Review: Beneath the Surface by John Hargrove

For my return to book blogging after a long hiatus, I'm taking a step back from YA to write about a biographical non-fiction novel that I have literally been unable to stop reading between work and sleeping. Beneath the Surface by John Hargrove is addictive, emotional, unforgettable, and soulful novel about his experiences as a former SeaWorld trainer. 

If you, like me, were forever changed by Blackfish, put this book at the very top of your to-read list.

Summary: Over the course of two decades, John Hargrove worked with 20 different whales on two continents and at two of SeaWorld's U.S. facilities. For Hargrove, becoming an orca trainer fulfilled a childhood dream. However, as his experience with the whales deepened, Hargrove came to doubt that their needs could ever be met in captivity. When two fellow trainers were killed by orcas in marine parks, Hargrove decided that SeaWorld's wildly popular programs were both detrimental to the whales and ultimately unsafe for trainers.

After leaving SeaWorld, Hargrove became one of the stars of the controversial documentary Blackfish. The outcry over the treatment of SeaWorld's orca has now expanded beyond the outlines sketched by the award-winning documentary, with Hargrove contributing his expertise to an advocacy movement that is convincing both federal and state governments to act.

In Beneath the Surface, Hargrove paints a compelling portrait of these highly intelligent and social creatures, including his favorite whales Takara and her mother Kasatka, two of the most dominant orcas in SeaWorld. And he includes vibrant descriptions of the lives of orcas in the wild, contrasting their freedom in the ocean with their lives in SeaWorld.

Hargrove's journey is one that humanity has just begun to take-toward the realization that the relationship between the human and animal worlds must be radically rethought.

Little needs to be said for the content of the book because there is no question that is poignant, moving, and engrossing. Hargrove is undeniably a knowledgable, experienced, and reliable narrator. His love for these animals is felt on every page, and from this, I feel as if I know and love them, too. 

It is a rather pricey book—and I held out for two months for the paperback release after discovering this book existed. I was worried, particularly because of the price, about buying a redundant book that would basically retell Blackfish. This is not that at all! Within 10 pages, I had decided that it was worth every penny—and more! 

Anyone who was moved by Blackfish or with a love of animals can appreciate Hargrove's struggle to work with and eventually stop working with whales in captivity. Because despite working for the corporation that has imprisoned these magnificent creatures, he and all the trainers work hard and stay there, enduring repeated injuries, poor working conditions, death-defying risk, and terrible pay all because they love the whales and want to make sure that they are cared for; to make the best of an awful situation. His many examples of agonizing injuries, fearful moments, and near-death experiences is a testament of how much a person will go through for someone they love, even when that someone is an apex predator.

Blackfish is a very thorough examination of whales in captivity, but the film is focused largely on the tragedy of Dawn Brancheau and Tilikum. Hargrove does not just repeat the things of the documentary, branching out so much more to include his path to becoming a trainer, detailing typical days with the whales, explanations of waterwork, breeding, behavioural psychology, and accidents and near-accidents. You learn more about other whales he's worked with and loved (particularly Kasatka and Takara), and his experiences at multiple parks, as well as touching on Dawn and Tilikum, and the resulting legal battle between OHSA and SeaWorld, and SeaWorld and the changing social climate of animal rights. 

Beneath the Surface is beautifully written and Hargrove allows his readers to delve a little deeper into Shamu Stadium, both in the pool and backstage. As a fellow animal lover and someone who grew up with awed visits to Marineland in Niagara Falls to watch the orca shows—something that our children will never know— it is impossible not to be pulled into the narrative, exposing the terrible truths about orcas in captivity to the world. 

Eye-opening and heart-breaking. I cannot remember ever reading a book that I loved and felt this much—and I work in publishing! 

5 Stars 

Review: Potterwookiee by Obert Skye

Two multi-million dollar fandoms merge together in this hilarious, middle grade illustrated novel. The second in the Creature From My Closet chapter book series, Potterwookiee is great for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and other similar illustrated novels. 

Summary: The latest creature to emerge from Rob’s closet is a cross between Chewbacca from Star Wars and Harry Potter. Rob names him “Potterwookiee” (“Hairy” for short) and soon Rob finds himself treading water as he tries to figure out how to care for his mixed-up friend. Great laughs and great books help Rob along the way.

After the Potterwookiee emerges from Rob's closet, the little guy ends up in a weird trance. To help him, Rob turns to the first Harry Potter book for the answer, illustrating that wisdom can be found in the pages of great books. Aside from helping his hybrid friend, Rob must also keep him safe from others and overcome the neighbourhood bully.

