Treading Water

The first book in the Endless Summer series begins in a Risky Business-like fashion: Russ's parents jet off to Europe for the summer, leaving him and his sister alone at their Marina Bay beach home. Russ, an irresponsible type, totals their brand-new jeep the first day out and hatches a plan to take in boarders; their rent will pay the mechanic's bill. The boarders, not surprisingly, are all around Russ's age. By summer's midpoint, Russ has learned sensitivity from his nerdy roommate and compassion from the surfer-dude boarder. This sudden switch, however, throws the book off track: laid-back Russ, with his ability to snooze away his ever-increasing worries, is much more entertaining when he is shallow and superficial. Plotting isn't necessarythis series is about the California ``scene'' and endless days at the beach. Ages 15-up. (June)