Out of My Shell - Hardcover

Goebel, Jenny

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1338259555 ISBN 13: 9781338259551

Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2019

Synopsis

An inspiring and timely story of friendship, courage, and the magic that can happen when we stand up for what's right.

Normally, Olivia spends all year looking forward to her family's summer vacation in Florida. But not this year. Not when her parents have recently separated, and her father has to stay behind in Colorado. Olivia doesn't know what she'll do all summer without him. They've always been a pair, and she's never felt the same bond with her mother or younger sister.

So Olivia plans to spend the summer laying low, and trying to ignore the hurt gnawing at her heart. But when she learns that the local sea turtle population is in serious risk of dying off because of her neighbor's poorly designed house, she knows she has to do something. She can't just watch the beautiful creatures suffer.

Yet her chances of helping the turtles are slim, and she can't handle any more heartbreak. Will Olivia turn her back on her favorite animal to avoid the pain? Or will she find the courage to stand up for the turtles, and maybe heal herself in the process?

About this title

From the Author:

Jenny Goebel is the author of Grave Images, The 39 Clues: Mission Hurricane, and Fortune Falls. She lives in Denver with her husband and three sons.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 3–7—Twelve-year-old Olivia is staying at her grandparents' house with her mom and younger sister Lanie for the family's annual vacation to Florida. This is the first year her dad isn't along for the trip, owing to her parents' recent separation. Olivia, who shares many of his interests, misses her dad and the "Forrester Family Fabulous Facts" he would share throughout the journey. Meanwhile, things are awkward with her summer friend Aiden, whose grandfather is the caretaker for the Beachcomber Inn next door, which is under new management this summer. When Olivia discovers sea turtle hatchlings endangered by the bright lights at the back of the inn (they are causing the baby turtles to crawl in the wrong direction when looking for water), she vows to fix the problem and help save them. Throughout the summer, Olivia faces the struggles of having parents who are separated. She takes pictures and sends her dad texts so that he will think she is having a good time, and she worries about her mom, whom she catches crying and talking to her aunt about possibly moving Olivia and her sister to Florida. While finding her place among family, friends, and her new normal, Olivia learns that there are still plenty of people who care about her even when life feels so different. VERDICT Hand this to middle grade readers who are navigating changing family and friend dynamics as they come of age.—Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH

About this edition

• Publisher: Scholastic Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1338259555
• ISBN 13: 9781338259551
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224