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How to Save a Dolphin
When a dolphin is stranded and trapped in a creek, it's up to a young girl to save the dolphin and get her back to sea -- before a looming hurricane strikes!
When twelve-year-old Dany goes out to sea with her fisherman dad, she expects it to be a normal fishing trip. After all, she's helped her dad on the boat loads of times, and this is meant to be a quick trip. But when a sea squall forms out of nowhere, Dany is suddenly knocked overboard, and even her life vest isn't enough to protect her.
That's when Dany spots something in the water -- a gray doral fin heading straight for her! Mercifully, a young bottlenose dolphin has come to her rescue. As the dolphin carries Dany to shore, Dany feels a sense of comfort wash over her, as if the dolphin is telling her everything will be alright . . . until the dolphin finds itself stuck too far inland in a creek!
To make matters worse, the weather is getting harsher, and a hurricane is on its way. Now it's up to Dany to return the dolphin's favor and get her back to sea. Will Dany be able to save her new friend before it's too late?
When twelve-year-old Dany goes out to sea with her fisherman dad, she expects it to be a normal fishing trip. After all, she's helped her dad on the boat loads of times, and this is meant to be a quick trip. But when a sea squall forms out of nowhere, Dany is suddenly knocked overboard, and even her life vest isn't enough to protect her.
That's when Dany spots something in the water -- a gray doral fin heading straight for her! Mercifully, a young bottlenose dolphin has come to her rescue. As the dolphin carries Dany to shore, Dany feels a sense of comfort wash over her, as if the dolphin is telling her everything will be alright . . . until the dolphin finds itself stuck too far inland in a creek!
To make matters worse, the weather is getting harsher, and a hurricane is on its way. Now it's up to Dany to return the dolphin's favor and get her back to sea. Will Dany be able to save her new friend before it's too late?
208 pages, Paperback
Published April 7, 2026
About the author
Michelle Schusterman
24 books163 followersMichelle Schusterman is the alleged author of less than one hundred books for kids and teens, most of which are not published under a secret pseudonym, and all of which include various characters. She lives on a steamboat with her pet crawfish, unless she's lying, in which case she lives among the spiders beneath the stage at the Metropolitan Opera, unless that's another lie, in which case she lives in an apartment in Queens with her chocolate lab, who can talk.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Dany lives in Galveston, Texas, with her mother, who is an elementary school principal, her father who fishes, and her high achieving siblings Ethan, Hazel, and Jackson. Dany's best friend Courtney has just moved to Oklahoma City, so she is at a loss as she starts 7th grade, since she has no one in whom to confide or to do to Splash World with. As the beginning of school approaches, there is a hurricane forming in the area, but the family feels prepared. Dany and her father even go out in his boat. The weather gets a little choppy, and Dany falls overboard. She has on her life jacket and observes good protocols, but still ends up far from her father. She had been observing a pod of dolphins, and was particularly intrigued by one that stood out because of an unusually blue hue. "Blue" comes up to her, and seems to "talk" to her. She grabs onto the animal's dorsal fin, and he takes her six miles through the bayou to land. She stumbles ashore and goes to the nearest house, where Eleanor Belrose answers the door. Eleanor's family help her and contact her mother and father. Everyone is astonished by her tale, and Ms. Belrose, who is the news director at KPZY, arranged for Sara to be interviewed. As the threat of Hurricane Kai nears, Sara is worried that Blue is stranded in the bayou. She emails the Sealife Support rescue organization, and Chrissie Wake, who runs the organization, show up. Blue is safe for the time being, since the bayou is salty enough for him, but the storm puts a crimp in plans to get him back to his pod. When the hurricane hits, the family is safe, although the father's boat ends up blocking the front door! Blue can't be found, which worries Sara, but he eventually shows up at Splash World. With the help of Ms. Wake and her new friend Eleanor, Sara devises and implements a plan to rescue Blue and return him to the open sea.
Strengths: If I were to construct a book that I could hand to just about any student who wanted an exciting story, it would be this. There is a great and supportive family, friend drama, lots of suspense, excitement and adventure, and an interest and purpose for our main character. It is easy to read, moves quickly, and was blissfully enjoyable. There were sad moments, but they didn't make the story soggy and morose. Dany has some realistic struggles with her siblings, but they come through in the end and love each other. No wonder Schusterman has written so many books! She's so good at it. The upbeat nature of this was great, but there was enough realistic tragedy to please adults who can't stand a happy story.
I try to keep the snark out of my reviews, but when I read a really excellent, solid title and realize it is only available from the publisher in paperback, it's confusing and irritating!
Weaknesses: Like seemingly all of the best Scholastic titles, like Amar Shah's Hoop Con series, this is available only in paperback. I can only imagine this is so that they can sell copies at the book fairs, but considering the titles that have hardback releases... I just don't understand how publishing works, and how editors decide what will sell. I know that publishers are just trying to survive, but maybe they need to do some more market research and demographic surveys with actual middle grade readers?
What I really think: This is a fantastic choice for readers who like outdoor survival adventures like Philbrick's Wild Wave, Watt Key's Deep Water, or this author's other animal titles like Some Bunny to Love or the Kat Sinclair Files. I will purchase this if Follett offers it in a prebind.
