Module 15: Olive's Ocean

Book cover image:

Book Summary: Martha is surprised when the mother of one of her classmates, Olive, who recently died in a bicycle accident, comes to her house bearing a journal entry in which Olive says she wishes she were friends with Martha. Unsure about what to do with the entry, Martha takes it with her on her family vacation to the beach to visit Godbee, her grandmother. Throughout her stay, she deals with the challenges of growing up, from experiencing her growing interest in boys, particularly the ones who are her neighbors at Godbee's house, to her first kiss. When she remembers that Olive mentioned wanting to see the ocean, Martha fills a jar with ocean water, dubbing it Olive's Ocean, and determines to give it to Olive's mother after their vacation is over. When she gets home and realizes that Olive's mother has moved away, Martha uses Olive's ocean in what is a fitting remembrance of her classmate.

APA Reference of the book: Henkes, K. (2003). Olive's ocean. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

Impressions: While I was reading this book, I kept waiting for something to happen that would explain why it was on a list of challenged books. When I got to the end I was still wondering, having not seen anything that I found objectionable, let alone objectionable enough to issue a challenge over. This book has an interesting story and effectively reflects the lazy days of summer when there are no pressing concerns. This is overshadowed somewhat by Martha's uncertainty of what to do about Olive's journal entry, but is fairly quickly resolved by her decision to bring part of the ocean back to Olive's mother. Her other challenges are largely internal, such as her dealing with her growing attraction to one of the neighbor boys, and dealing changing feelings toward her family. These she often resolves through talking with Godbee, who is a constant support for her throughout the book. When I looked to see why the book was challenged, it was over a single phrase, in which Martha's brother describes her parents as exhibiting MSB or "morning sex behavior," which, while a little surprising, is not outside the realm of what middle school boy might say in real life. This seems to be one instance of where one phrase, in this case one mentioned in passing, that sparks a controversy about an entire book, one that has many merits besides. Overall, I think this is a book that effectively illustrates the struggles of growing up, and is appropriate for middle and high school students.

Professional Review: " While twelve-year-old Martha Boyle is packing to leave for Grandmother’s cottage on the northeastern coast, Olive Barstow’s mother visits her. Olive’s mother delivers a journal entry Olive wrote about wanting to be friends with Martha (Olive was killed two weeks before in a bicycling accident.). While at her Grandmother’s cottage, Martha discovers her attraction to the boy next door, receives her first kiss, and experiences her first heartache when she finds out he not only kissed her on a bet, he videotaped it! She almost drowns while gathering a jar of seawater to take home for Olive, who also wrote that she hoped to go to a real ocean instead of just a lake. Amid all this activity and with much soul-searching, Martha faces what all young people eventually have to—growing up. Although the plot lines seem disparate, it all fits together into a beautifully developed coming-of-age story with real characters and real angst. Life is portrayed as not all gloom and doom; sometimes happenings charm the reader and some episodes are downright amusing. Most touching is Martha’s decision of what to do with Olive’s “ocean” after she learns that Olive’s mother has moved away. Martha realizes how good her own life really is—what she has in her family and friends. Recommended."

Hoy, S. (2004). [Review of Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes]. Library Media Connection, 22(6), p. 64. Retrieved from: http://www.librarymediaconnection.com/

Library uses: This book could be used in a display of challenged books. It could also be used to discuss with students the challenges of growing up, which Martha experiences in plenty in her summer with her family.