Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade

by Kimberly Behre Kenna

"...Artemis Sparke is pure energy! ...Kenna's well-crafted debut is a timely gift."
~Leslie Connor, National Book Award finalist and author of The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle and Anybody Here Seen Frenchie?

When Artemis Sparke has had it with humans, she heads to the nearby salt marsh to hang out with the birds, plants and mollusks who don't make a big deal of her stutter. The shoreline sanctuary is predictable, unlike her family and friends, and the data in her science journal proves it. But one day that data goes haywire, and her bird friend RT confirms the salt marsh is dying. Artemis discovers that the historic hotel where she lives with her mom may be part of the problem, but speaking up would mean confronting the cranky hotel owner who happens to be her mom's boyfriend and boss. Artemis conjures up help from deceased ecologists, and as she works to untangle their clues, she finds family secrets that could be the key to saving the salt marsh but also may destroy her life as she knows it.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Environment

158 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 2, 2023

About the author

Kimberly Behre Kenna, a former fifth-grade teacher, is the author of the Brave Girls Collection for middle-grade readers. ARTEMIS SPARKE AND THE SOUND SEEKERS BRIGADE is a National Indies Excellence Award finalist and was short-listed for the Green Earth Book Award. JETT JAMISON AND THE SECRET STORM is a Nautilus Book Award winner, a Foreword Indies Winner, an Eric Hoffer Award winner, and was short-listed for the Eric Hoffer Grand Prize. Kimberly’s books go beyond simple mysteries, inspiring discussions about topics such as mental health and trauma. They are a call to action for young people to speak their stories and connect with the healing power of nature.

Reviews

[Josh Caporale · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I started reading books that were potential nominees for the Newbery Medal for 2024 based on a Goodreads list. I bought 7 books for the occasion thus far. Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade is the second such book that I read, though it is the first one that I am reviewing. The fact that the title character has a condition that is mental and cannot be seen (in Artemis' case, a stutter) fascinated me and made me feel inclined to pick up the book. I am always curious to see how writers approach conditions like these and other areas of neurodivergence, especially since Kimberly Behre Kenna does not stutter, though she has admitted to being shy as a youth and had trouble speaking up. I liked the passion and resilience of Art (Artemis is known called by her nickname, "Art")'s character and how she showed a great depth of knowledge and understanding for the world around her and wanted to do what she was able in order to help solve the problems involving the struggles of the Long Island Sound and its animal inhabitants. This book did, however, have some flaws in its flow and rapid concerns involving the attitudes of the characters.

Artemis Sparke lives with her mother, Ellen, at a historic hotel in Horizons, Connecticut owned by her boss and boyfriend, Harry Hallender. Hallender has an attitude about progress for the hotel and making money, while Ellen believes in doing whatever she is able to keep her job, keep things steady, and make Mr. Hallender happy. Art's father, Garrett, does appear throughout the story and is a professor that specializes in Greek architecture. Art hangs out with her best friend, Warren Lowe, who lives in a household with an abusive, alcoholic father and a mother who is compassionate, but not courageous. Warren's interest are a bit conflicting with Art, where he prefers to bike and fish, Art is about interacting with the animals, trees, plant-life, and keeping data in her notebook on everything within this piece of nature. Art also befriends Mrs. Marion Moonchaser, who is passionate and outspoken about nature, but is viewed by those at the hotel and around town as a "kook," plus Chef Paul and his daughter, Jess, who are very friendly and compassionate.

Nature-based concerns take place throughout this book and Art wants to warn everyone about them before it is too late for Long Island Sound and its inhabitants, such as RT (her bird friend) and Agnes (her tree friend). She also speaks to the ghosts of environmental figures, such as Simon Rodia, and asks for their help in fighting the environmentally unfriendly practices taking place in the area, to which she refers to the "Sound Seekers Brigade." These instances become bigger and the question at hand becomes: Will people realize what is going on before it becomes too late?

I had an admiration for Artemis Sparke and the way that her character was developed. She was smart, organized, determined, and knew what she wanted for the world around her and did a fine job figuring out how to accomplish what she set her mind to accomplishing. She was also not perfect by any means. She could have a temper and would resort to responses that were a bit immature, but they were forgivable, and she made progress, as did the characters around her. Warren was also a bit more rational, but also a bit more insecure, given his circumstances. While the characters were fleshed out, some of the realizations and changes were very rapid. On some occasions, they arguably worked. On others, the change was merely a device to show that things were working. I did not feel that there was much depiction of the romantic relationship between Art's mom and Mr. Hellander. While both were given a solid depiction as individual characters, there was not too much of a connection between them, aside from Art's mom defending and doing footwork for Mr. Hellander.

