The Turn of the Tide

After a tsunami leaves Kai’s Japanese town in ruins, his parents, who are busy repairing the local nuclear plant, send him to America to live with his aunt, uncle, and cousins in Oregon. Kai goes reluctantly, but his heart remains in Japan as he is haunted by images of destruction and wracked with guilt for abandoning his grandparents at the height of the storm. Meanwhile, his American cousin, Jet, is also being bothered by her conscience. While sailing her father’s boat, she made a serious mistake that put her and her brother at risk. Absorbed in their own concerns, the cousins remain polite but distant until their common interest in boats draws them together just in time for the annual Treasure Island sailing race, which will bring more danger than either child imagines. Alternating between the perspectives of two vulnerable protagonists, Parry (Written in Stone) has created a modern sea adventure that will keep young mariners rapt. Impulsive, outgoing, and determined Jet is an ideal foil for her introspective cousin. Ages 9–12. [em]Agent: Stephen Fraser, Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency. (Jan.) [/em]