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The Secret of the Catapus
Ages 8-12
A Seal. A Circle of Friends. A Special Kind of Magic.
Twelve-year-old Ellie moves to her grandmother’s Maine homestead, uncovering extraordinary secrets about her family, community, and nature. In this small coastal town, she finds her voice as a young climate activist, aided by a group of new friends, a mysterious seal, and her grandmother’s spirit. Set on the wild Maine coast, The Secret of the Catapus is a coming-of-age tale blending environmental urgency with heartfelt storytelling, humor, and magical realism.
If you’re looking for middle-grade books about climate change, children’s books set on the Maine coast, or novels that blend friendship, marine life, and environmental themes—The Secret of the Catapus is your next must-read.
Ideal for fans of Hoot, The Last Bear, and Willa of the Wood,The Secret of the Catapus invites young readers to love fiercely, act boldly, and protect the natural world—starting right where they are.
A Seal. A Circle of Friends. A Special Kind of Magic.
Twelve-year-old Ellie moves to her grandmother’s Maine homestead, uncovering extraordinary secrets about her family, community, and nature. In this small coastal town, she finds her voice as a young climate activist, aided by a group of new friends, a mysterious seal, and her grandmother’s spirit. Set on the wild Maine coast, The Secret of the Catapus is a coming-of-age tale blending environmental urgency with heartfelt storytelling, humor, and magical realism.
If you’re looking for middle-grade books about climate change, children’s books set on the Maine coast, or novels that blend friendship, marine life, and environmental themes—The Secret of the Catapus is your next must-read.
Ideal for fans of Hoot, The Last Bear, and Willa of the Wood,The Secret of the Catapus invites young readers to love fiercely, act boldly, and protect the natural world—starting right where they are.
202 pages, ebook
Published October 2, 2025
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 2, 2025
Ellie moves to a small town in coastal Maine after her parents split — the same place where her late grandma used to live. There she meets new friends among neighbors and classmates, but she is unpleasantly surprised to discover that people in the town don't generally share her understanding of the climate crisis, despite being dependent on the bay’s fishery and the climate-change-induced changes already visible in it. So she takes it upon herself to continue the awareness-raising work that her grandma had been doing for decades, making unexpected alliances along the way.
I generally liked the story. The entire storyline with Catapus (the seal) is adorable, though admittedly not ultimately necessary for everything else to still work. What it adds — along with all the other episodes where Ellie and her friends enjoy the bay’s nature and observe various species of birds and mammals—is that climate change is no longer an abstract thing to worry about theoretically but something that can impact very concrete elements of the inhabited and loved environment.
At times, the dialogues between characters read a bit like they are rehashing pieces of information from elsewhere that the author wants to tell the reader about. I am not sure why that feels unnatural — people in real life actually do "lecture" on topics they are passionate about all the time. But somehow we expect a children’s book to abandon realism for more conventional dialogue in this regard. One thing that I found an especially valuable message for readers who might relate to the experience of people around them not sharing their climate anxiety is the idea that there are people everywhere at different stages of readiness to receive new information on a specific topic, and it is important to address segments of the "target audience" with the right level of readiness and the right message, rather than simply "put the information out there" and be surprised that people don’t start acting on it.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with the eARC through NetGalley. The opinion above is entirely my own.
I generally liked the story. The entire storyline with Catapus (the seal) is adorable, though admittedly not ultimately necessary for everything else to still work. What it adds — along with all the other episodes where Ellie and her friends enjoy the bay’s nature and observe various species of birds and mammals—is that climate change is no longer an abstract thing to worry about theoretically but something that can impact very concrete elements of the inhabited and loved environment.
At times, the dialogues between characters read a bit like they are rehashing pieces of information from elsewhere that the author wants to tell the reader about. I am not sure why that feels unnatural — people in real life actually do "lecture" on topics they are passionate about all the time. But somehow we expect a children’s book to abandon realism for more conventional dialogue in this regard. One thing that I found an especially valuable message for readers who might relate to the experience of people around them not sharing their climate anxiety is the idea that there are people everywhere at different stages of readiness to receive new information on a specific topic, and it is important to address segments of the "target audience" with the right level of readiness and the right message, rather than simply "put the information out there" and be surprised that people don’t start acting on it.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with the eARC through NetGalley. The opinion above is entirely my own.
