Manatee Summer

Peter and his best friend, Tommy, have a goal for their last summer before middle school: finish their Discovery Journal, a catalog of the wildlife around their Florida town. When they spot a manatee in a canal, Peter knows they’ve found something special—and when the manatee is injured by a boat, something to protect! 

As Peter joins the fight to save Florida manatees, he also finds himself caring for his ailing grandfather and facing an unwelcome surprise that jeopardizes his friendship with Tommy. Soon, Peter is adrift, navigating shifting tides and realizing that he has as much to discover about himself as he does about the world around him. 

Manatee Summer focuses on Peter, who is given “Official Caregiver Duty” for his grandfather, Papa, who has Alzheimer’s. Peter believes that if he is the best caregiver ever, Papa won’t have times of confusion. Caring for Papa is stressful and, at times, Peter doesn’t know what to do. However, he doesn’t reach out to others for help because he doesn’t want anyone to know about Papa’s condition. Many readers will relate to Peter, who longs for a summer of freedom and fun, but instead faces family expectations and secrets. Like most middle-grade readers, Peter is trying to understand his own conflicting emotions and find his place in the world.  

Peter’s family obligations often conflict with Peter’s friendship with his best friend Tommy. Tommy has been hiding a secret of his own, and when Peter discovers this, he pretends that Tommy doesn’t exist. Peter’s relationships with his friends and family interfere with his desire to help the manatees. With everything going on in his life, Peter often feels powerless because “even if I can make a difference, it won’t fix everything. . . manatees will still be at risk. Animals all over the world will still be at risk. The problem is too big—so big it might just swallow me whole.”  

Manatee Summer tackles the difficult subject of Alzheimer’s in a child-friendly way that helps readers understand Peter’s feelings. Peter’s relationship with Tommy and his budding interest in activism are woven into the story, allowing readers to see how interconnected all his relationships are. In the end, Peter learns the importance of using his voice in his personal life and in public. The story also highlights that people are imperfect and that we often need to view others with compassion and understanding. The book’s only problem is that there are a few instances in which Peter reflects on morality. For instance, Cassidy, a young woman who works at a manatee rescue center, lies, saying she doesn’t hate public speaking. Afterward, Peter thinks, “Maybe it’s okay [to lie] if morality is relative.” Adults may want to discuss morality with younger readers.  

Manatee Summer is an engaging story that highlights the importance of caring for the natural world. Peter struggles with the changes in his life and his fear of public speaking. With the help of his family, Peter shows personal growth and realizes that fighting for what matters—friendship, family, and the manatee—is truly important. And although he cannot fix every problem in the world, he can make a difference in the lives of the manatees and the people in his community. Readers who want to learn more about helping wildlife should also read the Vet Volunteers Series by Laurie Halse Anderson and the Rescuing Animals from Disasters Series by Stephen Person. 

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

• Peter is on “Official Caregiver Duty” for his grandfather, Papa, who has Alzheimer’s. Peter has to give Papa his pills “at three o’clock.”  
• During a hurricane, both Peter and Papa are injured and have to go to the hospital. The nurse gives them both painkillers. 
• At a restaurant, a woman sings about “heartache and whiskey.” 

Language  

• Jerk is used five times. For instance, Tommy tells Peter, “I don’t think you’re a jerk, though. You did act like a jerk. But that doesn’t mean you are a jerk.” 
• One of the neighbors tells her husband, “Be nice, Eddie, Lord save you.” 
• Oh God, God, and dear God are used as exclamations nine times.  
• While talking to an adult, Peter’s mom says, “I swear to God, if you say another word to me about my son. . . you are not going to like what happens next.” 
• An older man who is receiving physical therapy tells the therapist he “doesn’t need any dang help.” 

Supernatural 

• None 

Spiritual Content  

• When Peter goes to Emerald Springs State Park, he calls his mom to let her know they arrived. She replies, “Thank God.”