My other concern was the uniformity of Art's stutter. I have found that those who stutter are not always consistent in their stutter. For instance, instead of just stuttering on the first consonant, like: "It's n-not funny," (as she said on page 51) she may repeat the first word a few times, such as: "I... i... it... it's n-nah-not funny." Stutters can be complicated, but the stutters and just about all written like the first quote rather than with the potential differences that come with the second quote. It is accurate that she does not always stutter every time she speaks.

I did see reflections of Greta Thunberg, the Swedish environmental activist that made a great impact with what she has had to say. Things that took place in this book reminded me a lot of Thunberg's efforts. Even if they are dealing with different concerns and approaching them differently, I cannot help but think that Kenna had her in mind in addition to the other people that she mentioned as she wrote this book.

Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade is a very rich and sometimes heavy book that deals with heavy topics and does so with the intent that readers can handle the subject matter. There is information in the back of the book pertaining to where you learn more about helping those or finding help when addressing concerns involving stuttering, domestic violence, and there is a link to "Save the Sound." This book was pretty good and had its concerns with development but was nevertheless a fine debut.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Artemis Sparke lives and works with her mother cleaning rooms at the Horizon Hotel in New Haven, Connecticut. Her parents are in the mist of getting a divorce, and her father is always busy traveling for the book he is writing or teaching at the local university. When Artemis is not at the hotel or hanging out with her best friend, Warren, she can be found at the local salt marsh, gathering facts in her field notebook. For example, chronicling the number of crabs and fish in the marsh or detailing how RT, her favorite wood thrush, has had to move their nest because of noise from the renovations going on at the hotel. Recently, Artemis has been saddened by the changes she's observed in the marsh. If only people would pay more attention to the data and number's she's collected.

Then one day, while Artemis and Warren are searching for RT, they find BB pellets scattered around the marsh and are nearly run over by some boys from school riding their bikes, which is defiantly against the rules. Angered by the way that the marsh and surrounding area are being destroyed by trash, yard clippings and a disregard for the rules designed to protect the marsh, Artemis takes matters into her own hands. First, she develops the Sound Seekers Brigade, with Warren and a friend from the hotel. Next, she begins a campaign to increase public awareness concerning the damages caused by the hotel's renovations by writing a letter to the editor and hanging posters around town highlighting the specific problems. All of publicity angers her mom's boss/boyfriend, Harry Hellander and almost lands her in hot water. In a supernatural twist, Artemis is aided in her quest to protect the marsh by the ghosts of three deceased ecologists who help her to "dream big."

Artemis is both caring, curious, observant and passionate. She has this energy about her that is contagious. Artemis has a slight stutter which causes her to be teased by bullies from school and even Warren's dad. In these moments I found it easy to relate with how bad she must have felt, wanting to stand up for her and defend her against their bullying. Warren is a character who also captured my heart. I was saddened that he lives with an abusive, alcoholic father. He is such a sweet boy and wonderful friend to Artemis, joining her on her trips to the salt marsh, even though he'd rather finish their summer cycle challenge and go fishing. Despite some conflicts that arise between the two, and a moment when Warren is in grave danger, they have each other's backs when they need it the most. He reminds me a lot of one of my friends growing up.

Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade is the first book in the Brave Girls Collection adventure series, with a portion of the sales from the book going toward the Save the Sound, a group combatting climate change and the restoration of the Long Island Sound. I found the story to be very informative highlighting both the pollution that entered the marsh, for example the community dumping yard clippings or the use of fertilizer too near the water, and the ways to become involved. It's an especially pleasing read for wildlife and conservationists concerned about the impact humans are having on the environment. Artemis will inspire readers to look for the changes that are going on in their own communities.

Favorite line: "...That's the power of observation for you. When you stay still and attend, then you become a part of the beauty you see."

**A huge thank you to Books Forward for the print ARC in exchange for an honest review. **

[Maggi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly I want to highlight that the 3 star rating is my personal rating of the book. I think this is an important book about the environment and not feeling heard for older children to read, it just did not work for me 100%.

I enjoyed the premise of the book and parts of its execution, however I felt it was overall lacking. I felt like the book spent a lot of time building up relationships and suspense only for it to quickly wrap it up at the end. It could definitely be two chapters longer. There were several times where I simply couldn't get into the book, which is very likely a me-issue, but it made reading this book not as enjoyable as I thought it would be.