September 13, 2025
I loved the premise of this and wanted to like it so badly. A message relevant to the climate crisis for middle grade but also a magical realism vibe with a seal? SOLD.
The passages describing the natural life of Maine? Gorgeous, almost poetic at times. The times where the narrative focuses on the seal’s observations? Such a cool thing to include and also they have some genuinely funny lines. These two elements are the writing at its very best.
The downside for me was the amount of “talking at me” done to the audience. Lots of info dumping about actual climate change well trying to poorly disguise it a narrative. While the message is important, sometimes the dialogue read like a cheesy infomercial. There were a good amount of times where I rolled my eyes because it had the vibe of a “Very Special Episode”™️ from a 90s show.
Plus, there’s some plot concepts that were breezed past that I would’ve liked to see developed further l. The “Dan” being called “Dad” moment, for example, is addressed and resolved so early in the novel, I feel happened so easily that it feels like an irrelevant detail. Alternatively, it reads like when you are collecting random sidequests.
Overall, I think kids super into nature (esp marine life) and/or who have an interest climate justice really will enjoy this. For most others (including me), this just okay.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing my copy. All opinions are my own.
The passages describing the natural life of Maine? Gorgeous, almost poetic at times. The times where the narrative focuses on the seal’s observations? Such a cool thing to include and also they have some genuinely funny lines. These two elements are the writing at its very best.
The downside for me was the amount of “talking at me” done to the audience. Lots of info dumping about actual climate change well trying to poorly disguise it a narrative. While the message is important, sometimes the dialogue read like a cheesy infomercial. There were a good amount of times where I rolled my eyes because it had the vibe of a “Very Special Episode”™️ from a 90s show.
Plus, there’s some plot concepts that were breezed past that I would’ve liked to see developed further l. The “Dan” being called “Dad” moment, for example, is addressed and resolved so early in the novel, I feel happened so easily that it feels like an irrelevant detail. Alternatively, it reads like when you are collecting random sidequests.
Overall, I think kids super into nature (esp marine life) and/or who have an interest climate justice really will enjoy this. For most others (including me), this just okay.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing my copy. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really expected to love this but it fell short in a few areas for me.
I think it was trying to do too many things at once.
1. Climate change: I loved this! But it tended to feel info dumpy at times and wish it was done in a different way.
2. Relationship to parents: why call them by their first names and then randomly start calling him dad? Why was mom a character if we aren’t fully fleshing her out.
3. Friendships: her friends from school were so cute! But I feel like we didn’t know enough about them or get a lot out of their relationships.
4. Community: I wish we spent more time exploring the community members and how they helped one another.
5. The scientific facts were so cool and I loved when they came from community members that I could see actually happening.
6. The seal: I LOVED THE PERSPECTIVE SHIFTS!! But it did feel random at times
7. The bullies/random mean teacher?? I feel like we didn’t need them.
I think this book was trying to be a couple different things which made it hard for me to connect to it.
I liked all the pieces of this book but they weren’t put together in my favorite way and I struggled.
Kids who care about the environment and want to learn more will get some good info out of this book.
I really expected to love this but it fell short in a few areas for me.
I think it was trying to do too many things at once.
1. Climate change: I loved this! But it tended to feel info dumpy at times and wish it was done in a different way.
2. Relationship to parents: why call them by their first names and then randomly start calling him dad? Why was mom a character if we aren’t fully fleshing her out.
3. Friendships: her friends from school were so cute! But I feel like we didn’t know enough about them or get a lot out of their relationships.
4. Community: I wish we spent more time exploring the community members and how they helped one another.
5. The scientific facts were so cool and I loved when they came from community members that I could see actually happening.
