Olive's Ocean

Henkes, K.  (2004).  Olive's ocean. New York:  HarperCollins Publishers.
This book received the Newbery Honor award.

I love Kevin Henkes and I read all his picture books to my class.  Needless to say, I was very excited about reading one of his chapter books.  I have never read any of his chapter books and I didn't know what to expect. 

Olive's Ocean is about a 12 year old girl named Martha Boyle.  Martha receives a visit from the mother of Olive, and girl Martha didn't really know and who has recently passed away.  Olive's mother gives Martha a page out of Olive's diary that says she wants to get to know Martha better next school year because she is the nicest girl in Olive's class.  Also mentioned on the page are some of Olive's hopes.  One hope is that she gets to see a real ocean.  Martha goes on vacation to Cape Cod to visit her grandmother.  She tries to cope with Olive's death and decides she will take a little bit of the ocean back home with her to give to Olive's mom.  While in Cape Code, Martha receives her first kiss and first heartbreak. 

Olive's Ocean had me smiling when I remembered the nervousness of my first kiss and the feeling of overwhelming sadness when my heart was broken for the first time.  I could also relate to being that teenager that was embarrassed by my parents, but regretting that feeling at the same time.  I have very fond memories of Cape Cod and I could feel and smell the ocean air when reading this book.  

I was pleasantly surprised by Olive's Ocean and I really enjoyed reading this book.  Kevin Henkes did a nice job grabbing my attention from the very first page.  He has proven that, not only is he the author of many wonderful picture books, he can write a heart-warming and touching chapter book.