrol.

Ross, Jeff. Dawn Patrol.     Orca  146p  $9.95 978-1-4598-0062-5       ms/hs Series: On the Court With, Orca Sports    Good           

Esme and Luca go to Panama to find their friend who went AWOL when his parents were killed in a plane crash there.  There is conflict for Esme and Luca at every turn, especially when they finally meet up with their lost friend.  Jeff Ross’s descriptions of surfing create a memorable moment for young readers.  They can feel the surfer navigate the waves, thanks to Ross’s own experience with other board sports and his descriptive writing ability.  However, the plot is good, but not stellar.  There are some gaps in the plot line that will leave readers asking such questions as, "Why would a young man believe a beach bum/former surfer who makes such an outrageous claim that Kevin’s parents are alive, when the plane crash was undoubtedly so severe that it left wreckage that was burned beyond belief?"  That being said, the book has enough action and surfing excitement to attract students who otherwise might not pick up a book with a surfer on the cover. 

When Esme’s boyfriend disappears following the death of his parents, Esme teams up with longtime friend Luca to travel to Bocas del Mar, an island off the coast of Panama.  Waves that reach heights of 50 feet attract surfers from all over the world, and it is during Luca’s dangerous struggle with a wave and a coral reef that Kevin’s whereabouts are revealed to him.  Kevin was one of his rescuers, but he quickly disappears into the background.  Then Esme and Luca team up with the lovely Alana, and together, they face nasty islanders who do not like surfers, the beach bum who is tricking Kevin out of his parents’ life insurance, and coral reefs and dangerous rocks that could take out even the most experienced surfer.  There is definitely enough action to keep a reader’s attention, and Orca’s claim to fame is that its books are almost always fast-paced and interesting.

Note the spelling error on page 114.   "Delgado’s" was misspelled at the top of the page.

Mystery, Adventure, Surfing-Fiction             --Martha Squaresky