Harriet Adams tried really hard to make this book hip by using words and phrases like "far out," "groovy," "cool," "jazzed," and "stoked." A surfer is named Bing. So groovy, man.
This book is the final volume in the original set. The 2nd series set from the 1970s adds four new titles to the series, #14-17 in that set. This volume has the final appearance of Lettie Briggs, who does not appear in #14-17 in the 2nd series set. She does appear in some of #1-13 in the 2nd series set, which were originally titles from this set.
On page 28, the Danas need to call the police. They go up to a house, and a young girl answers the door. The girl does not want to let the teens into the house since she is not supposed to let strangers in. The Danas finally convince the girl to let them in. This scene doesn't sit well with me. It's sending the wrong message to young readers.
From page 34: "Like four giant grasshoppers the Danas and their escorts leaped into the air." Did Harriet get into some more crack?
On pages 39 and 40, Jean, Louise, Chris, and Ken are walking back to the hotel across the sand dunes. The girls are really struggling with their high heels. The boys end up quite a ways ahead of the girls, but they do come back after they hear Louise cry out while sliding down a dune. The boys certainly aren't very chivalrous. I'm surprised that they go way ahead, and to heck with whether the girls are okay.
On page 58, a wailing sound is heard. Ken suggests that it might be the wind, but the Danas are skeptical. I'm glad that they are a least a little smarter than they were during The Portrait in the Sand.
On page 60, the young people are at the top of an old lighthouse, leaning on the old rail. Part of the rail breaks, causing Louise to fall. They should have known not to lean against an old rail.
This book is overall very good, but I grew bored towards the end and skimmed the last few chapters.
1 comment:
I've just started rereading "Surfer" since I first read it in white spine back in the 70s. Since I FINALLY acquired it in beige picture cover (completing my set!!), I decided to revisit it. I think Harriet must have turned her manuscipt over to someone who was younger & more "hip" to the jargon of the time. I don't think Harriet would come up with "psyched out," & "groovy." I do wonder why they employed a new artist for the white spine internals, except to depict Louise's hair being shorter. The white spine internals look like they were scribbled by a four-year-old. This internals artist for "Surfer" is the same for "Tapping Heels" (RT). I don't know why they discontinued using this artist. The ND's of the 70s have far inferior internals.
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