The beach beckons all types of people to spend a day in its beauty and in its delight. Each person playing and relaxing on the beach possesses a unique story. Mr. Schmidt & Mr. Koertge reveal over twenty-five very diverse middle school perspectives/lives during one day at Rockcastle Beach, NJ. I loved how the authors caused some of the characters to meet, to interact, and to impact each other. Beginning and ending the day with siblings, Jackie & Simon, running on the beach was an apt way to begin and end the story.
Although I love Gary Schmidt's books, this one was not a favorite (see below why). It is a clever concept and well-written. The diverse characters and their stories are intriguing. I just didn't agree with the worldviews they presented.
Warnings/considerations: One character mentions that her parents divorced and her mom has a girlfriend, one Dad tells his son that he has good taste in girls (creepy!!), a group of girls walks the boardwalk where a group of boys checks them out and flirts with them-when one of the boys messes up a compliment, things become a bit messy/mean, a girl interacts with a girl with Biblical knowledge, who people may conclude she is a "Christian", this "Christian girl" is quite pushy and not kind in sharing her beliefs, a few swear words
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