6. The seal: I LOVED THE PERSPECTIVE SHIFTS!! But it did feel random at times
7. The bullies/random mean teacher?? I feel like we didn’t need them.
I think this book was trying to be a couple different things which made it hard for me to connect to it.
I liked all the pieces of this book but they weren’t put together in my favorite way and I struggled.
Kids who care about the environment and want to learn more will get some good info out of this book.
September 28, 2025
First of all, thank you NetGalley for this ARC copy! It is always exciting to be able to read new releases to recommend to our patrons at our local library through our outreach program.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I think it did a great job introducing such an important topic like climate change to a younger audience. Although, even as an adult, the climate information did occasionally feel like information overload/soapbox speech. With that said, they give the information in a very digestible way for children. The book also mentions heavy subjects such as divorcing parents and grieving a loved one. Which is especially relatable to all ages and can be a healing experience to read about.
Ellie's perspective of all of this is what makes it even more enjoyable. It comes from a naive and excited point of view. She is passionate and excitable about nature. She connects with her Grams and keeps her lore alive through continuing her efforts. It also brings her closer to her dad when going through a tough time. I would have enjoyed the book more and been more invested if it had focused more on Ellie's shoreside adventures with her friends. If the small town vibe, budding friendships, exploring, and fun neighbor characters had been the main focus with a strong subplot of climate change, it would be a knockout! The characters all felt a bit surface level and I didn't find myself truly connecting with them (but that could also be the age range).
Overall, it was a good read and I will recommend it to any young readers interested in climate change!
#NetGalley #NewRelease #MiddleGrade
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I think it did a great job introducing such an important topic like climate change to a younger audience. Although, even as an adult, the climate information did occasionally feel like information overload/soapbox speech. With that said, they give the information in a very digestible way for children. The book also mentions heavy subjects such as divorcing parents and grieving a loved one. Which is especially relatable to all ages and can be a healing experience to read about.
Ellie's perspective of all of this is what makes it even more enjoyable. It comes from a naive and excited point of view. She is passionate and excitable about nature. She connects with her Grams and keeps her lore alive through continuing her efforts. It also brings her closer to her dad when going through a tough time. I would have enjoyed the book more and been more invested if it had focused more on Ellie's shoreside adventures with her friends. If the small town vibe, budding friendships, exploring, and fun neighbor characters had been the main focus with a strong subplot of climate change, it would be a knockout! The characters all felt a bit surface level and I didn't find myself truly connecting with them (but that could also be the age range).
Overall, it was a good read and I will recommend it to any young readers interested in climate change!
#NetGalley #NewRelease #MiddleGrade
September 1, 2025
This book felt like reading a movie in the best way possible. The author does an amazing job describing the scenery, I felt like I was there with them. It has so much heart, not just about climate change but about family, grandparents, imagination, animals, and friendship.
This story follows Ellie, a thirteen year old moving into her grandmothers old house and town. Meeting new people and even a curious seal.
Ellie is a very head strong but compassionate person, her growth shines through her interactions with the towns people. I will say she and the other kids in the book are supposed to be 13/7th graders but it comes off more like 5th-6th. I loved her interactions with Freddy, Judy, Joe, her dad, and her remembrance of her grandma. I wish we got more of her dad and mom to understand more of their family dynamic, but what was shown was enough and I found it very relatable for when I was that age and younger.
The plot itself is cozy and heartwarming, if a bit lecturey when it comes to the climate change bits, it feels like your sitting in a classroom at times but it’s an important topic and it’s a nice first step for children to start learning about it. If someone is passionate about animals, nature, or even just an inkling of curiosity, they are sure to love this
This story follows Ellie, a thirteen year old moving into her grandmothers old house and town. Meeting new people and even a curious seal.
Ellie is a very head strong but compassionate person, her growth shines through her interactions with the towns people. I will say she and the other kids in the book are supposed to be 13/7th graders but it comes off more like 5th-6th. I loved her interactions with Freddy, Judy, Joe, her dad, and her remembrance of her grandma. I wish we got more of her dad and mom to understand more of their family dynamic, but what was shown was enough and I found it very relatable for when I was that age and younger.
