Olive's Ocean - (Newbery Medal - Honors Title(s)) by Kevin Henkes (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

A brilliant, touching coming-of-age story, and a Newbery Honor Book.

Martha Boyle and Olive Barstow could have been friends, but they weren't. Weeks after a tragic accident, all that is left are eerie connections between the two girls, former classmates who both kept the same secret without knowing it.

Now, even while on vacation at the ocean, Martha can't stop thinking about Olive. Things only get more complicated when Martha begins to like Jimmy Manning, a neighbor boy she used to despise. What is going on? Can life for Martha be the same ever again?

Multiple award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Kevin Henkes brings his insightful, gentle, real-world insight to middle grade novels, including:

Billy Miller Makes a WishBird Lake MoonThe Birthday RoomJunoniaOlive's OceanProtecting MarieSun & SpoonSweeping Up the HeartTwo Under ParWords of StoneThe Year of Billy MillerThe Zebra Wall

From the Back Cover

"Olive Barstow was dead. She'd been hit by a car on Monroe Street while riding her bicycle weeks ago. That was about all Martha knew."

Martha Boyle and Olive Barstow could have been friends. But they weren't -- and now all that is left are eerie connections between two girls who were in the same grade at school and who both kept the same secret without knowing it.

Now Martha can't stop thinking about Olive. A family summer on Cape Cod should help banish those thoughts; instead, they seep in everywhere.

And this year Martha's routine at her beloved grandmother's beachside house is complicated by the Manning boys. Jimmy, Tate, Todd, Luke, and Leo. But especially Jimmy. What if, what if, what if, what if? The world can change in a minute.

Review Quotes

"The ever versatile Kevin Henkes dazzles with this spare yet profoundly touching coming-of-age novel." -- Family Fun Magazine

"An eloquent journey into adolescence." -- Florida Times-Union

"Few girls will fail to recognize themselves in Martha." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Martha Boyle is one of the memorable 12-year-old girls of fiction, smart, confused, compassionate." -- KLIATT (starred review)

"With his usual sensitivity and insight, Henkes explores key issues of adolescence." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Lyrically written." -- Seattle Times

"Rich characterizations move this compelling novel to its satisfying and emotionally authentic conclusion." -- School Library Journal (starred review)

"Henkes's story is subtle and satisfyingly untidy. Grabs you right from the start." -- Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

"With beautifully defined characters, events, and emotions that will tug at your heart, this novel is flawless." -- Daily Item