Consider the Octopus

By: Nora Raleigh Baskin, Gae Polisner

Narrated by: Piper Goodeve, Michael Crouch

When chance, or fate, throws two 12-year-olds together on board a scientific research ship at the edge of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, it’s not all smooth sailing!

Jeremy “JB” Barnes is looking forward to spending the summer before seventh grade hanging on the beach. But his mother, a scientist, has called for him to join her aboard a research ship, where, instead, he’ll spend his summer seasick and bored as he stares out at the endless plastic, microbeads, and other floating debris, both visible and not, that make up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Miles and miles away, 12-year-old Sidney Miller is trying to come up with an alternate activity worthy of convincing her overprotective parents that she can skip summer camp.

When Jeremy is asked to find the contact information for a list of important international scientists and invite them to attend a last-minute emergency global summit, he’s excited to have a chance to actually do something that matters to the mission. How could he know that the Sidney Miller he messages is not the famous marine biologist he has been tasked with contacting, but rather a girl making podcasts from her bedroom—let alone that she would want to sneak aboard the ship?

Consider the Octopus is a comedy of errors, mistaken identity, and synchronicity. Above all, it is a heartfelt story about friendship and an empowering call to environmental protection, especially to our young people who are already stepping up to help save our oceans and our Earth.

©2022 Nora Raleigh Baskin and Gae Polisner (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Engaging story

Lovely and inspiring story about what can happen when children are encouraged and empowered to believe they can have an impact and facilitate change. Strong characters of all genders. Kindness. Reinforces the importance of following dreams and taking advantage of opportunities. Respects those with various backgrounds and skills.

Loved it!

An exceptional story from two amazing authors! Absolutely loved it! The narration was very well done and the characters were fun to hear from as each chapter bounced back and forth between JB and Sidney narrating.