Whereas Strasser in his earlier novels for young adults depicted motives such as drugs, rock 'n' roll music, and teenage sexual behavior, here he focuses on diving and adventure in order to present the growth of a boy in the years between ages twelve and seventeen.

When he first introduces his protagonist Chris Cooper, the reader gets to know a somewhat average teen-ager with ordinary interests and aspirations.

There is, however, an important difference from many of the other male protagonists found in young adult fiction.

Chris as a positive literary hero takes an active and at most times a very mature stand in order to solve his own or his parents' problems. At times he seems to be even more grown up than the adult characters. The way Strasser depicts Chris convincingly demonstrates how problems can be solved if one works consistently and...