Joy Nicholson Knihy

Set against the backdrop of suburban California, the story explores the complexities of family dynamics and personal identity. It follows a young girl navigating her tumultuous adolescence amid the challenges of her family's disintegration and the allure of the local surf culture. Themes of belonging, resilience, and the quest for self-discovery are woven throughout, making it a poignant reflection on the trials of growing up in a fractured environment. The novel's transition to film showcases its impactful narrative and relatable characters.

Medina Mason is a defiant, awkward newcomer to the affluent beach community of Palos Verdes, California. As her parents' marriage disintegrates and her beloved brother falls prey to the temptations of drugs and the lunacy of their mother, Medina surfs to survive, finding a bitter solace in the rough comfort of the waves. This is the moving story of growing up "different," of the love between siblings, and of one girl's power to save herself.