That said, I think the book has its audience and I wish for it to find them.


Thank you to Regal House Press and NetGalley for the eARC.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade is a charming and inspiring read for middle graders. Artemis is a likable character from the first page. An eccentric heroine - a brave girl with a big heart for preserving the environment. She wants to make change in her community but is frequently met with adversaries.

What I appreciate about this book is that the young girl is persistent, strong, and doesn’t let people bring her down. Her efforts are dismissed by the community due to her age, gender, and ability, yet she persists in her convictions. She is a strong female character that young girls will admire. Additionally, she has a speech stutter and her friend is experiencing violence at home. These themes were woven into the storyline without being alarming for young readers.

I recommend this book, especially for young girls looking for inspiration that they can make changes in this world.

Thank you to Books Forward for sending me a copy of this book.

[Sandy Grubb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artemis Sparke is a complex and thoughtfully flawed protagonist, immensely relatable. She jumps off the page larger than life full of passion and energy. I was ready to join her Sound Seekers Brigade!

The adults in Art’s life are distracted with problems of their own. No one is listening to her. She, on the other hand, listens deeply. Even the trees and creatures of her beloved but ailing coastal salt marsh communicate with her…as well as the ghosts of the historic hotel where she and her mother work. The author’s clever plotting kept me turning pages to see if Artemis would prevail and save the salt marsh and also to see if the deep longings of Art’s heart would finally be heard and healed.

(Thank you, Kimberly Behre Kenna, for allowing me to read your digital ARC.)

[Ona Gritz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to get a sneak peek at this wonderful, necessary debut children’s novel. Readers who care about the environment, and would love the company of a fiery and determined protagonist who does as well, will want to get their hands on this book!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Artemis Sparke is a young woman who lives on the Long Island Sound within the hotel that her mother works at.  Artemis doesn't always get along with or understand people, but the plants and animals of the salt marsh are her comfort zone.  Art takes careful notes and data in her nature journal about the salt marsh ecosystem; this year,  Art notices some things about the marsh that tell her it is in trouble.  However, Art can't get any of the adults to listen except for her neighbor Mrs. Moonchaser.  Art also believes that activities at the hotel are negatively impacting the salt march.  She comes up with a plan to help the marsh with the help of the Sound Seekers Brigade, but her actions might impact the hotel and her family's livelihood.  With the encouragement of some unlikely friends, Art and the Sound Seekers Brigade find a way for the hotel and the salt marsh to help one another thrive. 

Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade is a young adult story of environmental activism and working with our differences.  Artemis is charming in her care and knowledge of the salt marsh.  I love that Artemis named some of the plants and animals that she had gotten to know well and her careful notes in a nature journal are just like a professional!  Artemis most likely has a neurodivergence, but it is never directly addressed, which is fine because it is not the focus of the story.  However, this definitely causes issues with her human friendships and how she relates with the other adults around her causing additional stress.  Artemis does display some great ways to get into environmental activism, writing a letter to the editor, environmental art, fundraising, trash pick up and starting an activist group.  I was a little displeased about the adults in the story, but that is typical of YA fiction.  It seemed that Artemis should have had one of her parents on her side or that at least understood her passion and not just a neighbor.  The inclusion of the ghosts in the story was an interesting way for Artemis to learn the history of the hotel within the salt marsh and help the adults understand how to work together; however I felt the idea could have been a little more fleshed out.  I wanted more history of who the past hotel guests were and maybe more spirit sightings.  Overall, a wonderful realistic fiction with diverse characters and a wonderful environmental angle. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

[Lynn Katz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade, will appeal to readers of all ages who care about protecting this planet and yet feel overwhelmed and powerless “to fix something so broken.” Artemis is a quirky, passionate 12-year-old who communicates with ghosts and the flora and fauna of her immediate neighborhood-the Long-Island sound salt marshes. A scientist, an artist, an environmentalist, and an activist, Art lives in an old hotel with her mom who works for the hotel owner. Besides learning a ton about environmental issues, important ecologists from the past, and inspirational words of wisdom interspersed throughout this book, readers will enjoy a good old-fashioned ghost story complete with trapdoors and lost keys. Filled with optimism and hope (“Change comes in small steps.” “We just have to listen. And then, speak up.”), Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade does not disappoint!

