The Ocean's Way

By Elaine Donadio

For Middle Grade readers. What begins as a light-hearted adventure ends as a commitment, when eleven year old New York City girl Holly, uses her passion for poetry to win a grant writing contest to study marine life in Florida during Christmas vacation with her best friend, Jasmine. Holly looks forward to leaving the gray, winter skies of New York City behind. She imagines a carefree, fun in the sun adventure, but her optimism is short-lived.

Her fear of public speaking is highlighted as Holly learns she must present her findings at a school assembly program. Jasmine's family problems and her fear of flying and swimming create obstacles to Holly's idyllic expectations.

The contrast between the girls is heightened by revelations of their family lives and their different approaches to the world around them. Holly, the gentle poet, overcomes her fear of public speaking as she continues to grieve her father's death. Jasmine, the seemingly self-assured realist, battles her fears while dealing with the consequences of her alcoholic mother's neglect. Their friendship grows stronger as the girls accept each other's differences and limitations.

Environmental issues are understood and an appreciation of the balance of nature and the interaction between the animal world and the environment is gained, with visits to biomes and ecosystems, as they interact with dolphins, alligators, swamp wetlands and manatees. Holly vows to raise money to help stranded marine mammals as they participate in a heart-wrenching rescue of stranded pilot whales on Florida's Gulf Coast.

Throughout the story, questions are asked and answered in detail, as well-researched facts are imbedded in the dialogue and action. Since Holly writes poetry, some facts are written in unrhymed verse. Holly is particularly drawn to this world, and expresses interest in returning someday. She realizes the difference one person can make and hopes to be a catalyst for awareness and positive action.

The girls accept awards for their multi-media presentation at their school assembly. When Holly is asked to make closing remarks, she walks on stage with confidence. She recites her poem, "The Ocean's Way" which makes an analogy between the ebb and flow of the tide and the questions and answers churning in her head.

She overcomes fears and personal disappointments to reach her goals. Holly now understands how keeping the environment in balance insures continuity of all species.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elaine Donadio
• Release date: Oct 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311360526

Elaine Donadio

Author and Reading Specialist at New York City Schools, Elaine Donadio is a New York City girl by birth and by choice. Her characters reflect the urban lifestyle. She writes about what she loves and spends hours researching facts so her books feed your head, your heart and your soul. She's concerned about the effects of human carelessness on the world in which we live.Learning is the point but better viewed through the wondering eyes of a character whose experience communicates information and feelings as the world unfolds its secrets. You'll meander through facts, following a path that gently leads to what was previously unknown. Like a flower blooming in unhurried stages, you'll learn about our world in the context of personal experience. Readers will learn and laugh at the same time.

Book preview

The Ocean’s Way

By Elaine Donadio

Copyright 2016 Elaine Donadio

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Many thanks to Judy Bullard for the cover [e-mail].

Many thanks to Marti [e-mail] and to Brenda Van [e-mail] for ebook formatting

This book is dedicated to my family with love

Series: The Montgomery School Kids Book One The Science Project Book Two The Ocean’s Way Book Three Who Do Voodoo?

Contents

Chapter 1- Take-Off

Chapter 2- Jammed Up

Chapter 3- Confession

Chapter 4- Heartache

Chapter 5- Dilemma

Chapter 6- Fairy Grandmother

Chapter 7- Push and Pull

Chapter 8- Fun at Last

Chapter 9- The Beach in Miami

Chapter 10- Dolphin Detail

Chapter 11- Dolphin Dash

Chapter 12- Alligator Apex

Chapter 13- Swamp Sense

Chapter 14- Manatee Medley

Chapter 15- Manatee Dawdle

Chapter 16- Pilot Whales- From the Heart

Chapter 17- Pilot Whales- From the Soul

Chapter 18- The Presentation

Chapter 1- Take-Off

Best friends forever? Yeah, right. It’s been said you never really know a person until you go on vacation together. After knowing each other for three years, my learning curve flew off the charts.

I had so much excitement built up inside of me and she didn’t want to talk.

There we were on an all-expense-paid trip to Florida to study marine life. It was the day after Christmas and Jasmine’s father dropped us off early at the airport for our 6:00a.m.flight to Miami.

I peeked through the window as the American Airlines jet increased its speed and made its smooth ascent into the gray winter skies of New York City.

Jasmine, look how high we are. There’s Citi Field. Maybe we can see our houses.

Holly, don’t talk to me until this plane is on the ground. Jasmine gripped the armrests of her seat so hard her knuckles turned white. Her back was arched and her jaw was set in a hard line, like a boxer getting ready for that KO punch. Eyes closed tight, tears streamed down her face.

I thought you told your father you’d be OK on the plane, I said.

I’m not as OK, as I thought I’d be. Jasmine’s teeth were clenched.

I knew not to press the issue. Jasmine does things in her own time.

Three hours with nothing to do.

I took out my mirror to check my look. Dark circles under my sleepy gray eyes. Good hair day today. Sometimes, my curly light brown hair gets all jumbled up like a ball of yarn a cat unraveled. A selfie would be fun right about now, but then I’d have to explain why Jasmine’s not in the picture. What kind of person snaps photos of a friend in terror?

I browsed through the in-flight magazine.

I read the emergency instructions.

I counted the clouds.

I looked for shapes in the clouds.

I made up a crossword puzzle:

Question: six letters across—frustration

Answer: bummer

Question: ten letters down—friendlessness

Answer: loneliness

Question: eight letters across—forced to be silent

Answer: zippered

Question: seven letters down—with mixed feelings

Answer: muddled

Question: eight letters across—downhearted

Answer: dejected

I wrote a poem:

I noticed my mom and science teacher sitting across the aisle talking and laughing like they were the ones who were best friends. My mom came as a chaperone. At least someone was having a good time. I didn’t want my mom to know what was going on with Jasmine. After all, who wants mommy sympathy in public when you’re already eleven years old?

I got lost in my own head and thought back to when I’d first found out we’d won.

Class, I have an announcement to make, said Ms. Costa.

I was awarded a grant to study marine life in Florida. Holly and Jasmine are the class contest winners so they’ll be coming with me to conduct research.

I love the ocean. Jasmine researched the facts, and I turned them into poetry. A work of art, according to the judges.

Jasmine, we did it! We won the contest. We’re going to Florida. Free food. Free hotels. Free airfare.

You mean we’re going to fly there? On an airplane?

"Of course, on an airplane. Just think. Warm weather and sunshine in December.

Bathing suits. Swimming."

We have to go swimming? Jasmine asked.

Marine life, remember? I was so happy, I only half heard what she said.

I’m not sure I can go, Jasmine said.

What are you talking about? I heard her now, loud and clear.

I’ll tell you later.

Don’t do this to me, Jasmine.

She just looked at me with sad eyes. I glared back at her.

There was a lot