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
Dany lives in Galveston, Texas, with her mother, who is an elementary school principal, her father who fishes, and her high achieving siblings Ethan, Hazel, and Jackson. Dany's best friend Courtney has just moved to Oklahoma City, so she is at a loss as she starts 7th grade, since she has no one in whom to confide or to do to Splash World with. As the beginning of school approaches, there is a hurricane forming in the area, but the family feels prepared. Dany and her father even go out in his boat. The weather gets a little choppy, and Dany falls overboard. She has on her life jacket and observes good protocols, but still ends up far from her father. She had been observing a pod of dolphins, and was particularly intrigued by one that stood out because of an unusually blue hue. "Blue" comes up to her, and seems to "talk" to her. She grabs onto the animal's dorsal fin, and he takes her six miles through the bayou to land. She stumbles ashore and goes to the nearest house, where Eleanor Belrose answers the door. Eleanor's family help her and contact her mother and father. Everyone is astonished by her tale, and Ms. Belrose, who is the news director at KPZY, arranged for Sara to be interviewed. As the threat of Hurricane Kai nears, Sara is worried that Blue is stranded in the bayou. She emails the Sealife Support rescue organization, and Chrissie Wake, who runs the organization, show up. Blue is safe for the time being, since the bayou is salty enough for him, but the storm puts a crimp in plans to get him back to his pod. When the hurricane hits, the family is safe, although the father's boat ends up blocking the front door! Blue can't be found, which worries Sara, but he eventually shows up at Splash World. With the help of Ms. Wake and her new friend Eleanor, Sara devises and implements a plan to rescue Blue and return him to the open sea.
Strengths: If I were to construct a book that I could hand to just about any student who wanted an exciting story, it would be this. There is a great and supportive family, friend drama, lots of suspense, excitement and adventure, and an interest and purpose for our main character. It is easy to read, moves quickly, and was blissfully enjoyable. There were sad moments, but they didn't make the story soggy and morose. Dany has some realistic struggles with her siblings, but they come through in the end and love each other. No wonder Schusterman has written so many books! She's so good at it. The upbeat nature of this was great, but there was enough realistic tragedy to please adults who can't stand a happy story.
I try to keep the snark out of my reviews, but when I read a really excellent, solid title and realize it is only available from the publisher in paperback, it's confusing and irritating!
Weaknesses: Like seemingly all of the best Scholastic titles, like Amar Shah's Hoop Con series, this is available only in paperback. I can only imagine this is so that they can sell copies at the book fairs, but considering the titles that have hardback releases... I just don't understand how publishing works, and how editors decide what will sell. I know that publishers are just trying to survive, but maybe they need to do some more market research and demographic surveys with actual middle grade readers?
What I really think: This is a fantastic choice for readers who like outdoor survival adventures like Philbrick's Wild Wave, Watt Key's Deep Water, or this author's other animal titles like Some Bunny to Love or the Kat Sinclair Files. I will purchase this if Follett offers it in a prebind.
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
June 24, 2026
5 stars. Galveston - sure to appeal to Texas readers
Each chapter starts with weather bulletin about approaching hurricane Kai
Hard to be the sibling with no great talent like the others, also best friend moved away and already has new best friends in Oklahoma
But if I had to choose between being scared and doing nothing, I’d choose scared, every time
Why weren’t they told to evacuate before the storm?
Boarded up the house - no hurricane shutters?
Love how Dany grows and finds her talent and a new friend.
Hurricane descriptions are tense, as well as the search and rescue of Blue. Was her connection to him hard to believe? Maybe, but it was so heartwarming!
Excellent MG adventure!
Each chapter starts with weather bulletin about approaching hurricane Kai
Hard to be the sibling with no great talent like the others, also best friend moved away and already has new best friends in Oklahoma
But if I had to choose between being scared and doing nothing, I’d choose scared, every time
Why weren’t they told to evacuate before the storm?
Boarded up the house - no hurricane shutters?
Love how Dany grows and finds her talent and a new friend.
Hurricane descriptions are tense, as well as the search and rescue of Blue. Was her connection to him hard to believe? Maybe, but it was so heartwarming!
Excellent MG adventure!
May 17, 2026
4.75 ⭐️
Super cute book. Would recommend for children who enjoy I survived. As a native Floridian, I could connect with some of the hurricane prep (missing some)
I also enjoyed how she captured the characters emotions- jealous when friend moves and makes new friends, feeling of inadequacy with talented siblings.
Of course favorite character was Blue!
Super cute book. Would recommend for children who enjoy I survived. As a native Floridian, I could connect with some of the hurricane prep (missing some)
I also enjoyed how she captured the characters emotions- jealous when friend moves and makes new friends, feeling of inadequacy with talented siblings.
Of course favorite character was Blue!
June 2, 2026
Sweetest and super cutest book ever. The way blue helped save Dany and how Dany helped save blue show a huge un breakable bond between a human and a dolphin. Definitely recommend reading this book!!!
June 27, 2026
Strong female character who finds her voice when a dolphin rescues her and she has to rescue him back. Plenty of drama as a hurricane nears the coast of Galveston. Strong family ties and the insecurities of making new friends are also a large part of the story.
June 29, 2026
4.5 stars
A beautiful story about a bond between a young girl and a baby dolphin. In spite of a furious Galveston hurricane, she and the community work together to help the dolphin get back to his pod.
Now I want to take a course in marine biology!
A beautiful story about a bond between a young girl and a baby dolphin. In spite of a furious Galveston hurricane, she and the community work together to help the dolphin get back to his pod.
Now I want to take a course in marine biology!
July 22, 2026
This was a great dolphin rescue and storm survival story, but also about friendship and change for middle schoolers. The family reminded me of the Vanderbeekers. Definitely appropriate for the earliest readers up through middle school.
July 9, 2026
I liked this one and I think my students who love books about animals will love this.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews