My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Return to Dipitous Beach for the exciting and satisfying continuation of the story begun in THE AQUAMARINE SURFBOARD!
Amethyst, The Shallows is the second book in the series or companion book to author Kellye Abernathy's middle-grade/young adult magical realism novel, The Aquamarine Surfboard, which I read a little over a year ago and thoroughly enjoyed. With its variety of characters' experiences, multiple points of view, and atmospheric portrayal of the small oceanside community, this magical return trip to Dipitous Beach even surpasses the wonder of the first.
The main characters are a core group of friends who attend the same school and share many of the same interests, perfect for their setting as a beach town, such as surfing, oceanography, and preservation of marine life. Their hometown is slowly coming out of quarantine after a devastating sickness has swept through the country, and the friends have suffered through a long period of isolation and fear. Many of their parents or adult acquaintances died during the pandemic, and the story reflects how grief continues to affect them all. The characters' behaviors are individualized, showing that not everyone reacts to their loneliness, fear, or sorrow in the same ways.Two particularly interesting characters are Tad, Lorelei's younger brother, and Isaac, the son of the aquarium director. Tad, who quickly became my favorite character, is doing his best to be there for his mother, who is in a coma and is still ill from the recent sickness. He is neurodivergent but growing in his ability to control his emotions, which he experiences as colors. Isaac has just arrived in town from back East to live with his non-custodial father after the death of his mother from the sickness. He's angry and resentful and hates the beach and ocean. His only solace seems to come from music. He, too, is neurodivergent and experiences musical notes as colors. I loved these two very different characters together.
As in the first book, there is a brief sojourn underwater for a couple of the characters. While this visit isn't as extensive as the first, the wonder and the magic are still ever-present and provides some new surprises.While this book could be read independently, I feel it should be read after the first one for the best reading experience and comprehension. While time has passed and new life situations and struggles present themselves and are the focus of this companion story, the previous book lays a necessary and magical foundation on which these subsequent events rely.
I recommend AMETHYST, THE SHALLOWS to middle-grade and young-adult readers of fantasy and magical realism.