Manatee Summer

By Evan Griffith

A boy's summer mission to save a manatee tests his friendships and self-discovery.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 1,106 ratings

288 pages· 55,362 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

Peter's last summer before middle school is filled with unexpected challenges. While documenting wildlife with his friend Tommy, they discover an injured manatee, sparking a mission to protect it. As Peter fights for the manatee's survival, he also cares for his ailing grandfather and faces a surprise that threatens his friendship. Navigating these turbulent waters, Peter learns as much about himself as the world around him. Will he manage to save the manatee and his friendships, or will the tides of change prove too strong?

From the publisher

In this poignant middle grade contemporary debut that New York Times bestselling author Katherine Applegate calls “by turns heartbreaking and heart-healing,” Evan Griffith beautifully captures all the tenderness and uncertainty that come with caring for family, friends, and the natural world.Peter and his best friend, Tommy, have a goal for their last summer before middle school: finish their Discovery Journal, a catalog of the wildlife around their Florida town. When they spot a manatee in a canal, Peter knows they’ve found something special–and when the manatee is injured by a boat, something to protect!As Peter joins the fight to save Florida manatees, he also finds himself taking care of his ailing grandfather and facing an unwelcome surprise that jeopardizes his friendship with Tommy. Soon Peter is adrift, navigating shifting tides and realizing that he has as much to discover about himself as he does about the world around him.

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