An adventuresome coming-of-age story with a romantic island setting and a theme of hope
It's the summer of 1980 and 16-year-old Trick Horngold feels like a failure at high school and life. Somehow he's got to make a fresh start. So when his absentee dad unexpectedly invites him to the Caribbean island of Antillia, Trick agrees to go. If nothing else, the trip might provide an opportunity for Trick to get back at his dad for missing so much of Trick's childhood.
But once he arrives in Antillia, Trick finds himself thinking less about his dad and more about the beautiful Nikki Robinson, daughter of a reclusive business tycoon. Nikki introduces Trick to her friends Cat and Kit and their colorful island days. Antillia is far from paradise, though, as the four teens find themselves entangled in a life-or-death conflict between Nikki's father and two outsiders bent on revengeβjust as the biggest hurricane in decades heads toward their shores.
Taking Shakespeare's The Tempest for its inspiration, Antillia is a story of family and friendship, danger and romance, and the tenacious longing for new beginnings. It is perfect for fans of young adult fiction who want a novel that isn't weighted down with heavy messages but instead tells an entertaining story with a positive perspective on growing up.
"Like a cleaner Outer Banks, both exciting and touching, for 13- to 17-year-old readers."
86,000 words