The Prince of Venice Beach by Blake Nelson (review)

Seventeen-year-old Cali’s now so thoroughly acculturated into the street and surf life of Venice Beach that you’d never know he ran away from foster care in Nebraska nearly four years ago. He’ll be eighteen in a few months, and perhaps it’s time now to start to thinking about the future and maybe even consider a more mainstream life than his current situation in the backyard treehouse of a generous New Age-y lady can afford. He’s had little formal education, but he has a keen eye for people and has even made some money helping the police track down strays like himself. This begins to sound like a life plan—that is, until he is given cause to wonder about the backstories of the people he’s turned in. Now that he’s discovered the whereabouts of missing rich girl Reese, for example, he’s not terribly keen to turn in someone who seems to be a harmless free spirit eager to ditch a repressive father. Cali might even have feelings for her—or not. There’s also his new friendship with sweetly nerdy Ailis, whom he also loves a little—or not. Although the everhardy amateur detective theme is well played, it’s Cali’s coming-of-age—or rather his leisurely drift into awareness that adolescence may have a shelf life—that’s so thoroughly entertaining here. Nelson writes with respect for Cali’s predicament and his life choices, acknowledging the pleasures and limitations of a laid-back life. This is a great summer read, or perhaps an even better one for early autumn, when you just aren’t ready to let summer go.