REVIEW: What Does 13-Year-Old Lux Doherty Think About Kate McMahon’s New Book

March 27, 2018

REVIEW: What Does 13-Year-Old Lux Doherty Think About Kate McMahon’s New Book

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REVIEW // THE BIKINI COLLECTIVE BY KATE MCMAHON

Kate McMahon has been in and around the surf industry for a long time and we’re SO stoked that she’s finally put pen to paper (or ink to paper) on her own to launch her very first novel for girls. By the strength of this one, it’s surely the first of a long and successful series of novels for young girls who love the water. Not only is it an entertaining, fun book, we love supporting women who take risks to make their dreams reality, so if you love what Lux has to say, support Kate and grab one for yourself. We loved Lux’s review so much we asked if we could bring it to our Mermaid Society.

My Dad (Surfing World Editor At Large Sean Doherty), gave me this book to read and asked if I wanted to do a review for Surfing World. Of course, I said yes, as Surfing World is my favourite surfing magazine (my Dad works for them – lol). The Bikini Collective was written by Kate McMahon, who my dad tells me used to edit Waves Surf Girl and the Triple J Magazine, so she knows about surfing and she knows how to write for young people.

The Bikini Collective is about a 15-year-old girl named Jaspa and her friends, Mel and Carolyn. Jaspa is a really good surfer, good enough to qualify for the world tour, but she doesn’t like the pressure and just wants to go surfing instead. In that way she is kind of like Mason Ho (who I got to hang with when Dad interviewed him and is the funniest and nicest pro surfer I’ve ever met). What I really liked about the book is how realistic the kids’ lives seem. I can totally relate to them. All the kids want to go surfing and spend all their time at the beach, which is kind of like what everyone does here in Torquay. It reminded me a lot of living in a town like this. I also like the storyline of the book because the background is set around big surf contests.

Every Easter I get to hang out at Bells for the surf comp and reading this book reminded me of being there, and the crazy atmosphere around it. This book is a good read for girls my age who are into surfing. I’m sure all young girls who surf can relate to Jaspa in many ways, and this book is so inspirational as it is about a 15-year-old girl trying to qualify for the world tour. If you like the movie First Love, then you will 100 percent love reading this book. It’s just like First Love as the three best friends are the main characters and their ambitions are see where surfing can take them. I definitely recommend this book. I give it a 9 out of 10. – Lux Kolarik-Doherty

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This story first appeared on Surfing World Magazine and was reposted with permission.

Photos by Andrew Christie