Make a Little Wave
Swim with the current, or go against the flow?
Savannah has been feeling out of place ever since her family moved to Sandy Dune, Florida. She finds it easier to make friends with animals than people. Plus, everyone in Sandy Dune seems to love spending time in the ocean, and Sav never feels comfortable leaving the shore.
When her classmate Tanner invites her to the opening of his family’s restaurant, Sav’s excited—until she’s served a bowl of shark fin soup. Sav has always been scared of sharks, but she’s horrified that they’re inhumanely killed for this expensive delicacy. Especially as she learns more about these surprisingly gentle creatures and discovers that some shark species are being hunted to the point of endangerment. Tanner’s family brushes off her concerns, but Sav resolves to stop them from serving the soup.
To do that, she’ll have to learn how to use her voice and face her biggest fears.
| Format | Your Price | Add |
|---|---|---|
|
978-1-7284-9322-0
|
$14.99 | |
|
979-8-7656-3040-2
|
$24.99 |
| Interest Level | Grade 6 - Grade 8 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 6 |
| Category | Diverse Books: #OwnVoices, Diverse Books: Physical Disability & Illness, Diversity, SEL: B Self-Management, SEL: C Social Awareness, SEL: D Relationship Skills, SEL: E Responsible Decision-Making, Social Emotional Learning |
| Copyright | 2024 |
| Publisher | Lerner Publishing Group |
| Imprint | Carolrhoda Books ® |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 360 |
| Publication Date | 2024-10-01 |
Author: Kerry O'Malley Cerra
Kerry O’Malley Cerra is an award-winning author of middle grade books. Her first novel, Just a Drop of Water, landed on five state reading lists, won the Crystal Kite Award, a Florida Book Award, and was named to VOYA’s Top Shelf Fiction list for 2014. Her second novel, Hear Me, is out now. Stay tuned for her forthcoming books, Make a Little Wave, (Oct. 1, 2024 from Carolrhoda Books, Lerner Publishing) and a nonfiction picture book, The Gallaudet Eleven: The Story of NASA’s Deaf Bioastronauts (March 2026 from Little, Brown BFYR). Kerry’s work has received praise from The New York Times, Kirkus, School Library Journal, Booklist, VOYA, and the Horn Book Guide calling her stories moving, perceptive, well-developed, and woven with an expert hand. Kerry, a former high school media specialist and social studies teacher, lives in South Florida with her husband and two poorly behaved rescue dogs.
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Make a Little Wave
Swim with the current, or go against the flow? Savannah has been feeling out of place ever since her family moved to Sandy Dune, Florida. She finds it easier to make friends with animals than people. Plus, everyone in Sandy Dune seems to love spending time in the View available downloads →
Make a Little Wave: An Interview with Author Kerry O’Malley Cerra
Moving to a new house, making new friends, and speaking up for sharks is always hard, but Savannah gives it her best shot in Make a Little Wave. When she discovers her new friend’s family is involved in inhumanely killing endangered sharks for profit, she forces herself out of her… View →
Happy Book Birthday: October New Releases
Trick or treat! Just kidding, these are just treats. Check out the October new releases from Lerner. New in Board Books Hanukkah Hippity-Hop by Barbara Kimmel and illustrated by Ana Zurita Interest Level: PreK It’s time to celebrate—and get your wiggles out—by doing the Hanukkah… View →
Awards
- Green Earth Book Award Longlist
- Florida Book Award Silver Medalist
Reviews
Booklist
“This realistic portrayal of a kid who goes full steam ahead with her passion is a relatable, engaging, if sometimes frustrating, read that captures the hard-headedness of an eighth grader and provides nuance and growth for the burgeoning activist.”—Booklist
Publishers Weekly
“Via empathetic depictions of her actions—through which Sav makes more than a little wave—O’Malley Cerra (Just a Drop of Water) illustrates how diplomacy and team-building get the job done.”—Publishers Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
“A conservation tale with the ability to empower readers.”—Kirkus Reviews
Fred Koehler
“Sav sets out to change the world like most of us—clumsily and with many a cringeworthy caper. But it’s her willingness to grow that makes her the kind of heroine who genuinely makes a difference. I greatly enjoyed this read.”—Fred Koehler, author of Garbage Island
Jess Redman
“A heartfelt and powerful exploration of one girl’s journey to find not just her voice but a way to be heard. I loved Sav’s passion, her flaws, and her heart as she spoke for the sharks and inspired her community.”—Jess Redman, author of The Adventure Is Now
Lily Williams
“A must-read for any young shark enthusiasts—or indeed anyone who cares about protecting wildlife.”—Lily Williams, coauthor of Go With the Flow and Look on the Bright Side