This was a sweet story.
Gracie has a passion for snorkeling which leads to new discoveries, new friendships, and new knowledge about the vulnerability of our oceans.
Thank you, NetGallery, for the ARC of Gracie Under the Waves!

Gracie and her brother really got me -- I could feel their relationship and I realize that this is NOT the focus of the book, but I did love the dynamics between them! Gracie is the epitome of middle school age kid who is PASSIONATE about her passion -- the coral reefs...and then learns that there is SO MUCH more to learn.
I love the diverse representation in this book. I love the facts that are intertwined. It made me want to head to Honduras right away and get snorkeling...and I don't usually like ANYTHING having to do with oceans!

Your underwater adventurers (and hopefuls) will love this one!

So will kiddos who are interested in conservation, climate change, activism and underwater life forms.

Park realistically portrays the sibling relationship.

Not only a perfect summer read, but one that will interest kids all year round!

Though the story and its characters seem perfect and neat, main character Gracie Kim’s voice is authentic , whether expressing her enthusiasm for snorkeling and coral reefs or her exasperation with her hyperactive, five-year- old brother, Ben. Her vacation trip to Routan in Honduras provides middle grade readers with a friendship story and loads of valuable information about tropical fish and the damage humans ate wreaking on the precious coral reefs.

Gracie is a completely relatable pre-teen, full of contradictions. She's annoyed with her little brother, but also protective of him. She has big dreams and plans, but doesn't understand how little she knows. She's tenacious and fights for what she wants. I loved this character! The plot is also similarly well-done. The author does a wonderful job of educating the reader about the impact of climate change and human activity on our oceans and coral reefs without being preachy. She gently inserts facts along the way, allowing us to learn with Gracie.

I would definitely add this book to my classroom library and recommend it for middle-grade students.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Thanks to publisher and NetGalley for access to ARC! I enjoyed Gracie’s story and think that it has a lot of teaching points for middle grade students about coral reefs and their ecosystems. Plot was really thick with information which isn’t a bad thing, but may bog down some readers. Overall, I enjoyed it and will share with my readers!

Sooo good. I was so wrapped up in the story that it didnt feel like I was reading. I loved the setting. The characters were well developed. It was a delight to be immersed in this experience. .

A cute middle grade book full of information!

Gracie loves to snorkel and will do what it takes to get her family involved. This book is filled with beautiful imagery as the author weaves together environmental literacy with a fictional story of family commitment.
 
If you want children to learn about the coral reef, caring for the environment, and all that lives under the sea, this is a great book choice. Someone might even read it and want to begin snorkeling!

A short, sweet novel about navigating siblings, friendship, and ocean life. This book is perfect for readers who are looking for a shorter chapter book, and for readers who are interested in climate change or ocean preservation. I enjoyed learning all about coral reefs and marine ecology in this book, along with information about ocean preservation (I never knew that sunscreen was toxic to ocean life!)
I liked the character of Gracie, and how she is a realistic character that I feel like a lot of readers will resonate with. I empathized with her struggles and triumphs with her younger brother, and I appreciated how her parents acknowledged that they inadvertently were putting her in a parentifying role with Ben.
Overall, I think this book will resonate with a lot of readers, and will educate as well as entertain.

Gracie remembers a vacation her family took where she learned to snorkel. She loved it so much that she's put together a plan for their next family vacation to Honduras where her little brother Ben could also learn to snorkel. Ben is a hyperactive kid who worships his older sister, which leads to conflicts in the family when he simply won't leave Gracie alone.

On their vacation, Gracie learns about the damage to coral reefs and how fast they are disappearing around the globe. She decides she wants to do something to help and gets advice from a coral nursery located on the island where they are staying.

I must say that I was disappointed in this effort from Linda Sue Park. Given the excellence of her previous titles, this one seemed more message driven than having a good story line and fully developed characters. I found myself questioning why the parents would allow their child to plan such an expensive family vacation and then would go along with the idea. Gracie appears to be handling her brother's hyperactivity on her own and it is only when she blows up at him that the parents finally see that there needs to be some sibling intervention.

A MG clifi book about a girl who loves to snorkel.
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It’s been a while since Gracie went snorkeling so when the chance to bring up the topic of their next family vacation destination, Gracie convinced her parents and younger brother, Ben, to go to Honduras. While there Gracie meets a new friend who teaches her about the coral reef and how it’s endangered. As Gracie learns more about climate change and its effect on the reefs, the more passionate she becomes.
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This was a sweet early middle grade novel about protecting the ocean, how to do with overwhelming emotions and how one’s passion can guide their studies and future. This title releases September 17!

CW: injuries, climate change (theme)