Augie Sweetwater and the Dolphin's Tale

by William J. Harrigan

Augie Sweetwater is a brilliant 11-year-old with a gift for inventing amazing things that always get him in hot water. Coop Cooperlick is the new kid in school, a 14-year-old with a passion for rock climbing and a knack for quick action. Mika Deerwood is a lovely 13-year-old Native American with aspirations of Olympic gold in fencing. Together, they are going to make history.

Genres: Young Adult, Childrens

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 3, 2020

Reviews

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Augie Sweetwater and the Dolphin's Tale was a pretty good book. The Dolphin in this book had a damaged tail and the boy Augie who was an inventor made a new tail for the dolphin. This part of the book reminded me some of the dolphin from a movie called Dolphin Tale that had a missing tail and also had new tail made for it like in this book. There was other adventures in this book along the way too and then the submarine chase at the end. I would give this book 3.7 stars.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be interesting even though it was geared for a preteen/young adult. All the characters were woven in to the story to add something helpful. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and recommend it to anyone…kids and adults alike.

[Victor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Augie Sweetwater and the Dolphin’s Tale is the first novel in a new and promising series of books beautifully written by former photojournalist and marine park consultant, turned talented children’s author, William Harrigan.

The story follows three teenagers, brilliant 11-year-old Augie Sweetwater, 14-year-old Coop Cooperlick, who is the new kid in town and hates bullies, and a lovely 13-year-old Native American named Mika Deerwood.

All of them are attending the prestigious Anacortes School, but in their free time, they will try to unravel the mystery of the disappearing families in the San Juan Islands of Washington state.

I absolutely loved each minute of this thrilling and at times even thought-provoking adventure. The writing is very good, the characters leap into sharp relief in the listener’s mind and the descriptions are vivid, colorful and full of life.

The narrator for Augie Sweetwater and the Dolphin’s Tale is Caleb Summers, a baker, dad, and husband with a true talent for voice acting. Caleb manages to bring to life all our young heroes with enthusiasm, emotion, and passion. He perfectly captures each character’s personality and relays it flawlessly to the listener.

Mr. Summers is the right choice for this audiobook and I hope to see him return for the next installment in this extremely promising series. He has the talent and skills, he switches with ease between different voices and characters, he reads and he acts in a very young and pleasant voice, expertly keeping the story going all the time at a comfortable pace for the audience.

Augie Sweetwater and the Dolphin’s Tale is a unique narrative experience, filled with characters that feel alive, meaningful conversations, and poignant examples of how we can make this world a better place for everyone. I loved it! I will miss our three heroes and their smart dolphin Leo, but I am satisfied knowing that the next adventure is just around the corner!

I highly recommend Augie Sweetwater and the Dolphin’s Tale to kids, young adults, and to those young at heart alike!

[Barbara Waloven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story that reminds me of the Nancy Drew books I read in early middle school. The story is told from the point of view of “the new kid in school”, in an often humorous tone. Three friends (the smart 11 year old, pretty 13 year old, and new kid 14 year old) put their heads together to solve one problem after another. Written in brilliantly entertaining prose.

[amanda frekot]

If any fencers want to read this, the just know that Mika fences foil.

The descriptions made me feel stupid.

Don't read if you fence saber like a normal person.

To be fair, I haven't read the book. The story could be fine but idk i cant read it if they fence foil.

If you do fence, foil, then
a) read Duel, an graphic novel about foil
b) quit and do saber

[Dorothy Minor · Rating 3 out of 5]

