Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes

Bibliography
Henkes, K. (2003). Olive’s ocean. New York: Greenwillow Books.

217 pages

Plot
Olive Barstow was a young girl in Martha’s grade. However, one day she was riding her bike on Monroe Street when she was hit by a car. She didn’t make it. Martha, who did not know Olive, felt sorry for her and her parents, but Olive’s death really didn’t impact her until her mother gave her a letter written from Olive. Surprised, Martha reads the letter, realizing that she and Olive could have been friends, and can’t stop thinking about Olive. Martha still has thoughts of Olive when her family vacations to the beach. There Martha writes in her journal about Olive and the experiences she has. It is a summer that Martha will never forget.

Review
Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes is an introspective novel, letting the reader experience firsthand Martha’s relationship with her family, friends, and though in death, Olive. Although Martha did not know Olive in school, she knew of her. Henkes’ prose forces readers to come to terms with experiences which initially cannot be changed but forever change the person. In the book, Olive remains an elusive character, neither fully drawn, nor overly depicted. In many ways, Olive’s character is based upon Martha’s thoughts and actions following Olive’s death. Through this characterization, the reader is able to see just how much of an impact a person can have on another despite being a virtual stranger.

Genre
Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Level
This book would appeal to readers in grades 7th – 9th.

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Personal thoughts
I thought this was a touching coming of age story. Henkes does an excellent job portraying both Martha and Olive, and how Martha’s life is changed because of it.

Subjects/themes
Death
Friendship
Coming of Age
Family

Awards
Newbery Honor Book

Series information
No known sequels.

Character names/descriptions
Martha Boyle: A young girl who is vacationing with her family to see her grandmother. Before leaving she is given a note written by a dead classmate.

Olive Barstow: The young classmate who died in a bicycle accident. Olive was a lonely girl, who just needed a friend.

The Manning Boys: Neighbors of Martha’s grandmother.

Grandmother: Martha’s grandmother and owner of the beachside property that the Boyles vacation to over the summer.

Annotation
Martha is trying to come to terms with her family, identity, and her future, but when a letter from a dead classmate is sent to Martha, her life changes in an instant.