Make a Little Wave

August 19, 2024
When Florida eighth grader Savannah becomes an eco-warrior on behalf of sharks, she finds herself at odds with her human community. Sav has just moved from Orlando to the fictional ocean town of Sandy Dune. Because she has cochlear implants, she’s nervous about venturing underwater, much less swimming with sharks on an outing arranged by her father. After she hits it off with flirty classmate Tanner and his friends, her social circle takes shape. But those friendships are in jeopardy when, at Tanner’s family’s fancy seafood restaurant, she unwittingly tastes an off-menu “delicacy,” shark fin soup, and throws up in disgust. Sav’s impassioned research into illegal shark finning compels her into radical action: releasing roaches at the restaurant, posting photos on social media (which authorities construe as bullying), and damaging a yacht to halt fishing charters. Via empathetic depictions of her actions—through which Sav makes more than a little wave—O’Malley Cerra (Just a Drop of Water) illustrates how diplomacy and team-building get the job done. Characters read as white. Ample back matter, including more about sharks by the author’s marine biologist daughter, concludes. Ages 11–14. Agent: Janine Le, Janine Le Literary.