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Mike McCoy is a novelist. His debut novel ASTEROIDS–Bridge to Nowhere, received high praise from critics and was selected as a semifinalist for the 2020 Publishers Weekly Booklife Prize. Because of the research Mike conducted for the novel, he has been a frequent guest on talk radio shows, including Coast to Coast AM with George Noory discussing the risks to Earth from asteroids.
I was twelve years old when the idea for On the Waterfront came to me, the essence of the story, anyway. I was a scout at Camp Baker staying at the Tyee campsite. One morning, I was having some intestinal issues. I sat in a wooden outhouse on a bluff overlooking Siltcoos lake with the door open, gazing out at the water.
The story was about two boys swimming the mile swim. An accident occurred and one boy was gravely injured, but before he died, he promised his friend he would always watch over him whenever he swam. That was it. It wasn’t a fully thought-out story, but the idea rattled around in my mind for the next fifty-plus years. Ever since that day, I thought about becoming a writer and promised myself I would put these stories down on paper one day. It was not a simple task. After several attempts it’s taken years for me to craft this tale. Finally, I've fulfilled the promise I made to myself all those many years ago.
Reviewed by Carmen Tenorio for Readers' Favorite
On the Waterfront by Mike McCoy is the coming-of-age story of thirteen-year-old Danny Novak, a child of divorced parents in the early 70s who was eager to get away from his unhappy family by getting a job as a summer camp staffer. He first saw it as a welcome adventure and a good source of income before being awakened by the reality of hard kitchen labor and fitting into a dreadful place littered with bullies and weirdos. On the other hand, Danny did acquire some skills and did a lot of useful, amusing, and even forbidden stuff in camp. Most of all, he valued the chance to work on the waterfront, where things were more intriguing. Before being awarded the mile swim badge, Danny had to train under the meanest but most misunderstood boy who worked on the waterfront, Mark Colby. He was tough on Danny at first, but as they continued to deal with the mishaps, difficult situations, and the people at Camp Baker, Mark proved to be a trustworthy friend. Their common quest and struggles brought them closer and made them share the belief that a life of suffering can lead to a meaningful life. Years later, Danny would realize that what ultimately helped him mature in confidence, strength, and perspective was brought about by the imperfections, sufferings, devastation, and loss he had during that unforgettable 1972 summer. It was a pivotal time that made him see that learning and growing continue for our entire lives.
On the Waterfront is a semi-autobiographical short novel by Mike McCoy, with some people and circumstances being based on real-life experiences he had as a Scout in Camp Baker. Written from the first person point of view, the author has exploited this so the reader can easily step inside Danny Novak's thoughts and feel his emotions. It can be both comedic and heartbreaking to share the experiences of a young man who tries to grow up on his own. The author has a conversational and engaging style that uses a lot of teen slang at times and descriptive figures of speech on occasion. It has a deeply personal tone, easy pacing, and good character development that shape the narrative. The book's 70s pop culture references and activities are filled with nostalgia. If you are open-minded about what is sometimes regarded as the appalling immaturity of a teenage mind and are generally a fan of the coming-of-age genre, this book is for you. It's a sentimental, sometimes funny, poignant, and bittersweet short novel, which makes it an entertaining and even memorable read.
