We see more of Condi, Grand Ella, and the Beachlings from The Aquamarine Surfboard, but this story weaves the threads of several characters together rather than focusing on one primary protagonist. Lorelei’s mother is still very sick, and with her father focusing on his wife’s health and worrying most about Lorelei’s boy-crazy younger sister, Lorelei and her younger brother Tad tend to look out for each other. Lorelei has a falling-out with her boyfriend Casey after she is rescued from near-drowning and he doubts what she says she saw in the waves. Casey’s parents run the B&B in town. They’re currently hosting someone who claims to be a scientist with the government, but is he really what or who he claims? Casey has his doubts. Isaac has come to town to live with his father, and he is the one who is not like the others. In his black leather jacket and heavy boots, and with a chip on his shoulder the size of a small country, he stands out among the teens of Dipitous Beach. But what draws Condi to him is how very much he resembles Trustin.
Aquamarine Surfboard had Condi dealing with the loss of her parents and Grand Ella’s reluctance to loosen the restrictions on her, with the town rallying in times of difficulty to overcome prejudice and work together. Here Abernathy goes a little bit darker, touching on themes like serious illness of a parent, loss of a spouse, and the lasting effects of a devastating illness on a community. But she still weaves in bits of humor and light. Two animals, an octopus named Figment and a parrot named Guardian, bring us a lot of those moments of levity, and they play integral roles in the story.
Someone else is unexpectedly saved from the sea, and we travel to the underwater world of Koan again. This story may not draw quite as heavily upon magical realism as Aquamarine Surfboard did, but it’s still there. The vintage surfboards at the surf shop still have stories to tell to those who are ready to listen.
You can read Amethyst without first reading Aquamarine Surfboard, but I’d really recommend you read the first book before jumping into this one. There’s a lot of context and backstory in the first that will inform this book, and trust me, these two books weave a tale you won’t want to miss a bit of! Middle grade or middle-aged (like me!), this book will appeal to a wide range of readers. I highly recommend it if you love the mystery of the ocean, the little surprises life brings, and a beautiful story about secrets revealed and truth bringing people together.
Such a pretty, summery cover! Glad you enjoyed this one!!