Two teenage mill town boys on Australia’s western coast fall under the spell of a 36 year old drifter and his enigmatic American wife. Bidding for the man’s approval, these best friends Loonie and Bruce ratchet up their daredevilry, eventually shattering the innocence that binds them. It’s hard to imagine a more formulaic coming of age story, but there also won’t be a better novel on surfing published anytime soon.
Three students, including one later found with the skin peeled off his fac
