Beware the Deep Dark Life by Kat Falls

Reviewed by Robert

   

Ty is not an average 10-year-old boy. He lives on the ocean floor and has unusual skin. One day, he is greeted by a “Topsider” named Gemma, who may just give him the adventure of a lifetime.

            As the topsider, Gemma, adventures into the ocean on a search for her brother, she comes across our protagonist, Ty. Gemma and the boy with pale, glowing skin are curious about each other, as they come from different parts of the world. They must figure out a way to work together to find Gemma’s lost brother. This means that they will have to put their differences aside to overcome the dangers of the deep.

Beware the Deep Dark Life by Kat Falls is an eye-catching novel. Falls’s display of suspense in multiple plots made me sink into her well-written book. Gemma, the topsider, must search for her brother who is lost in the ocean. Simultaneously, Ty must help the unfamiliar stranger overcome the dangers of the deep. Gemma also has to get along with Ty. Each of these three plots enveloped me in their own unique way as I was reading.

I also loved this edge-of-your-seat adventure book because there are funny parts, even at suspenseful moments. These examples of comic relief made me laugh in my seat. At one point, when Ty and Gemma are having a serious conversation, Ty’s sister, Zoey, is rolling around with an octopus stuck to her face. Falls makes the reader think that the fun is over when Gemma attempts to kick the octopus, but Ty does not let that happen and protects the deep sea mollusk. Zoey continues acting like a goofball and entertained me even more as I could not keep a straight face.

I would recommend this book to readers who like adventurous and comical books and are of the ages 7 - 13. This book is not amazingly hard to read, so a second grader could understand the plot and a teenager would still be able to laugh at the childish events. I would definitely rate this book a deserving 10 out of 10, so check out this book and get reading! Remember, the underwater adventure will continue when Falls publishes her next page-turner, Riptide!

Scholastic Inc,  297 pages