Novels, Songs and Videos

The Empty Seat
Phyllis Green
1980
This young reader's novel, set in Ocean City, centers around eleven-year-old Michael who is spending the summer at his grandparent's cottage.  Set in OCNJ in the 1970's, there are references to sites around town, goofy golf, the Flanders' swimming pools, fudge samples at the fudge store on the boards.  An enjoyable read just for the local color, but many growing-of-age issues as well, even if a bit quirky at times.

Killing Time in Ocean City
Jane Kelly
1998
This novel, set in Ocean City, is a tumultuous tale of a vacation that takes a series of disastrous, and often dangerous turns.

Motorcycle Enlightenment
Charles Sides
2000
The only thing Alan Pierce, 40, knows for certain is where to find really good pizza on the Ocean City, New Jersey, boardwalk.  

Surfing Summer
James Connor III
1969
This novel was written about two best friends who spent a summer at the seashore learning how to surf.  While there are no specific references to Ocean City within the story, the writer spent three summers working in OC, where he enjoyed riding the Ocean City waves. 

Takashi’s Voyage
The Wreck of the Sindia
Lucinda Hathaway 
1995
In this fact-based adventure, Takashi, a young Japanese boy is shanghaied aboard the Sindia, a sailing ship bound for New York at the turn of the century. (A companion teacher's "Float Plan," is also available from  Down the Shore Publishing.)