From School Library Journal
Grade 6-10-Graduates of the Cam Jansen or Something Queer series of detective stories who are too young to move into adult who-dunits or who have weak reading skills make a likely audience for this addition to Paul Zindel's P.C. Hawke mysteries. The stand-out feature of this audio version of The Surfing Corpse (Hyperion, 2001) is the narration by Jeff Woodman whose impeccable diction and enormous talent for using slight shadings of voice, accent, and tone manage to convey a different personality for every voice in the story. The plot, range of characters, and current teen language make this a book that will appeal to young teenagers whose reading tastes are not too sophisticated. The likable main characters, P.C. and his friend Mackenzie Riggs, come complete with a sure-fire personal quirk to warn of things not right that will remind readers of brace-tapping or photographic memory gimmicks from the series mentioned above. The teen characters have absolute freedom to pursue their suspicions by plane, motor scooter, and surfboard with no qualms whatsoever on the part of parents or school. A fairly gruesome crime scene early in the story is not described in any detail, but the implications are there for listeners to discern, so this might not be a good choice for readers below middle school even though the story line would make it appealing. For collections that need current teen reading for lower reading and comprehension levels, this title will work well and make entertaining listening.
Jane P. Fenn, Corning-Painted Post West High School, Painted Post, NYCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
P.C. And Mackenzie's junior class trip ends in disaster when practically all the kids witness classmate Timmy Warner plunge to his death over a 300-foot waterfall. But several months later, the class vice president swears that he's seen Timmy at Venice Beach, California. P.C. And Mackenzie follow a trail of clues that evolve from deception to abduction to a second murder - and a life-and-death chase along the cliffs of Malibu Canyon.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
