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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Excellent portrait of a young girl beginning to make the transition from childhood to teenager, with her experiences of heart and mind becoming very different, bringing confusion with that realization.
Olive is a sort of spectral figure as well as a catalyst in Martha's world. Martha's relationship with her grandmother is pivotal, and it was a lovely thing to watch unfold. I most appreciated Henkes' exposure of, unfortunately, the very real and all too common experience of girls being used as objects of amusement by boys at that age; Martha's reaction to it when she realizes what has happened was spot on. I just hope some boy might read this book and refrain from those kinds of things. And he balanced it with a male character who was not that type of person and indeed showed great respect for Martha.
Henkes' writing is extremely poetic, which was another plus. All in all a very poignant book. His most important lesson about the necessity of kindness, both given and taken, as one makes a path in a sometimes mystifying life is something everyone needs to hear.
Olive is a sort of spectral figure as well as a catalyst in Martha's world. Martha's relationship with her grandmother is pivotal, and it was a lovely thing to watch unfold. I most appreciated Henkes' exposure of, unfortunately, the very real and all too common experience of girls being used as objects of amusement by boys at that age; Martha's reaction to it when she realizes what has happened was spot on. I just hope some boy might read this book and refrain from those kinds of things. And he balanced it with a male character who was not that type of person and indeed showed great respect for Martha.
Henkes' writing is extremely poetic, which was another plus. All in all a very poignant book. His most important lesson about the necessity of kindness, both given and taken, as one makes a path in a sometimes mystifying life is something everyone needs to hear.
I thought this was a well told story. Martha experiences many things that other characters do - first love, irritating siblings, a cranky dad, the first classmate who passes away - but they come together in a somehow new way. I enjoyed the way she came to terms with Olive's death and brought her mother the jar of ocean. She wasn't even put out by the fact the mother had moved, she just continued on with her catharsis. And I was also swept up in the budding romance between Martha and Jimmy. The betrayal should have been obvious, but it wasn't.
While the story follows Martha and does involve some 'girl-focused' problems, the story itself and its themes should have a wide appeal. It does have an old-fashioned tone to it, that I can't quite describe, and the topic of the death of a classmate might need to be the subject of some discussion, but this would be a lovely read for middle schoolers.
One of the Amazon reviewers mentioned excessive swearing and sexual innuendo, but I didn't pick up much on that.
While the story follows Martha and does involve some 'girl-focused' problems, the story itself and its themes should have a wide appeal. It does have an old-fashioned tone to it, that I can't quite describe, and the topic of the death of a classmate might need to be the subject of some discussion, but this would be a lovely read for middle schoolers.
One of the Amazon reviewers mentioned excessive swearing and sexual innuendo, but I didn't pick up much on that.
emotional
slow-paced
Not a book that I remember well. Unlike the ones that stick in your head. Kinda sad what the older kid did to her. And the girl that died too. Altogether though it was a pretty cute story.
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief
This is a really lovely book - kind of a meditation on mortality and on how to live one's life, all seen through a young-adolescent lens. (I initially picked this up because it is frequently banned or challenged, to which I can only say, WTF? There is absolutely *nothing* inappropriate here.)
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Olive's Ocean is the type of book that I wish I had access to as a child. It's quiet, contemplative, and explores grief both from a distance and up close. As the summer begins, one of Martha's classmates, Olive, is killed in a car accident. Martha didn't know Olive well, but as a twelve year old, Martha has a hard time processing her feelings about it. She imagines what Olive's life must have been like, and regrets not befriending the lonely girl before her untimely passing. When she goes to Cape Cod for her week long yearly summer retreat, she discovers what it means to develop feelings for someone, and have her trust broken. She has deep conversations with her elderly grandmother, and finds solace in the ocean waves and beach. She is starting to become her own person, apart from her family, and begins to understand what that feels and looks like. The atmosphere and emotions feel rather like Nina LaCour's We Are Okay- and I would encourage older readers who loved this novel to read that one next.
While most loose ends were tied up, I really wish there was more. I understand why this won an award, and I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a book that breaches the hard topic of death at a young age, or likes to explore grief in a quiet, atmospheric, emotional way.
While most loose ends were tied up, I really wish there was more. I understand why this won an award, and I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a book that breaches the hard topic of death at a young age, or likes to explore grief in a quiet, atmospheric, emotional way.
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes