Surfside Girls, Book One: The Secret of Danger Point

After the owner of Danger Point dies, 12-year-old Samantha Taylor and her friend Jade Lee take to their surfboards to explore the private waterfront property in their West Coast town of Surfside. Sam discovers that ghosts are living on the grounds, and they beseech her to protect their refuge from the mayor’s plan to develop it into a resort. Samantha must persuade others that the ghosts (including a cute young pirate named Robert) need protection, but it isn’t easy. First-time graphic novelist Dwinell creates spacious panels with a less-is-more approach to detail that evokes the wide-open ocean and beach environment, keeps readers focused on the characters and their concerns, and creates a sense of otherness where the pallid ghosts are concerned. Multiple convenient revelations solve Sam’s problems a bit easily, but Dwinell confidently balances Sam and Jade’s independence and agency with the fact that they aren’t yet teenagers. With echoes of Steven Universe and Scooby-Doo in its combination of coming-of-age story and otherworldly mystery, this first book in the Surfside Girls series bodes well for future volumes. Ages 8–12. (Aug.)