In 1956, “good girls” don’t surf. Annie, apparently, isn’t a good girl.

After the death of their parents, sixteen-year-old Annie finds herself thrust into the guardianship of her brother, Ted. He was her only ally during their unhappy childhood, and she followed him everywhere, including into the waves.

Now, however, Ted can’t forgive Annie for the role she played in their parents’ deaths. Annie finds herself in a boarding home in California while he goes off to surf in Hawaii. When Annie finally gets an invitation to visit Ted, she has only the span of Christmas break to convince him to let her stay—and surfing the big waves of the North Shore just might be the key to softening his heart.

But if Annie fails to win Ted over, she’ll be shipped back to California, losing the only family she has left.

Beneath Breaking Waves is perfect for readers who love the ocean, stories of redemption, and atmospheric tales that transport them back in time.

Additional keywords: 1950s, surfing, Hawaii, Oahu, Waimea, Makaha, big waves, surfer girls, mid-twentieth century, sports, ocean, history, girls in sports, coming of age, family, 1956, music, piano