HOW TO SAVE A DOLPHIN

A dolphin and a young animal lover rescue one another in turn from deadly perils in this suspenseful tale.

Schusterman’s latest is rich in personal connections and dramatic twists. Knocked off a boat by a sudden squall while out fishing with her dad, 12-year-old Dany nearly drowns but is guided to shore by a friendly dolphin she dubs Blue. She then gets a chance to return the favor when a hurricane that slams into Galveston leaves Blue in a bayou, cut off from the open ocean. The author offers both a general view of how Dany and her big, close family expertly prepare for a hurricane and also, in more detail, how she helps a wildlife rescue team safely treat the injured dolphin. Schusterman conveys compelling senses of both her young protagonist’s emotional ups and downs and of what it must be like to hunker down in a darkened house while a wildly destructive storm rages outside. In turning herself from a follower to a leader by organizing part of the dolphin rescue after the hurricane passes and also befriending a lonely new arrival in town while learning how to stay in touch with a friend who has moved away, Dany exhibits plenty of character development, too. Physical descriptors are minimal.

Buoyant encounters with nature at its most appealing—and dangerous.