Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
It was a good idea to read “Surfside Girls – The Secrets of Danger Point” on a dull, cold winter evening. This graphic novel by Kim Dwinell transports readers to sunny summer days, where best friends Samantha and Jade hang out and decide to save their favorite beach from being taken over by a commercial resort.
Kim Dwinell blends the bright, breezy joys of beach life with supernatural elements in fun visual ways that work. Samantha discovers a park by the beach full of ghostly residents who can talk to her and seek her help. Although talking to the ghosts initially freaks Samantha out, thanks to them, she can save her beloved beach spot from becoming another tourist trap.
The artwork is cartoonish, with characters resembling bobble-heads, but since “Surfside Girls” is aimed at middle-grade readers, the demographic should enjoy Kim Dwinell’s art style. Kids who love drawing characters from books would find it easy to draw different characters and scenes from this work. I loved the colors through the pages, which looked like a blend of pencil shades and water paints.
The friendship between Samantha and Jade will be relatable to a lot of readers, especially those who know who their one “best friend” is. The girls are straightforward with each other, trusting and constantly engaged in activities like skating, swimming, surfing, or solving mysteries together. While Jade is the more extroverted of the two, getting giggly and silly whenever she spots cute boys, Samantha is more introverted, ruminative, and serious about everything.
“Surfside Girls – The Secrets of Danger Point” is cute, easy to read, and wraps up before you know it.
Rating: 4 on 5. Surfside Girls is also available on Kindle Unlimited.
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