To the Light

Pat Flynn (author)

Chantal Stewart (illustrations)

University of Qld Press, Australia; 2005: 92pp

ISBN: 0702234923

Genres: adventure, realistic fiction

Issues: identity, sexism

CBCA Shortlist: Book of the Year, Younger Readers, 2006.

Jamie likes to surf, and has a couple of mates who take it just as seriously. Jamie's sister, on the other hand, is one of the ‘beautiful people' of Year 8.

She is only interested in fashion, popularity and having the right kind of friends, all of which Jamie finds completely boring.

Jamie's aim in life is to make it ‘to the light'. For surfers, being inside a wave, riding the tube, is the ultimate experience - especially if you make it out the other end: into the light. To do that, Jamie is going to have to learn the first rule of surfing - know who you are. Can an aging surfer teach Jamie how to do that?

Cleverly written, this is a book that challenges stereotypes and reader assumptions.