Deep Water

Another 'Surfer' title but with much more depth than Last Bus. Again we have a boy from a 'nice' home, Jon, taking up with a local ne'er-do-well, Ryan. They decide to wag school, find an old rowing boat and go for a trip on the river. The current is strong, the boat is wrecked, Ryan's arm is broken and he cannot scale the cliff to escape. Jon has to go it alone. He gets home and then begins to think of all the reasons why he should not phone 999. What will his aspirational middle-class mum say about him being with Ryan? What will she say about him wagging his prestige school? Ryan will be able to shout for help, won't he? Someone will find him, won't they? Jon is slowly trapped in the web of lies he spins to mum and then the police -and he keeps on lying even when Ryan is not found. This story kept me on the edge of my seat throughout as I willed Jon to do the right thing whilst understanding completely why he could not. A super little story that would make an ideal Year 7 class reader as, despite the apparent simplicity, there are so many talking points.