 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Olive's Ocean
- By Kevin Henkes
- Genre: Coming of Age
Common Sense Media says
Gentle, moving coming-of-age story.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is a gentle story about coming to grips with mortality and the implications of death. Martha is a curious, perceptive, and aware protagonist, and her questions throughout the story are what drive the plot. There's not too much controversial material: teens swear, parents have sex, Martha has her first kiss. Martha also deals with many issues that could prompt family discussions: the death of a classmate, an angry parent, an aging grandparent, first love, and betrayal.
What's the story?
At her family's annual stay with her grandmother, Godbee, on Cape Cod, Martha has a lot to think about. She plans to be a writer, she has a crush on an older boy, Godbee is getting frail, and sometimes Martha can't stand her family. But most of all she is thinking about Olive, a shy new girl in her class whom she had barely noticed. Olive was killed in an accident a few weeks ago, and she had written in her journal that she too wanted to be a writer, to visit the sea, and to be friends with Martha, whom she considered "the nicest person in my whole entire class."
Why? Martha can't even remember talking to her. She wasn't mean, but wrapped up in herself and her friends she had never reached out to Olive. As Martha suffers through small family upheavals, first love, and first betrayal, the memory of Olive haunts her.
Is it any good?
In addition to his picture books, Kevin Henkes is the author of moving little character studies like this one, in which not much happens, except in the hearts of the characters, and the readers. It is the kind of novel much beloved by librarians, who tend to give them awards, and a certain kind of child, one who is an avid reader and loves stepping into someone else's heart and mind for a while.
Here Henkes is dealing with that moment of change, often painful, when family is not the safe haven it once was, the outer world seems less than welcoming, and mortality is all too evident. He captures it with great delicacy in a novel that will appeal to those experienced readers who are not looking for a uniform diet of fantasy and adventure.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the issues Martha grapples with, including the death of a classmate. How do you think she feels when she finds out that the dead girl wanted to be her friend?
This book won a Newbery Honor award. Why do you think it was selected? Do you think it deserved this award? Looking at this list of other recent award winners, are there others you would like to read?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Great
I really enjoyed this book, but the downside for young children is that there are bad role models and bad language.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Nothing Out of the Ordinary in Olive's Ocean
I read the book for an assignment in college, and because it was listed on the banned books list, I thought it was going to be worse than what it was. The book had mild language issues, and one scene where sex is openly mentioned, but otherwise nothing that I would consider to be anywhere near inappropriate for young minds who are looking for ways of expressing themselves. In fact, I wish I would have read this book as a child because I believe it would have accelerated my thoughts of becoming a writer and made it seem like a more attainable goal in my mind. With these facts in mind, I would have no problem using this book in my curriculum or having it in my classroom library if I were a teacher. It was well written and had a positive message, I recommend it.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
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.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Issues kids can relate to
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.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
I read the book in 7th grade and it is a very interesting book. It deals with things we are going through as young teens. Martha is like any other 12 year old girl who goes through the same things we do: relationships, family hatred, friendships, betrayal, and love. I recommend this to any person who is going trough any of these difficulties.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
i like it . Its a very intresting story nothing bad really
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
A MUST READ BOOK. {ages 10 and up}
I loved this book. I could read it a again, again, but unfortinaly it was a libray book so I had to take it back. I even let my mom read some of it a within a couple of chapters, she was love'n it !
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
It is a great book
I forgot my book in my class so I was finding a review online.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Author: | Kevin Henkes |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Coming of Age |
| Publisher: | HarperCollins Children's Books |
| Publication date: | November 2, 2003 |
| Number of pages: | 217 |
| Hardcover price: | $15.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 10 - 10 |
Review It
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already read it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
