Olive’s Ocean

Book Title: Olive’s Ocean

Author/Illustrator/Artist: Kevin Henkes

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Copyright Date: 2003

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Brief Annotation: Daughter, granddaughter, younger sister, older sister, writer, dreamer, keeper of secrets… meet twelve-year-old Martha Boyle. Before leaving with her family to spend summer vacation at her favorite place (her Godbee’s house on the ocean), Martha receives a note from a classmate who has recently died. This note is the first secret Martha will hold close. But it’s not the last. This is a summer of many firsts for Martha, including love, loss, and betrayal.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5 – I really enjoyed this book. Henke’s is so aptly able to write from the perspective of a twelve-year-old girl. Martha is a smart, talented, and kind girl who you care about. As the reader, you get to watch her learn and grow – you are transported into her world and her emotional journey. (And I couldn’t help but wish I had a Godbee of my own to visit at her house on the ocean. :))

Readers who will like this book: Pre-teen and young teen girls will be drawn to this book the most, although boys of this age group could also benefit from reading and discussing this book. Also, readers of this age that like reading about real and emotional issues will like this book.

Teaching Strategy from Yopp & Yopp: Literature Maps (p. 62-66); Olive’s Ocean is rather easy to read and the story is engrossing, making one likely to zip through it without digesting all that it offers. A literature map would provide a way to focus the reader’s attention, while still maintaining the flow and pure enjoyment of the book. Students could carry a folded piece of paper in their book where they can jot down ideas as they come across them. While literature maps can include such categories as theme, setting and predictions, I would go further/deeper and include such categories as: honesty, guilt, trust, love, and/or mortality.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Would you rather read a story with realistic characters, situations and feelings or a story that is more fantasy-based and takes place in a futuristic, imaginary world? Why? Why not?

Interest Level (age): 11-14

Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 4.8

List Awards: ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice, ALA Notable Children’s Book, Newbery Honor Book, Virginia Young Readers Award, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, Booklist Editors’ Choice “Top of the List”