Erica from Falmouth, MA

I just finished reading this book for the second time last night. The first time around, though I laughed at the teen boy witticisms, I found myself most focused on the local connections, in a sad way. The second time, I enjoyed the localness in a more fun way- anyone who's ever had a summer job on the Cape will appreciate the perfect depiction of those long days, joking with coworkers, lazing around on the cloudy days, and of course, dealing with tourists or irate customers. The Running Waves easily brought me back to those times.

Whether or not you are a local, there are so many layers going on in this book and the connections are often subtle. Though it is aimed at younger readers, there are quite a few interweaving characters, relationships and actions that speak volumes (I love how Colin keeps snatching things and stuffing them in his pockets before he hopes anyone notices). I am also impressed at how truly cinematic this book is- it transitions from scene to scene efficiently and with deceivingly straightforward language describes the characters and their actions so that you easily visualize the story in your head; the characters truly come alive.