SOLVED. they break into an old hotel, just to hang out and have fun. They go fishing in a small boat and when the engine fails they're washed out to sea by the tide and the story goes into how they survive adrift on the sea. [s]

[Peter]

I'm posting this for a library patron, so I don't have any more details than this. The main characters were teens or young adults, say high school or college aged, and the patron thought it took place in Arkansas or some other southern state.

At one point they break into an old hotel that's going to be renovated or torn down, just to hang out and have fun. They go fishing in a small boat and when the engine fails they're washed out to sea by the tide and the story goes into how they survive adrift on the sea.

The patron thought the title was Beach Dancing, but I'm not having any luck with that. He read it in the last few years, but it could be much older than that.

[Christy]

The details are a little off but I'm pretty certain the book your patron is looking for is Beach Music by Pat Conroy. There is a scene similar to the hotel scene described--only it was am old house. There is a different episode where the protagonist is adrift with a couple of buddies in a fishing boat for a couple if days. There's much mire to the book than those two episodes, but all of the past action and some of the current rakes place in South Carolina. I'd be very surprised if this is NOT the book.

[Peter]

The patron says Beach Music sounds like the right book. Thanks very much!

[Lisa]

Peter, That was nice of you to post. Glad the book was found so quickly.

And, what a fabulous idea to put the title/author into the solved thread's topic title.

I've shelved the book for the group.

[Christy]

Glad I could help. It's one of my favorite books and I think Conroy's best.

[Rainbowheart]

Beach Music for the link.