Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes

Olive’s Ocean. by Kevin Henkes. Greenwillow Books, 2003. 217 pages.

Plot: Olive is the name of a young girl we never meet because she has been killed in a car accident before this story begins.  Her mother though shows up at 12-year old Martha Boyle’s house with a page from Olive’s diary which forever changes Martha’s life.  Martha learns that Olive had longed to be her friend, wanted to visit the ocean and, like Martha, had dreamed of being an author.  Martha travels with her family to her grandmother’s cottage on the beach for a summer vacation. A deeper bonding with her grandmother, a love for the ocean and the coast, the tingling sensation of “first” love, a new appreciation for her mom and dad, the dynamics of an older brother and younger sister, and Martha’s first venture into writing all unfold this summer.  All the while, Martha is “honoring” Olive with this journey to the ocean and through adolescence.  She fills a jar with ocean water “for Olive.”  After a betrayal by an older neighbor boy who tricks her into her first kiss, Martha is given a new perspective on what is to discover one’s self.  “And at that very minute, what was inside her head and heart made her feel as though there was no one else in the whole world she would rather be.”

Review/Personal thoughts:  This is an excellent book for Tweens.  One almost has the sensation of floating through this book as it effortlessly flows revealing characters, settings and plot.  This book was a joy to read.  The reader is invited to explore themes like adolescence, coming of age, family ties, first love, betrayal, death, old age, creativity, self-realization, friendship and the unpredictability of life. The author has captured authentic emotions and makes them a gift to the reader. I highly recommend this book.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Reading Level: 6.6  Interest level: Ages 10 to 13

Awards:  Newbery Medal/Honor 2003