Fast Slide

by Melanie Jackson

Clay would much rather work as a lifeguard at the beach than at Safari Splash, the new water park in town. He's certain the summer will drag along, despite his position at the Boa, the park's fastest slide. The summer job starts to get interesting when he learns that someone has been wandering the park in a lynx costume, scaring the staff. When forty thousand dollars is stolen from the till, and his friends are under suspicion for the theft, boring is starting to look good. But Clay is certain that the mask and the thefts are connected, and he's determined to solve the crime.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Melanie Jackson wrote her first mystery story at age seven and hasn't stopped since. She isn't sure why she likes mysteries so much, except that maybe it's part of being curious about life and its possibilities. A former journalist, Melanie volunteers as a creative writing mentor for the Vancouver School Board. Born in Scotland, raised in Toronto, Melanie lives in East Vancouver, in the same Commercial Drive area as her singing sleuth Dinah, with her husband, daughter and cowardly cat.

Series:
* Dinah Galloway
* Ailie Mooney

Reviews

[Gena Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very good! However, it went by rather quickly and it was not very detailed. However, it did have an interesting concept. I never suspected that Brad was being the Lynx/Links. I thought it was Judd. Also, the author made an abrupt ending. Everything resolved in the end, except if Janice would still talk to Clay. Overall, it was a very good book!

[Kenzie Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It keeps you interested and makes you want to keep reading

[Lauren]

I liked this book a lot but I didn't expect the ending or last few chapters.

[Carson]

very good book

[Bailee · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this book was not was I was expecting it to be. It kept me on the edge of my seating waiting for more and more. Every page was just something different and unexpected and it was AMAZING!!!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast Slide is about a teenager named Clay who has a very bad unlucky day. Clay loves to swim. The only job he could get for the summer is being a lifeguard at a waterslide park. Clay is bored. One day life gets turned upside down when Clay sees someone sneaking around in a lynx costume, forty thousand dollars go missing, one of his friends goes missing (she is accused of the thief) and turns up murdered, and he is getting blamed for it all. With his life on the line he sets out to clear his name and find who is really behind it all.

Pros: I like this book because it was such a quick read. There was mystery around every page. It defiantly conveys the message of having a bad day. Who can not relate to terrible days?

Cons: I did not like that after everything came out it was abruptly “okay I guess this is it.” I know every book must end but I was left looking for just a little bit more.

Conclusion: I can see teens reading this book for the mystery. It is a very easy read and the main character is relatable.

[Gonzalo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for the readers that like action, mistery and when the author gives inferences. It is for action readers because while the character are trying to find the person who stealed the forty thousand there is a lot of tension and it might be dangerous. Also it can be for the readers that prefere the mistery because while they are investigating happens a lot of thing as when they killed aggie, a girl that worked there they afraid and also intriged. I really liked this book because it had the 3 toppics i like most in a story. I like them because when i read it the hours can pass and pass and i would not notice.

[Kiona Zomers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast slide is a good book. It is about how a boy (Clay) gets a summer job at the waterpark, but things start to get weird after awhile. This book is a mystery book, my favorite. If you’re into mystery books this would be a perfect book for you. It isn't just a mystery book; it’s also kind of drama. Aggie works the waterslide with Clay, she loves Clay, but Clay doesn't like her! I would recommend this book to girls who like drama and mystery. This is a really good book, hope you enjoy it!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast Slide is the best Orca Currents book I've read so far. I liked how the book was a mystery and even though I suspected the outcome fairly early in the story I wasn't completely sure until closer to the end which to me makes it a pretty good mystery. The ending was too abrupt and that is the only reason I couldn't give it a five star - it just needed a little more. Still, I would recommend this book if you're looking for a quick read in between books.

[Austin Maunu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so intresting. It kept me guessing on every page. But it took a long time to get to the point. This book was full of twist and turns and unaxpecting resaloutions.I liked the way the auther kept the mystary going and going than it would take another twist.Thats why i loved this book.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book went by rather quickly. It was not very detailed. However, it did have an interesting concept. I suspected Brad for being Lynx/Links. I just was not completely sure of it until the very end. The author also made an abrupt ending. Everything resolved in the end, except if Janice would still talk to Clay.

[AbsentLibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good mystery. Good interaction between characters. Multiple suspects and nicely told story. Two of the supporting characters were too flat in their stereotypes which was a bit distracting but overall a good tale.

[BCPL Youth Services Librarian]

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

[Shay Nelson · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is a crime book. i didnt really understand this book a whole lot. It kind of had too many characters in it.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast Slide was a great quick read. I really liked the plan for catching the "bad guys" the main character had at the end and how human the detective was. Also the water park sounded way fun!