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Formats
Ebook Details
  • 03/2024
  • 979-8320428369 B0CW18R7R2
  • 128 pages
  • $.99
Jamie Zerndt
Author
AFK
Jamie Zerndt, author
There haven’t been any otters in Otter Rock, Oregon, since 1921. But after two friends stumble onto a black barn that might soon change. When fifteen-year-olds Atsuko and Lyric aren’t gaming or watching Bob’s Burgers, they’re out surfing. It’s something that helps Lyric cope with the recent divorce of his parents and also distracts Atsuko from her grandmother's failing health. But it's an older surfer who's trying to find his way back into the world after a recent tragedy that will truly test the two friends. AFK is a story about loss and the toll it can take on those left behind. It also a story about setting things right that were put wrong long ago.
Plot/Idea: 10 out of 10
Originality: 9 out of 10
Prose: 10 out of 10
Character/Execution: 10 out of 10
Overall: 9.75 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot/Idea: Two young friends learn to cope with the pain that comes with growing up, all while working together to save a pair of sea otters in this expressive middle grade fiction. The plot turns smoothly, and readers will find the perfect number of twists to keep them engaged, but the highlight is Zerndt’s insight into building intricate, believable characters.

Prose: Zerndt writes smoothly, with nearly flawless prose that rolls across the pages, mimicking the main characters’ tones while delivering powerful scenes through crisp, effective writing. 

Originality: AFK breathes originality in its unique ability to interlace several very distinct stories into one cohesive, heartwarming narrative of love, loss, and the power of friendship to heal pain.

Character/Execution: Zerndt’s characters are deliciously complex, as relatable as they are intriguing. Each is struggling with their own internal battles, and as the story progresses, those conflicts come to light organically—and form the basis for the plot’s forward movement.

 

 

 

Date Submitted: April 01, 2024

Formats
Ebook Details
  • 03/2024
  • 979-8320428369 B0CW18R7R2
  • 128 pages
  • $.99
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