A review by dairyqueen84
Surf Mules by G. Neri

3.0

Logan Tom is a good student and wants to go to college but his single mom is in serious financial trouble and his deadbeat dad is no help. He and his friends love surfing and one of his best friends, Fin, has just signed on to the professional surfing circuit. Even though Fin’s father is a former professional surfer, Logan taught Fin everything he knows. After Logan witnesses Fin’s death from a monster wave, Logan goes into an emotional tailspin. He feels overwhelmed by pressure to solve his mother’s financial problems so he can go to college and by guilt over a fight he and Fin had. His other friend, Z-boy, is kicked out of the house because he isn’t graduating from high school and he wants Logan to help him transport drugs to Florida for a local drug dealer. They can make some big money and Logan thinks it will help with his college tuition. This coming-of-age novel is an adrenaline rush from beginning to end with exhilerating surf scenes, liberal references to pot smoking, and the cross country journey of the two boys with all its attendant misadventures usually caused by the hapless Z-boy. Logan and Z-boy are likeable characters and the ending is shocking. Mostly boys will be drawn to this book because of the content and the vivid writing.