The plot itself is cozy and heartwarming, if a bit lecturey when it comes to the climate change bits, it feels like your sitting in a classroom at times but it’s an important topic and it’s a nice first step for children to start learning about it. If someone is passionate about animals, nature, or even just an inkling of curiosity, they are sure to love this
September 16, 2025
Review of “The Secret of the Catapus” by Robin Elsbeth Jenkins. This moving novel blends equal parts heartfelt activism, magical realism, and coming of age. From the moment of meeting Ellie, uprooted and facing change, the author pulls us into a Maine coastline that breathes. The salt air, seabirds, and hidden rhythms of the tides are not just a backdrop, but a character in their own right. Jenkins has a gift for place: the natural world here is vivid, alive, and intimate. Landing hardest is the emotional truth. Ellie’s voice is full of passion and uncertainty, and she is surrounded by people—new friends, her grandmother, the quirky edges of the town—who care deeply, argue, and sometimes disappoint. Ellie’s growth into her role as a young climate activist is inspiring. The stakes feel real. “The Secret of the Catapus” blends friendship, family, and magical realism with a powerful call to care for the natural world. Ellie’s journey is both inspiring and relatable, capturing the uncertainty of growing up while discovering her own voice as a young activist. The Maine coast comes alive on the page, and threads of mystery and wonder make this story. It is a luminous book full of heart, hope, and purpose—one I highly recommend.
September 27, 2025
First I would like to thank NetGalley , the publisher and the author for the advanced copy of this book.
Overall this book was good to me but personally left a little to be desired. I wanted so badly to LOVE it based on the topics but I needed just a little more.
I love that we are bringing hard hitting topics into youth literature more often ! This book hit on divorcing parents, grief and climate change from a child’s perspective . Personally I would have love to have seen a little bit more refinement on the climate change issues as a main plot line. While we get lots of information on climate change statistics , we don’t see a lot of examples of how the average citizen or child can go about making change. Admittedly, conversation is the first step but I would love to have seen a more detailed discussion on ways to counteract change .
In terms of characters , everyone is fairly likable but a little more depth for the characters especially the MC would have been great. I loved that the seal had such personality and the narrative shifts were great . I feel like if we had more proactive movement in the story in the end to round out the work kids can do this would have gained a star for me.
Great introduction for kids but left a little to be desired .
Overall this book was good to me but personally left a little to be desired. I wanted so badly to LOVE it based on the topics but I needed just a little more.
I love that we are bringing hard hitting topics into youth literature more often ! This book hit on divorcing parents, grief and climate change from a child’s perspective . Personally I would have love to have seen a little bit more refinement on the climate change issues as a main plot line. While we get lots of information on climate change statistics , we don’t see a lot of examples of how the average citizen or child can go about making change. Admittedly, conversation is the first step but I would love to have seen a more detailed discussion on ways to counteract change .
In terms of characters , everyone is fairly likable but a little more depth for the characters especially the MC would have been great. I loved that the seal had such personality and the narrative shifts were great . I feel like if we had more proactive movement in the story in the end to round out the work kids can do this would have gained a star for me.
Great introduction for kids but left a little to be desired .
August 12, 2025
Thank you NetGalley, 12 Willows Press, and Jenkins for the ARC of The Secret of the Catapus.
The novel focuses on the impact of climate change, specifically focusing on coastal Maine. Protagonist Ellie moves to a community where climate change isn't a "belief," and she must fight against a community to get her message out - all while her parents are separating and she's acclimating to a new home.
I found this novel was powerful for middle school students when it came to conflict, advocacy, and personal growth. My favorite line, which I think would resonate well with students in the publisher's age range (10-14) ((and well, all age groups)), was, "'I'm guessing you were talking at Mister Jackson, not to him or with him.'" This novel was a great for science-based education purposes, but also SEL and navigating conversations with those who disagree.
