Night Beach by Kirsty Eagar
Penguin, 2012; 315 pages; p/b; rrp $19.95. ISBN 9780143206552.
(Age: 16+) Here is a novel that whets the appetite for the
paranormal. Night Beach in the hands of Kirsty Eagar is
thrilling. As it transitions from the normal to the paranormal,
Eagar injects her 'night beach' with eerie credibility, ensuring
this compelling scenario is certain to capture its adolescent
readership. Night Beach contains many of the elements that fire the
imagination of the modern young reader - surf, the opposite sex,
cars, art and the supernatural. Eagar's knowledge of surfing glows
throughout this narrative, as she creates mesmeric images of the
power and awesomeness of the ocean, and its addictive hold over the
surfing culture.
Kirsty Eagar's strengths are indisputably in imagery, dialogue and
imaginative plot creation. It is easy to feel the fear, as seventeen
year-old Abbie struggles to remain afloat in the real world; even as
she is drawn into the shadowy darkness of something not quite
normal.
Abbie is quickly spinning outside the safety net of family, school,
art assignments and into the darkness of Kane's brutish world. Kane
has just returned from a surfing trip away, but something sinister
has returned with him, and only Abbie can see it. Poised on the
crest of the dark and dangerous, Abbie's obsession for Kane gnaws
away at her. Her obsession, and his disinterest both fuel her
recklessness. She cannot understand what happened while he was away,
that has resulted in the return home of a different Kane, but she is
determined to find out. With her mother and stepfather away, Abbie
finds herself alone in the house with Kane, who lives downstairs.
Kirsty Eagar has created a broad cast of supporting characters
providing depth to the canvas of this novel. However, the reader
will always want to know if Abbie gets her beau, and escapes the
shadows of the 'night beach.'
This novel includes sexual references, and imaginatively portrays
the dark side of the paranormal. It should interest girls in the 16+
age group.
Colleen Tuovinen