cover Title: Olive's Ocean
Author: Kevin Henkes

type of book: Young Adult Literature
call number: YA/Fic

This book is strong in story.

Summary:
Twelve year old Martha's classmate, Olive, was hit by a car and died. When Olive's mother unexpectedly visits Martha and gives her a page from Olive's journal about her hopes, it sparks change in Martha. When Martha's family goes to Cape Cod to visit her grandmother, she goes through a time of growth.

Martha's vacation is not what she was expecting, as Olive's journal entry and death weigh heavy on her mind, and she experiences love for the first time, and realizes how short life really is. Although it is too late to become her friend, Martha can still bring Olive back a bit of the ocean.

I might recommend this book.

Why?
"This isn't big and splashy, but its quiet art and intelligence will stick with readers, bringing them comfort and reassurance as changes inevitably visit their own growing-up years" (Booklist, Sept 1, 2003 v100 i1 p122 (1).) Although I do agree for the most part with the quoted statement, personally, I did not like this book, and thought it too depressing.

Related links:

  • Olive's Ocean Page at Kevin Henkes' Website

    Employee Initials: ALSM Review Date: March 2005

    Read other reviews by this staff member.

    return to the YA Book Reviews main page