Dark Tide

Dark Tide is a high interest, low vocabulary action and adventure novel that is perfect for fans of Sigmund Brouwer’s Trapped. In this fast-paced read, Kai’s anger leads him to more trouble than he could have ever imagined after he is forced to fly into Blind Bay with his new stepfather. Completely isolated from anything that reminds him of home, besides his dog, Alfie, and resentful of the situation, Kai runs into the woods after a yelling match with his stepfather. Suddenly, Kai realizes he is lost and being hunted by a creature unlike anything he has ever seen before. He escapes the predator with Alfie, but then he has to convince his stepfather that this is no ordinary animal and that they are in danger.

Dark Tide brings a lot to the table for a hi-lo novel; Kai and his stepfather discuss their tumultuous relationship and realize that there is genuine care between the two of them; there is an element of science and research brought into the text through the stepfather’s work in Blind Bay; and a takeaway message about compassion and loneliness rounds out the action. Because of the nature of the novel, there is not a significant amount of character building, but the reader gets enough information to understand both Kai’s perspective and anger as well as the challenges and emotions of his stepfather. They eventually have to work together to ensure that the creature Kai encountered does not escape Blind Bay via the tide and terrorize the world, and they are able to leave the remote island unscathed and with a stronger relationship.

Dark Tide is sleek in appearance and clocks in at under 85 pages—I predict that there will be a big audience who would be willing to give this novel a shot.

The major critique of the plot is that the creature comes off as slightly cheesy at times. If this hi-lo book is intended for a slightly older audience, I am not sure there are enough heart-pounding scenes to have a lasting effect on the reader. There are a couple of “close call” interactions, but the creature could have been taken to the next level with more intense descriptions. Nonetheless, Dark Tide is a solid hi-lo novel—and the dog doesn’t die!--that would make a great addition to a classroom library.