Beneath the Surface: A discovery of Earth's hidden life.

By Carissa Welton and Scale Up Animation Studio

Beneath the Surface is an adventure story that explores real threats to marine life and solutions. Follow young Xing Xing, just before she turns twelve, as her life quickly changes once she discovers a world of surprises under the sea that extend beyond her wildest dreams. While it is a vastly different way of life from what she’s familiar with, it is also a world that Xing Xing is deeply connected to, just as deeply as she is connected to her life on land. From her immediate welcome into the mysterious inner depths of Earth until the day she must finally return to its surface, Xing Xing's adventure reveals the inseparable connection and relationship between land and sea that had been lost for nearly a millennium.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781458318619

Book preview

Global Impact

When I think of environmental protection, I am not just thinking about plants and animals. I am also thinking about the protection of children everywhere. Closer to home, I am an aunt and this year I became a great-great aunt, so I also have concerns about what kind of future will be left for today’s children. One of the most difficult parts of being an environmental educator I have come across in my 15 years of experience has been the anguish of telling children they've inherited 8 billion tons of plastic that we dumped into the ocean for them to clean up. What’s worse, I have to apologize and explain how it all happened simply due to poor design and policies. So, I dare them to fix it and do my best to stir up their natural state of creativity and determination. I remind them that viewing the future with despair is one of many options.

Research has shown that more curiosity about the natural world can be somewhat of a cure-all for a variety of problems related to environmental degradation. Modern science is only confirming what so many of our ancestors have known: environmental health and human health are inextricably intertwined. Imagine what kind of positive changes we might see not just in the world but in ourselves if more children valued environmental protection? Just imagine if they grew up to ensure it was a primary standard for society. Simply by taking more of an interest in marine life protection, reading this book, and sharing it with your child or children, you might just help save the entire planet. So, thank you!

Ultimately, I hope this book and the materials developed for teachers and readers to dive deeper into the topic of marine life protection will change the world, one activity at a time. Every purchase you make goes towards providing free access to all of the books and learning extension materials to my non-profit partner, Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots.

The mission of Roots & Shoots is to empower young people to affect positive change in their communities. (https://www.rootsandshoots.org)

Dedicated to everyone who remains young at heart.

It’s not always as easy as it looks.

BENEATH THE SURFACE

1

Little Fish

DOLPHINS! Xing Xing waved her hands, pointing toward three rosy arches sliding in and out of the water. She and her cousin, Mei Mei, had been building sandcastles on the beach of Nan’ao Island. They lived about a 10-minute walk from the coastline, along the Tropic of Cancer.

Mei Mei followed her cousin’s wiggling left index finger. Xing Xing’s whole hand danced in the air with excitement at the three delicately pink-tinted tails that dipped up and down in unison between the ocean waves. A few strands of her long black hair blew across her face and stuck on her forehead. She moved quickly to brush it away from her eyes to get a better look. Mei Mei was only a few months older than Xing Xing but a lot taller and generally more reserved. She had just turned 12 the month before. The moment she spotted the dolphins rolling up and down the waves in succession, her jaw dropped. She had never seen anything like it in her entire life.

I can’t believe it! Just look how close they are to us! she exclaimed. Her voice was so unaccustomed to expressing excitement that it cracked slightly. Many of the villagers started to crowd on the beach to see the legendary creatures they had only heard about. But almost as quickly as they arrived, the porpoises’ blushed bodies disappeared beneath the waves.

Xing Xing and Mei Mei had actually seen these special pink dolphins twice before, but it was only when they were far out on the sea. Even then it was quite a rare sighting, especially in recent years. Their fathers were both fishermen, as their family had been for centuries. They said their hiding started just before Xing Xing and Mei Mei were born. The pink dolphin disappearance seemed to be getting worse. Throughout the course of their young lives, the girls’ fathers noticed the dolphins appeared less and less to guide them to the best fishing areas.

Just as their grandfather had taken their fathers along, far out to sea, in his modest fishing boat, Xing Xing and Mei Mei often joined their dads at work. Sometimes they went so far there was no trace of land to be seen. The sea and sky melted into complimentary shades of blue, like a vision from a dreamscape, blurring the horizon line that distinguished one from another. The only sound came from the rhythmic waves and gusts of wind. It was so calm and quiet compared to the stress and static they knew on land. Of course, as idyllic as those moments were, fishing was far from relaxing. It was hard work.

The girls had become skilled crewmates by the time they turned seven years old. They helped with everything from adding fuel to casting and retrieving the traps. They listened to their fathers’ conversations, which were often filled with complaints and worries. Another day with barely enough to get through this week, Xing Xing’s father moaned. Relax, brother, her uncle said reassuringly. "Forget the fishing gear as soon as the fish is caught," he said, quoting the well-known expression. For the last two years he had been saving to move the family into the city of Shenzhen. He planned to open a small convenience shop there. He saw no future in the fishing industry and said the city schools would provide better opportunities for Mei Mei to attend university.

Although Xing Xing’s uncle encouraged their family to move to the city, too, her mother needed to stay in their village to take care of her aging Uncle Hao. He was ninety-eight years old and although he was still in decent health, he had trouble walking. Uncle Hao refused to leave the village.

It was difficult for Xing Xing to imagine Mei Mei not living next door. They had recently experienced the loss of their grandmother two years ago, but filled the void of her presence through their fondness for each other. They were both only children who grew up together their entire lives. Just 5 months apart in age, they had lived next door to each other since birth. They referred to each other as sisters instead of cousins. Just thinking of Mei Mei, her sister, not being around anymore made Xing Xing shutter with loneliness. Deep down, especially after eavesdropping on conversations between her father and