As a teacher, I love that there are issues throughout the book. Whether we like it or not, children deal with many issues. We can't take a book and say it isn't suitable. Children hear and see a lot more than you may think. Books like this allow them to think about issues and learn from the characters. The main character is a great role model.
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Olive's Ocean
(2003, Fiction - Coming of Age, Written by Kevin Henkes)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 12. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Gentle, moving coming-of-age story.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 12 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Olive's Ocean
Parents need to know that Martha deals with many issues that could prompt family discussions: the death of a classmate, an angry parent, an aging grandparent, first love and betrayal.
Read our full review by Matt Berman
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the issues Martha grapples with, particularly coming to terms with mortality.
Our Members Say
See all 18 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Issues kids can relate to
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
I must totally disagree w/ the parent review above. Although Olive's Ocean does have some mild curse words, and one suggestive line, it is the other 99.9% of the book that I choose to focus on. It portrays an average 12-yr old coming to terms w/ growing up, love and mortality. The messages are positive and heartfelt. Anyone focusing on anything else it totally missing the message and point of this entire piece of literature. Hyper sensitive reviewing is what gives the entire reviewing process a bad name and very hard to really know the nature of a story. Please leave the genuine BAD reviews to the violent, graphic, depressing, dark, disturbing and sexual stories that *truly* deserve them. Parents - Olive's Ocean is a wonderful story for your children - age 10 and up will be able to appreciate and understand.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Educational
Great
I really enjoyed this book, but the downside for young children is that there are bad role models and bad language.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
It is a great book
I forgot my book in my class so I was finding a review online.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 67% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 67% | of parents say it's educational |
| 33% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 33% | of parents don't feel there are good role models |
| 33% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
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For Your Family
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