As mentioned before, I am fortunate to receive books from BookTrib, https://booktrib.com/, to review. Receiving the free book does not influence what I write about the book. I must be honest with myself about the books I read and review or lose my fellow readers’ trust.Augie Sweetwater and the Dolpin’s Tale by William J. Harrigan is a young adult novel, for ages 7-18, quite a range of readers. I am an eclectic reader and I read books for all ages. Readers who limit themselves to a particular age or genre do themselves no favors. Augie Sweetwater is a genius who at age 11 already has “a doctorate in nano-engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.” Mrs. Treneger, school principal, continues with more about Augie: “By the time he finally gets his high school diploma here at the Anacortes School, he’ll also have earned a second doctorate in biomedical engineering.” Then one could reasonably ask why Augie is still in the ninth grade. The principal explains that Augie’s mother, now deceased, had wanted him to be in school with his peers. Unfortunately, that causes problems because some of the bigger boys enjoy tormenting and bullying Augie who is not physically strong enough to push them away.Along comes Yardley Holdsworth Cooperlick, “call me Coop,” to Anacortes as a new student in town. At fourteen, Coop is a large boy “pushing six feet now and starting to fill out in the shoulders and chest.” When Coop sees Banner, a big boy, picking on Augie, Coop simply steps in breaks Banner’s nose which, of course, makes him drop Augie.For this rescue Coop gets a trip to the principal’s office. While he does receive a slight punishment, Mrs. Treneger, the principal, mainly calls Coop to the office to ask him to be watchful over Augie and befriend him. Coop agrees to do so and in turn makes a good friend who leads them both on adventures along with Mika Deerwood, a Lummi Indian who has long been Augie’s friend.Augie’s family is wealthy. Well, saying the family is wealthy is an understatement. Augie has a great deal of money at his disposal. Unfortunately, Augie’s father is in prison for murdering Augie’s mother. And Augie’s father has hidden away five million dollars which he uses to bribe people on the outside to try to kidnap Augie and hold him for ransom. Fortunately, Augie with his great inventions has created a number of safeguards to keep his father from realizing his wishes.Readers learn about many of Augie’s inventions. Some of the descriptions left me in the dark, to be honest. However, he uses the inventions for good. One of the best is a bullet-proof shirt which Augie wears and then gives Coop several of the shirts as well. Harrigan has created an interesting storyline in that Coop has four and half fathers/stepfathers. His father, dad #1, is a police detective. The other stepfathers have various talents which come in handy as Augie, Coop, and Mika get into scrapes. The best part about the fathers is that Coop gets along with all of them including the one who will soon become father #5. The one thing we don’t learn is why Coop’s mother has such a string of husbands and ex-husbands.

Augie, Coop, and Mika solve several problems over the course of their adventures. In the last line of the book, Coop speaks: “Oh, boy, here we go again.” Thus readers know to expect a sequel to the trio’s adventures.

[✨ ੈ✩‧April ♡ ʚ♡⃛ɞ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Augie Sweetwater and the Dolphin's Tale" by William Harrigan is an enchanting and heartwarming adventure that captivated me from the very first page. Harrigan's storytelling prowess shines brightly in this delightful tale filled with wonder, friendship, and the magic of the sea.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this book is Harrigan's ability to transport readers into the rich and vibrant world of Augie Sweetwater. The characters are beautifully crafted, each with their own unique quirks and personalities that bring them to life on the page. Augie himself is a lovable protagonist whose journey of self-discovery is both inspiring and relatable.

The plot is masterfully woven, seamlessly blending elements of mystery, adventure, and friendship. As Augie embarks on a quest to unravel the secrets of the dolphins, readers are taken on an exhilarating journey filled with twists and turns that kept me eagerly turning the pages.

What truly sets "Augie Sweetwater and the Dolphin's Tale" apart is its heartfelt message about the importance of compassion, empathy, and protecting the environment. Through Augie's adventures, Harrigan effortlessly weaves in themes of conservation and respect for marine life, leaving a lasting impression on readers of all ages.

In conclusion, "Augie Sweetwater and the Dolphin's Tale" is a five-star masterpiece that I wholeheartedly recommend to readers young and old. William Harrigan has crafted a timeless adventure that will capture your imagination and leave you yearning for more.

[Margaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, a big thanks to the author, William Harrigan, the publisher, Valentine Creek, and Goodreads for the great privilege of winning this book in a giveaway. Will also post review to Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
I thought this was a fun and cute adventure story about a trio of friends with the help of some adults and a dolphin along the way. I thought the writing style was very good, flowy, and clever, but I did wonder if a general reader of the age group this book is directed towards would feel the same. I did think that there was several confusing things about the plotting, and found some details in direct challenge with others. However overall, a very heartwarming tale that fans of movies like "A Dolphin Tale" will love.

[M. Putney · Rating 4 out of 5]

#GoodreadsGiveaway
I have mixed feelings on this only because I can't quite tell what age group this was written for. The main characters are 14 and 11 which suggests a younger audience, but a lot of the technical language may be above most people's heads. Honestly, I didn't understand some of it and had to google a good bit of what was being discussed. Overall, it's a good book! It probably would've helped if I'd gone to MIT like Augie. 😅

[Chapter Chirp (Jessica)]

‘Augie Sweetwater and the Dolphin’s Tale’ by William Harrigan follows an unlikely trio of friends (Augie, Mika, and Coop) who go on numerous adventures piecing together clues and helping others along the way. I thought this story was very charming and had very kind messages woven throughout the storyline. This book was a feel good read and I would definitely recommend this to readers of all ages. I look forward to hopefully reading the next installment of the series.
#GoodreadsGiveaway

[Cathy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was as everything I hoped it would be when I entered to win it for my granddaughter. I know she will enjoy reading it as much as I did. The characters and story that William J. Harrigan has created are both enhanced with the drawings by J. E. Rudy throughout the story. A good mystery read no matter your age.

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

💯💯💯

[SomeonesMom Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. I read this novel at bedtime to my boys 7 and 11. The older kid really enjoyed it, the younger one paid attention but wasn't sold on the story.