Surfside Girls: The Box Set
Kim Dwinell
pub date: July 14, 2026
Publisher’s Summary:
Welcome to Surfside—a beautiful town full of ocean breezes, layers of history, long-lost secrets, unexplained weirdness, and maybe even…ghosts? Kim Dwinell’s captivating graphic novel series, sometimes described as Nancy Drew meets Scooby-Doo, is collected here in four sunshiney adventures (three spooky mysteries and one ocean-science spinoff):
Book 1: The Secret of Danger Point
Book 2: The Mystery at the Old Rancho
Book 3: The Science of Surfing
Book 4: The Clue in the Reef
Review:
Book 1: The Secret of Danger Point
Originally published in 2017, this is the first book in a box set collection of 4 volumes. Samantha and Jade start out a bit unequal in that Samantha is a “chosen on” to save the land and ocean in Surfside. Sammy is a better diver and swimmer because she’s a junior lifeguard. Jade concentrates more on research (and cello). The story is full of diverse and quirky characters. The art is beautiful and colorful to softly express the qualities of a west coast beach town.
Lettering is clear to read but could use some differentiation for the ghosts’ speech. The lettering could use better planning with the art panels. Long tails with swing all the way across a panel to continue when it would have been better to change the composition by having the characters off-center to leave space for the balloons. This is a continuous notation in other volumes.
There’s a quip about bikini size that comes across as fat shaming.
Jade’s father is a medical doctor and when Jade asks him about a (hypothetical) person who sees ghosts, he leans into mental illness. This could be seen as informative or stigmatizing.
I loved the mysteries and how they were solved (team effort). By the end, the ghosts have included Jade in a guardian as well. What’s nice is that Jade is willing to learn to be a stronger diver from Samantha who teaches her BFF respectfully.
Book 2: The Mystery at the Old Rancho
A really fun mystery for Samantha and Jade who need to research history of their town from 200 years ago. They help one of the ghosts to overcome the disappearance of her father. Samantha, inexperienced in dating and newly involved with pirate ghost Robert, feels jealousy for the first time and has to move through it.
The relationship of Sam dating the ghost, Robert, moves slowly as it begins here and continues into volume four. Everything is G-rated.
Despite having the internet at their disposal, Jade and Samantha often turn to libraries, museums, and people to interview. In the first book’s first few pages, Sam comes across as a kid who prefers to be alone or with as few people as possible. It’s not how she is in the rest of that story or ones to follow. Both girls are outgoing, excellent helpers, and eager to learn.
Book 3: The Science of Surfing
This 3rd volume of the series isn’t a story. Characters Sam and Jade tell fun facts about the ocean, a selection of marine species, why there are tides, how to surf, and the last few pages are about cleaning beaches and volunteering. Occasionally Samantha’s little brother pokes in to tell a joke. I’m not sure of animal science has caught up with human science. The term hermaphrodite is used to explain the facts about the California Brown Sea Hare (a sea slug).
Book 4: The Clue in the Reef
The 4th book is another complex mystery for Sam and Jade. They find unexpected hedgehogs on a rock at Danger Point. Then Peet and his friends find a lemur. This leads to tracking down the villain behind an exotic animal trade. The girls team up with their busy Animal Control officer and a surprising celebrity.
Kim Dwinell includes a real Chumash tribe story told with a different style of art.
There are always important reminders about treating the planet and the creatures on it with compassion (though they aren’t vegans).
Summary:
Kim Dwinell sets expectations and meets them. The art is cheery and filled with beautiful light washes of color. The characters have diverse backgrounds and jobs. Dwinell acknowledged the experts she used for reference. The protagonists are young and show genuine concern for their planet.
Overall Rating: 4.5 stars
Preview Pages:
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of AmberUnmasked.com and Vodka O'Clock Podcast. Author of The Farrah Wethers Mysteries, comic book short stories, prose, and non-fiction. Cosplayer and figure model.