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Impact Zone #3
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IMAPCT ZONE
The most dangerous part of the wave
You gotta beat it...or you'll eat it.
The summer is hot, and so is action out on the line-up. There's a big competition coming up, with some serious burrito money attached.
All the brahs are in it for something. Lucas has his career and his reputation on the line. If Kai wins, he might be able to stay in Sun Haven and not have to hit the road again with his sketchy dad. For everyone it's a chance to close out the summer as a champion.
Stoked.
The most dangerous part of the wave
You gotta beat it...or you'll eat it.
The summer is hot, and so is action out on the line-up. There's a big competition coming up, with some serious burrito money attached.
All the brahs are in it for something. Lucas has his career and his reputation on the line. If Kai wins, he might be able to stay in Sun Haven and not have to hit the road again with his sketchy dad. For everyone it's a chance to close out the summer as a champion.
Stoked.
- GenresRealistic Fiction
295 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 5, 1999
1 person is currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Todd Strasser
226 books800 followersTodd Strasser is an American author of more than 130 novels for adults, young-adults, and middle graders.
His most recent novel is Summer of '69
Booklist review: "Drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll, those hallmarks of the summer of 1969, are all here, but there's so much more. In this loosely autobiographical novel, Strasser introduces 18-year-old Lucas, who is bright and sensitive but also a screw up…. The picture painted of the Woodstock music festival shows the dark side of peace and love, and the prevalence of drugs is on almost every page…The best part of the book, however, is the one that transcends eras: Lucas' introspection as he contemplates his place in the world."
Kirkus review: "Strasser perfectly captures the golden haze of youth and life on the cusp of adulthood. Readers fascinated with this time period will find much to enjoy... Vietnam, Woodstock, road trips, and acid trips: a sweetly bittersweet, surprising, even melancholy bildungsroman set against a world in flux. Groovy, man."
His most recent young adult novel is Price of Duty:
2018 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens
“Compact and suspenseful, the novel raises important questions about war.” – Kirkus
“This thought-provoking book is both welcome and imperative.” – Booklist * (starred review).
"Rather than attempting to sway the reader, it offers awareness." - VOYA
“Tightly wound and compelling ... appropriate for an older middle school and high school audience. VERDICT: Highly recommended.” – School Library Journal
Bio: Todd was born in New York City. When he was young his parents moved to Roslyn Heights, New York (Long Island). Todd went to the I.U. Willets Elementary school and then attended the Wheatley School for junior high and high school. His best subjects were math and science. He also liked to read, but he had trouble with spelling and grammar, and didn't do well in English. His favorite sports were tennis, skiing and fishing. Todd went to college at New York University for a few years, and then dropped out. He lived on a commune, then lived in Europe where he was a street musician.
All the while, Todd wrote songs and poems and lots of letters to his friends back home. Finally he decided to try being a writer. He returned to the United States and went to Beloit College where he studied literature and writing.
After college, Todd worked at the Middletown Times Herald-Record newspaper in Middletown, New York, and later at Compton Advertising in New York City. In 1978, Todd sold his first novel, Angel Dust Blues. He used the money to start the Dr. Wing Tip Shoo fortune cookie company. For the next 12 years, Todd sold more fortune cookies than books.
Todd now divides his time between writing books and speaking at schools and conferences. When he's at home, he likes to spend time with his children and dog, Cooper. He still likes to play tennis and ski, but his favorite new sport is surfing.
His most recent novel is Summer of '69
Booklist review: "Drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll, those hallmarks of the summer of 1969, are all here, but there's so much more. In this loosely autobiographical novel, Strasser introduces 18-year-old Lucas, who is bright and sensitive but also a screw up…. The picture painted of the Woodstock music festival shows the dark side of peace and love, and the prevalence of drugs is on almost every page…The best part of the book, however, is the one that transcends eras: Lucas' introspection as he contemplates his place in the world."
Kirkus review: "Strasser perfectly captures the golden haze of youth and life on the cusp of adulthood. Readers fascinated with this time period will find much to enjoy... Vietnam, Woodstock, road trips, and acid trips: a sweetly bittersweet, surprising, even melancholy bildungsroman set against a world in flux. Groovy, man."
His most recent young adult novel is Price of Duty:
2018 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens
“Compact and suspenseful, the novel raises important questions about war.” – Kirkus
“This thought-provoking book is both welcome and imperative.” – Booklist * (starred review).
"Rather than attempting to sway the reader, it offers awareness." - VOYA
“Tightly wound and compelling ... appropriate for an older middle school and high school audience. VERDICT: Highly recommended.” – School Library Journal
Bio: Todd was born in New York City. When he was young his parents moved to Roslyn Heights, New York (Long Island). Todd went to the I.U. Willets Elementary school and then attended the Wheatley School for junior high and high school. His best subjects were math and science. He also liked to read, but he had trouble with spelling and grammar, and didn't do well in English. His favorite sports were tennis, skiing and fishing. Todd went to college at New York University for a few years, and then dropped out. He lived on a commune, then lived in Europe where he was a street musician.
All the while, Todd wrote songs and poems and lots of letters to his friends back home. Finally he decided to try being a writer. He returned to the United States and went to Beloit College where he studied literature and writing.
After college, Todd worked at the Middletown Times Herald-Record newspaper in Middletown, New York, and later at Compton Advertising in New York City. In 1978, Todd sold his first novel, Angel Dust Blues. He used the money to start the Dr. Wing Tip Shoo fortune cookie company. For the next 12 years, Todd sold more fortune cookies than books.
Todd now divides his time between writing books and speaking at schools and conferences. When he's at home, he likes to spend time with his children and dog, Cooper. He still likes to play tennis and ski, but his favorite new sport is surfing.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 18, 2019
I had so much fun reading this series. It really brought me back to my own teen years and I loved how realistic the characters were. :) Also, I loved how the series is open ended with possibility for the future and I closed the book feeling happy and hopeful for all the characters. It's great! These books really had that upbeat 80s feel to them, even though they weren't 80s. These books are perfect.
June 24, 2022
2022:
One very noticeable thing about this series in comparison to DriftX is the subtlety of the narrative profanity filter. Nobody is getting called a dillweed instead of a dickhead here. It reads a lot smoother when the only substitution is “fricking.”
Curtis continues to do an excellent job at being the old wise surf curmudgeon in this book. Bean is also great in this book, especially in what I now remember was one of my favorite sequences the first time I read this: midnight surfboard heist and ensuing second hearse chase scene. Middle school me loved books that had a “how-to for criminals and vigilantes” vibe. The way Kai delivers information is always so opaque and frustrating to Bean and therefore hilarious to me. They’re a good duo.
The ending of this book is rather anticlimactic. Everything ties up neatly, though, and it’s not a hard-driving story anyway. Still a fun series, more different from DriftX than I remember. Always fun to come back and see something you liked as a kid continue to measure up.
One very noticeable thing about this series in comparison to DriftX is the subtlety of the narrative profanity filter. Nobody is getting called a dillweed instead of a dickhead here. It reads a lot smoother when the only substitution is “fricking.”
Curtis continues to do an excellent job at being the old wise surf curmudgeon in this book. Bean is also great in this book, especially in what I now remember was one of my favorite sequences the first time I read this: midnight surfboard heist and ensuing second hearse chase scene. Middle school me loved books that had a “how-to for criminals and vigilantes” vibe. The way Kai delivers information is always so opaque and frustrating to Bean and therefore hilarious to me. They’re a good duo.
The ending of this book is rather anticlimactic. Everything ties up neatly, though, and it’s not a hard-driving story anyway. Still a fun series, more different from DriftX than I remember. Always fun to come back and see something you liked as a kid continue to measure up.
August 9, 2010
AMAZING!! I loved that series the surprise party at the end was actually for Kai instead of Spazzy!! Great! Loved it! I hope there's another book. He ended with a big decision!! It can't end that way!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews