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A review by ssshira
Dawn and the Surfer Ghost by Ann M. Martin, Hodges Soileau
1.0
this is my first time reading this book!
in this cali-style (gag me with a spoon) mystery by ghostwriter [a:Ellen Miles|286072|Ellen Miles|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], dawn becomes weirdly obsessed with this way cool surfer named thrash. he's got a tubular board and gnarly moves. then one day, he disappears/maybe dies: how un-groovy! turns out he faked his death because someone had it out for him in a mondo way (and tampered with his board). with dawn's help, he gets back at his would-be murderer in a truly outrageous way: snitches to the cops, and wins a surfing contest with his funky moves! awesome! (note: yes I did just work every level name from the special world in super mario world into that blurb. you're welcome, nerds.)
highlights:
-I couldn't stop thinking about that episode of unbreakable kimmy schmidt where xanthippe pretends that the story from this book is her life. LOL.
-is this really just endless summer: the bsc book?
-according to dawn, maggie wears leather jackets and big black boots, "but she's not a punk or anything. she's a very nice girl and a good student." dawn is such a prude, I love it.
-the cops don't care about investigating thrash's potential death. they call him "that bum" -- I love how the bsc books do tend to semi-accurately portray police as both prejudiced AND incompetent.
-dawn wonders whether the surfer ghost wears glow-in-the-dark jams while surfing. any reference to jams in these books wins me over so hard. I love hideous early 90s fashion!
-dawn wins third place in the surfing contest. I love when characters try really hard and still don't win. it's like the opposite of every jessi book!
lowlights/nitpicks:
-dawn describes the design on thrash's board as looking like "primitive tribal tattoos"
-the whole plot. it's so dumb. every part, down to thrash having faked his death.
-in a subplot, carolyn arnold hurts herself because marilyn said she would spot her but didn't, so then marilyn refuses to leave her side. when marilyn can't be there, her imaginary friend gozzie kunka helps out. I appreciate a gozzie kunka reference, but this plotline is both annoying AND unrealistic with these characters.
-there's a surfer ghost. but it's obviously thrash. and he's obviously not dead. HOW IS NOBODY REALIZING THIS?
-twins plot solved when kids invite them over but can only allow one friend over
-thrash tries to retaliate by tampering with the board of the guy who tampered with his. dawn stops him and convinces him to go to the cops. but this is SURFER JUSTICE, dawn. something a surfposer like YOU couldn't possibly understand.
-dawn talks about how the surfers compete, and wanda, a surfer who is one of the best, "male or female," according to dawn. she describes her as looking great in the competition in her wild purple wetsuit. UGH. WHY DOES IT MATTER WHAT THE FEMALE SURFER IS WEARING/HOW SHE LOOKS?
no outfits (aside from wetsuits) and no snacks in claudia's room. don't bother with this one, guys.
in this cali-style (gag me with a spoon) mystery by ghostwriter [a:Ellen Miles|286072|Ellen Miles|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], dawn becomes weirdly obsessed with this way cool surfer named thrash. he's got a tubular board and gnarly moves. then one day, he disappears/maybe dies: how un-groovy! turns out he faked his death because someone had it out for him in a mondo way (and tampered with his board). with dawn's help, he gets back at his would-be murderer in a truly outrageous way: snitches to the cops, and wins a surfing contest with his funky moves! awesome! (note: yes I did just work every level name from the special world in super mario world into that blurb. you're welcome, nerds.)
highlights:
-I couldn't stop thinking about that episode of unbreakable kimmy schmidt where xanthippe pretends that the story from this book is her life. LOL.
-is this really just endless summer: the bsc book?
-according to dawn, maggie wears leather jackets and big black boots, "but she's not a punk or anything. she's a very nice girl and a good student." dawn is such a prude, I love it.
-the cops don't care about investigating thrash's potential death. they call him "that bum" -- I love how the bsc books do tend to semi-accurately portray police as both prejudiced AND incompetent.
-dawn wonders whether the surfer ghost wears glow-in-the-dark jams while surfing. any reference to jams in these books wins me over so hard. I love hideous early 90s fashion!
-dawn wins third place in the surfing contest. I love when characters try really hard and still don't win. it's like the opposite of every jessi book!
lowlights/nitpicks:
-dawn describes the design on thrash's board as looking like "primitive tribal tattoos"
-the whole plot. it's so dumb. every part, down to thrash having faked his death.
-in a subplot, carolyn arnold hurts herself because marilyn said she would spot her but didn't, so then marilyn refuses to leave her side. when marilyn can't be there, her imaginary friend gozzie kunka helps out. I appreciate a gozzie kunka reference, but this plotline is both annoying AND unrealistic with these characters.
-there's a surfer ghost. but it's obviously thrash. and he's obviously not dead. HOW IS NOBODY REALIZING THIS?
-twins plot solved when kids invite them over but can only allow one friend over
-thrash tries to retaliate by tampering with the board of the guy who tampered with his. dawn stops him and convinces him to go to the cops. but this is SURFER JUSTICE, dawn. something a surfposer like YOU couldn't possibly understand.
-dawn talks about how the surfers compete, and wanda, a surfer who is one of the best, "male or female," according to dawn. she describes her as looking great in the competition in her wild purple wetsuit. UGH. WHY DOES IT MATTER WHAT THE FEMALE SURFER IS WEARING/HOW SHE LOOKS?
no outfits (aside from wetsuits) and no snacks in claudia's room. don't bother with this one, guys.