Olive's Ocean, by Kevin Henkes

In Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes, Martha Boyle is a twelve-year old girl who has a passion for writing and absolutely loves the ocean. She soon finds out that a girl that is the same age as she is, Olive, had been killed by a hit-and-run driver. Olive's mother gives her a page from Olive's journal and Martha finds out that this girl who is pretty much a stranger to her is so much like her. She learns that Olive dreamt of being a writer when she grew up and adored and wished to visit the ocean one day. The ultimate impact on Martha is that Olive wanted to be friends with her. For some odd reason, Martha can't stop thinking of Olive. When she and her family visit her grandmother, Godbee, in California, she makes an effort to get to know her grandmother even more. Because of what happened to Olive, Martha wishes that she will see Godbee the next summer because she doesn't know much about her grandmother. Before Martha and her family go back to Wisconsin, she now appreciates life and thinks of a way to acknowledge her dear friend, Olive.

It has been awhile since I've read Olive's Ocean and when I reread it again, it is as if I remembered an old memory. It is an emotional novel and it really helps readers realize how important life is and how it should not be taken for granted. I think that Olive had big goals in life unfortunately those goals were cut short, but Martha was there to continue where Olive had left off. I would recommend it to middle school students.

-Reviewed by Rocen, grade 11.