Oil-Soaked Wings

An oil spill in the ocean means destruction for both animals and their habitats—and lots of work for Seaside Sanctuary, where Elsa Roth’s parents work. When pelicans are gravely hurt in the spill and brought into the sanctuary, Elsa and her friends are given important roles in caring for the birds. But the animals can’t be released until their habitat is clean—and the company responsible for the spill doesn’t seem interested in stepping up. Can Elsa and her friends spearhead the cleanup and save the pelicans? 

When Elsa and her best friend Olivia discover an oil spill in their community, they immediately jump in and help the pelicans that have been covered in oil. The girls quickly learn how to properly care for the birds without treating them like pets. The girls learn that “it’s very important the pelicans don’t start associating humans with food. We don’t want them to get comfortable with us.” Despite this, Elsa and Olivia become attached to a pelican, whom they name Pellie. When Pellie dies, the girls are devastated, but they continue to help in the rescue efforts. 

Oil-Soaked Wings teaches readers how oil spills can destroy an ecosystem. “The oil would kill fish and crab and coral and seaweed and dolphins and seals and birds. And it would stay and stay until someone cleaned it up, which was hard—and expensive—to do.” When the company responsible for the oil spill refuses to help clean it up, Elsa and Olivia organize a group of kids to clean the beach. Even though Elsa and Olivia are just kids, Elsa’s dad encourages them by saying, “Some people think that because you’re kids, you can’t produce any kind of change. But that’s not right. Kids can have a huge influence on real-world problems. They just need to gather and organize.”  

Both Elsa and Olivia are likable protagonists who love animals and work alongside adult volunteers. They show readers how to organize a beach clean-up and how to use the media to get the word out. Because of their efforts, the company takes action to clean up the oil spill. The girls’ actions highlight the importance of using their voices to effect change.  

Oil-Soaked Wings is told in eight short chapters, and each begins with a black-and-white illustration. The end of the book includes a glossary, discussion questions, writing prompts, and additional information about pelicans. The books in the Seaside Sanctuary Series can be read in any order because each focuses on a new adventure. Oil-Soaked Wings is an engaging story that realistically depicts the harmful effects of an oil spill while also showing how Elsa and Olivia made a positive impact on their injured animals.  

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• None

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None 

Language  

• Darn is used once.

Supernatural 

• None

Spiritual Content  

• None