Kevin Henkes

Anita Yeoman

Novel Study

Olive's Ocean

Olive's Ocean (rpkg) (HarperClassics)

It is a simple story: One girl (Olive) dies. The other girl (Martha), who hardly knows her, starts thinking about life and death. But I like this simplicity. The book never drags us deep in the emotional part. We still don’t learn anything new about Olive or Olive’s family who gives her the letter, or Martha’s Godbee (grandmother’s nickname) who secretly hides her sickness. Because as we’re reading it in Martha’s view, we’re not thinking, we’re feeling, we’re perceiving what she goes through, and it is so realistic. A 12-year-old’s life we think is uncomplicated seems heavier. She and I have so many similarities and I can personally relate to this girl a lot. Summer house, experience death of an acquaintance at a young age (not really sure to feel sad or not but wish you could’ve done something when they were still alive), siblings, grandma, and hating on everyone except your grandma you only see once a year. Actually, this book has my thoughts from last night all written into papers. I read some reviews and i totally agree that this book was so neatly written like a poem. 

korfai 

grace

Nadine 

Sweet novel about a 12yo as she grows up over a summer holiday at the beach, experiences first puppy love and disappointment and finds out who she is. Sweet and innocent.

Olive's Ocean Novel Study

Reviews