The Secret of the Catapus overall was a slow start, but once the conflict kicked off and Ellie found herself in the thick of it, I thought the plot was engaging, thoughtful, and informative. I'll definitely be picking up a copy for my classroom library once it's published!
The novel focuses on the impact of climate change, specifically focusing on coastal Maine. Protagonist Ellie moves to a community where climate change isn't a "belief," and she must fight against a community to get her message out - all while her parents are separating and she's acclimating to a new home.
I found this novel was powerful for middle school students when it came to conflict, advocacy, and personal growth. My favorite line, which I think would resonate well with students in the publisher's age range (10-14) ((and well, all age groups)), was, "'I'm guessing you were talking at Mister Jackson, not to him or with him.'" This novel was a great for science-based education purposes, but also SEL and navigating conversations with those who disagree.
The Secret of the Catapus overall was a slow start, but once the conflict kicked off and Ellie found herself in the thick of it, I thought the plot was engaging, thoughtful, and informative. I'll definitely be picking up a copy for my classroom library once it's published!
October 24, 2025
Wow, this one def hit me in the feels.
Ellie moves to Maine with her dad after her parents split. While staying there, she learns soooo much about marine life that she didn’t know about before. She also learns more about her Gram & their family history as well.
Ellie learns & teaches us about climate change in a way that I feel like is great for all ages, including adults. Although some points in the book I didn’t agree with (that’s neither here nor there though), I feel like it was written quite well.
I do feel like there was quite a bit of information overlaid & for a child reading this, they may get overwhelmed or not understand certain parts of the story. I also didn’t understand why Ellie called her parents by their names?? That was weird lol but okay.
And of course the seal, Catapus. Mister Catapus. The Catapus. It was so sweet and so endearing & I really loved how the ending just wrapped everything up so well.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher & the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review! :)
Ellie moves to Maine with her dad after her parents split. While staying there, she learns soooo much about marine life that she didn’t know about before. She also learns more about her Gram & their family history as well.
Ellie learns & teaches us about climate change in a way that I feel like is great for all ages, including adults. Although some points in the book I didn’t agree with (that’s neither here nor there though), I feel like it was written quite well.
I do feel like there was quite a bit of information overlaid & for a child reading this, they may get overwhelmed or not understand certain parts of the story. I also didn’t understand why Ellie called her parents by their names?? That was weird lol but okay.
And of course the seal, Catapus. Mister Catapus. The Catapus. It was so sweet and so endearing & I really loved how the ending just wrapped everything up so well.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher & the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review! :)
August 17, 2025
The plot of this book is lovely and the themes of grief are so valuable for kids to learn! I enjoyed that aspect of this story and it is written very eloquently. I enjoyed how atmospheric it felt. While reading to my kids they pointed out several times that they felt like they relate to the main character in some sort of way. I also found my younger self connecting with Ellie.
I do think that there is too much detail added into the writing. I read a few chapters aloud to my kiddos and the amount of details were very overwhelming and made it hard to stay engaged in the story. Simple things were over described. It took me out of the story several times. It felt like we were being told the story rather than enjoyed the ebb and flow of it.
Thank you for your hard-work in writing this novel!
I do think that there is too much detail added into the writing. I read a few chapters aloud to my kiddos and the amount of details were very overwhelming and made it hard to stay engaged in the story. Simple things were over described. It took me out of the story several times. It felt like we were being told the story rather than enjoyed the ebb and flow of it.
Thank you for your hard-work in writing this novel!
October 29, 2025
I received an ARC from NetGalley. I had thought this would involve the catapus a bit more or in a different way, which may be my fault for not recalling the blurb. The book was primarily a discussion of climate change. I did enjoy the discussion of tactics on how to address climate change with people who may not be open, but it was also a bit over the top, overshadowing the rest of the story, like Ellie’s parents going through a separation and her way of adjusting to it. Overall, it was a good book and I enjoyed the authors note at the end with additional information.
December 9, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. Ellie is sent to life with her father in Maine and learns about the wildlife along with lobstering and crabbing. She is passionate about climate change and I like how she stands by her beliefs even if it’s not a popular opinion.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews