The Undertow

For fans of Rick Yancey and Marie Lu, Undertow is book one in this much-anticipated, genre-breaking, breath-catching new trilogy for teens from New York Times bestselling author Michael Buckley in which a 16-year-old girl is caught in an epic clash of civilizations when a society of undersea warriors march out of the ocean into modern-day Coney Island.

"A novel about four generations of a British family--their secrets, their loves and losses, dreams and heartbreaks--captured in a series of individual moments that span the years from World War I, to World War II, to the 1960s, and up to the present"--Provided by publisher.

The American debut of an enthralling new voice in fiction — a vivid, indelibly told novel that follows four generations of a family against the backdrop of a century of turmoil. The Undertow traces the lives of the Hastings family, from the eve of the First World War to the present day: William, a young factory worker preparing to join the navy; his son Billy, who cycles into the D-Day landings; his grandson Will, an Oxford professor in the 1960s; and his great-granddaughter, Billie, an artist in contemporary London. Here Jo Baker reveals the Hastings’ legacy of choices made, chances lost, and truths long buried in what is an enthralling story of inheritance, fate, passion, and what it means to truly break free of the past.

An exhilarating debut novel that follows one woman's hunt for the truth when she realizes she might have married a killer They said her death was a tragic accident. And I believed them…until now. Carmen is happily married to Tom, although she knows she'll always live in the shadow of another woman—the mistress who ended his first marriage: Zena. Mercurial, mesmerizing, manipulative Zena—a woman who, Carmen begins to discover, had the potential to incite the darkest of emotions. Zena, who drowned in the sea late one night. Zena seems ever-more present, even in death, and when Carmen unknowingly stumbles on evidence that her husband has not been telling her the whole truth, she can't shake her unease. As she uncovers documents and photographs, a very different tale than the one Tom has led her to believe begins to unfold, and she finds herself increasingly isolated and paranoid. As the twisted events of that night begin to come to light, Carmen must ask herself if it's really a truth worth knowing…even if it destroys her and the lives of the people she loves most.

Against the backdrop of the tumultuous 1960's, Jeff Goldstein was forced to embark on an emotional journey searching for sanctuary from a cycle of physical, verbal and mental abuse. This engrossing memoir captures the exuberance of a young boy playing on the streets of Brooklyn, running through the ocean breezes of Long Island, and then being inexorably drawn into the dark shadows of abuse after the unexpected death of his beloved sister. Jeff, even while trapped in a personal hell that was hidden from his teachers and friends, was able to display the tenacity and persistence to rise above his circumstances. Guided by unforgettable characters who became role models, and becoming open to new, enlightening ideas, he formed a positive personal vision that enabled him to navigate past the adversity. Jeff shares the innermost thoughts of an adolescent boy as he triumphantly escapes the undertow.

An inquisitive teleport technician named Ralph Bowdrie discovers that families are winning trips to tropical islands, but returning with one fewer member—and always a troublesome child. Ralph suspects a government conspiracy to eliminate problem children, and begins planting stories about trouble with his own kid…and then they win a one-week all-inclusive trip to Barbados. What's it all about? Discover the truth in this twisty, thought-provoking science fiction tale.

The water slurps my shoulders, torso, and back in a big, wet kiss, bending my image into an ironic clone of the truth. I bow to its dominance and let it break me open. The water alone will have me. Watched obsessively by her guru-like coach, a nameless swimmer battles the element of water in a gruelling physical regimen. Outside of training, she floats loose in waters murky, salty, and chlorinated, engaging in aimless self-destruction, restraint looming just beyond her drifting hand. Incrementally, swimming is killing her; the pool is killing her. Hovering always nearby is a prickly vulture, waiting to feed on the swimmer’s remains ... Intense and immersive, Kiss the Undertow is a psychologically gripping account of endurance pushed to extremes.

In a dead-end town like Barwen a girl only has to be a little different to feel like a freak. And Clancy, a typical sixteen-year-old misfit with a moderately dysfunctional family, a genuine interest in Nature Club and a major crush on the local hot girl, is packing a capital F. As the summer begins, Clancy's dad is involved in a road smash that kills two local teenagers. While the family is dealing with the reaction of a hostile town, Clancy meets someone who could possibly—at last—become a friend. Not only that, the unattainable Sasha starts to show what may be a romantic interest. In short, this is the summer when Clancy has to figure out who the hell she is. Christopher Currie is a writer and bookseller from Brisbane, whose fiction has appeared in anthologies and journals internationally. His first book, a novel for adults called The Ottoman Motel, was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Prize and the Queensland Literary Awards in 2012. Clancy of the Undertow is his first novel for young adults. ‘Clancy of the Undertow is a beautiful story...It’s about the importance of fitting in or, failing that, finding someone to not fit in with.’ Books & Publishing ‘[A] starkly realist depiction of life for teenagers who feel at odds with the small towns in which they live. Clancy’s biting sense of humour will have readers laughing despite some heavy themes.’ Readings ‘Currie’s storytelling reminded me of Robert Drewe and Raymond Carver...Currie may not have consciously set out to write a YA novel—but I’m glad he found 15-year-old Clancy, and I hope he comes back to this readership who will welcome any new words from him with open arms.’ Alpha Reader ‘A beautiful cover is matched by terrific story-telling in this coming-of-age story of the smart and funny, Clancy. Funny and heartfelt and perfect for the over 15s.’ Book Birdy ‘Clancy of the Undertow demanded a slow, savoured read.’ Alpha Reader, Favourite Books of 2015 ‘A compelling coming-of-age story set in a dead-end Queensland town that’s imbued with warmth, empathy and real wit...Currie has a talent for keeping his writing real. From the dialogue to narration, Clancy of the Undertow blends the excruciation, confusion and hope of being a teenager into a novel that will pull in readers of any age.’ Guardian ‘So real it hurts...All the Aussie references are just ace.’ Dolly ‘In short, if I could, I would throw free copies of this book from the rooftops just to get them into the hands of every young adult reader in the world.’ Hazel and Wren ‘A shining example of the power of Young Adult literature...No matter what age you are, read it, it’s wonderful and engaging and I could hardly bear to put it down to go to work.’ Incredible Rambling Emily ‘A terrific YA book with lots of appeal. Clancy is a completely believable character, a smart, confused, tomboyish teenager who’s struggling to find her identity.’ Herald Sun ‘This brand spanking new Australian novel has been mentioned in hushed tones alongside adolescent stalwart To Kill a Mockingbird. A better, almost equally impressive, comparison would be Jasper Jones.’ Weekly Review ‘Christopher Currie has captured the spirit of an Australian teen struggling to find her feet within judgmental, small town prejudice.’ Diva Booknerds ‘It’s great to see a LGBT book that is also authentic in portraying small town Australian life.’ Magpies ‘Christopher Currie’s writing has already been compared to John Green...An honest portrayal rather than the glossed-over version of teenage life, friendship, family, and love.’ Bustle ‘This book is wonderfully written with beautiful characterisation and I fell in love with it.’ Reading Lark ‘This Australian import has already made waves overseas and is now coming to captivate the States—Christopher Currie's writing has already been compared to John Green, if that's any indication. It feels realistic, opting for an honest portrayal rather than the glossed-over version of teenage life, friendship, family, and love.’ Bustle ‘As soon as I picked it up, I asked myself why I’d ever waited this long to read such a realistic and moving book which will become one of the most-loved Aussie YA books of our generation...Clancy of the Undertow is brilliant in many ways, but the way Christopher Currie has captured genuine family dynamics as well as the voice of a teen who’s struggling to find her place in a small, judgmental Australian town is what makes this novel a must-read.’ Written Word Worlds ‘Currie does very well at getting inside a teenaged girl’s head, presenting an authentic voice for Clancy. As he says in the acknowledgments at the end, ‘if it helps just one person understand that being young is being confused, and that things do get better, and that none of us really know what we’re doing, then this whole process will have been worth it.’ This is what good young adult fiction can do, and this one is just that.’ The Big Book Club