As a Potterhead and a fan of Star Wars, I really enjoyed this book. It's an easy, entertaining read for reluctant readers and is filled with hilarious illustrations to break up the text. Parents and educators can feel good about this clean, well-received, and most definitely fun read for middle grade readers. 

Keep kids reading this summer with Potterwookiee!

3.5 Stars 

Reviews for Potterwookie: 
“The second doll-sized literary mashup to come out of a wimpy kid’s magic closet adds wizardly spells [and] noxious smells…” - Kirkus 

"The text is hysterical by itself, but acts as the straight man in relation to the one-two punch of the childlike drawings and captions that appear on almost every page. Get multiple copies of this book: it will fly off the shelves.”- School Library Journal 

Review: Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

There are quite a few books with buzz right now featuring unique, wonderful protagonists who have learning, mental, or physical disabilities. Rain Reign falls into this new popular genre, featuring a heroine with a high-functioning form of autism.

I absolutely love Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin. This author needs no introduction and you're guaranteed a well-written novel for young adult readers. It is a sad, lovely story about a young girl named Rose, whose carefully constructed world is changed forever after a hurricane. Her determination, spirit and resilience in the face of turmoil, loss, and the baffling world outside of her own will win your heart.

Summary:  Rose Howard is obsessed with homonyms. She’s thrilled that her own name is a homonym, and she purposely gave her dog Rain a name with two homonyms (Reign, Rein), which, according to Rose’s rules of homonyms, is very special. Not everyone understands Rose’s obsessions, her rules, and the other things that make her different – not her teachers, not other kids, and not her single father.

When a storm hits their rural town, rivers overflow, the roads are flooded, and Rain goes missing. Rose’s father shouldn’t have let Rain out. Now Rose has to find her dog, even if it means leaving her routines and safe places to search. 

Hearts will break and spirits will soar for this powerful story, brilliantly told from Rose’s point of view.

I have so many wonderful things to say about this novel. Rose is a quirky, endearing and inspiring protagonist with a deep love for her dog, the rules, and homonyms (reason #100 to read this novel: grammar lesson!). Her life isn't an easy one, but despite her strained relationship with her father, her difficulties in school, and the challenges of maintaining the order and routine of her world, she perseveres.

As far as content goes, this is a fairly clean read. There is some uncomfortable near-violence when Rose's father loses his patience with Rose. Alcohol and objectionable language (the 'r-word', bullying, etc) are also content flags to be aware of. Overall, the content is handled well and serves a purpose to the plot, rather than existing for dramatic effect. Ann M. Martin is a teacher-favourite and the publisher's website even has a free discussion guide posted for download! (See link at the end of the review).

Fans of Mockingbird (Kathryn Erskine), Counting by 7s (Holly Goldberg Sloan), and The Categorical Universe of Candice Phee will enjoy this novel. Anyone who has ever loved a pet will love this book, actually. Rose's love for dog is inspiring; she would do anything to save Rain--and to make sure she does right by her. Even if it means giving her away...

Add this to your must-read list for this year! Ann M. Martin never disappoints!

4 Stars

Click here for the discussion guide from Macmillan

Review: Is It Night or Day? by Fern Schumer Chapman

Is It Night or Day? is a beautifully written and touching story for YA readers set during World War II. Fern Schumer Chapman tells mother's story of how she was sent to America by her parents to have her best chance at life. This novel is an excellent choice for students studying World War II, particularly because it brings to life America's One Thousand Children project; a virtually unheard of, but heroic and extraordinary humanitarian effort to save German children during the Nazi regime.

Summary: It’s 1938, and twelve-year-old Edith is about to move from the tiny German village she’s lived in all her life to a place that seems as foreign as the moon: Chicago, Illinois. And she will be doing it alone. This dramatic and chilling novel about one girl’s escape from Hitler’s Germany was inspired by the experiences of the author’s mother, one of twelve hundred children rescued by Americans as part of the One Thousand Children project. 

Edith's story, like all wartime stories, is tragic. But the story is told through the eyes of a little girl with hope, strength, and an inspiring resilience. The language and content is clean, though the novel does mention suicide. Edith's mother becomes depressed early in the novel and is caught by Edith stringing a rope in the attic. Ultimately, this is not how her mother dies, but this moment in the plot is a notable content flag.

Is It Night or Day? offers readers a unique view into the effects of the war on German and Jewish people. I very much enjoyed reading this novel and recommend it for both educational and personal uses. My copy of the book includes bonus material, including a discussion guide and a real story of how Edith and another emigrant child are reunited after the novel was published.

4 Stars