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
The story is primarily a crusade for conservation as Artemis is determined to save the salt marsh on Long Island Sound. She’s kept records of observations and measurements for years and notices a change in the plants and animals living there. The big conflict she faces is apathy as most citizens aren’t as passionate as she is about protecting wildlife. Her mother’s boss, and new boyfriend, runs a hotel that may be contributing to the salt marsh problem. Art is told there’s nothing one young girl can do to save the salt marsh but that just makes her more determined. She ends up creating a conservation team she calls the Sound Seekers Brigade. However, how will her mom’s boss react if he finds out about the trouble Artemis is creating?
Art has problems with anxiety that affect her speech and self-confidence. She stutters when stressed so her thoughts don’t always come out clearly. She’s very self-conscious about it and avoids confrontations and situations that might create direct conflict. She tries to bring the public’s attention to the failing salt marsh without drawing attention to herself. An anonymous letter and humorous posters help her promote her message although she must eventually learn to face her fears and personal issues. We must accept ourselves as we are.
The book is realistic fiction, for the most part, but elements of speculative fiction are subtly included. The opening pages find Artemis referring to talks she’s had with a bird called RT and the initial thought is “Oh what a nice imagination she has.” However, it seems she might actually be able to communicate with nature which she attributes to taking the time to listen. She later starts to see images of people that may be ghosts with a vested interest in saving nature. The author includes information about famous ecologists as Art researches strategies to change people’s minds. Readers can learn about past ecology movements too.
What didn’t work as well:
Most of the plot has a gloomy tone as Art tries to save the environment, deal with her frustrating life in a hotel, and help her best friend Warren handle a toxic father. Her obsession with the salt marsh doesn’t help her friendship with Warren so their relationship becomes a source of worry too. More positive, happy interactions and events would add balance to the tone.

[Penny lurkykitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artemis Sparke is a friend of wild creatures, plants and ghosts, and a passionate advocate for the natural world. She lives and works with her mother cleaning rooms in a historic Connecticut seaside hotel. Her mother's boyfriend owns the hotel, which is negatively impacting the surrounding wildlife. Artemis is often bullied by other kids because of her stutter, and feels more comfortable in the natural world, than with most people. She experiences feelings of frustration and helplessness in her quest to save her beloved salt marsh, as the adults around her frequently fail her (except for a kind environmentalist neighbor). Her best friend Warren is sympathetic but is dealing with an abusive father. Artemis is a complex, relatable and flawed character who must, in her effort to protect her local ecosystem, face her fears, help her friends and learn how to stand up for what she believes in. Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade is a hopeful, informative story with an inspiring message.
Part of the proceeds from book sales will benefit Save the Sound, a non-profit that works to fight climate change and promote ecological restoration in the Long Island Sound area, where the story is set.
Thank you to BooksForwardPR and the author for a copy to review.

[Eva Silverfine · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this tale of a young girl, Artemis, who struggles both to express herself and manage her own anxiety and anger over the fate of her beloved salt marsh, we see the challenge that any advocate of a cause may face: how to convince others of the importance and urgency of one’s mission. Artemis is drawn as a complex character, one whose relationship with the natural world around her gives her grounding, giving her the courage to continue to fight to be heard by adults who aren’t listening.

[Karen Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

The children enjoyed the story of Artemis and her fight to save the salt marsh. The story sparked many great conversations around ecology and protecting the environment.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art is a shy but fierce twelve year old. She is determined to save the salt marsh around the hotel she lives at and sometimes works at. Art has trouble getting support but with a few friends she manages to dins ways to get her message out despite her stutter and frustrations. As she works to achieve her goal, she also learns how to become a better friend and how to be a better person.

[Valinora Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this story. Artemis is a great character. I love her careful measurements and recordings of the changes in the environment, and her dedication to saving the salt marshes. Of course, sometimes she goes too far, she is single-minded about the cause, to the determent of her friendship with Warren. At one point I wondered why he was friends with Artemis at all, but Artemis’s flawed character is one of the strengths of the story. I also understand why she tries so hard to control one aspect of her life. Her parents have split up, her mother is dating the owner of the hotel (even before the parents’ divorce is final) , her father seems irresponsible, and they both struck me as very selfish and not hugely interested in their daughter.

I really liked the other characters, especially Warren, who has problems at home too, and Mrs Moonchaser, a kindred spirit. The ghosts of the environmentalists are fairly low-key but still a nice plot thread. Overall I really enjoyed this story, it’s a little different as well, so I highly recommend that you check it out.

[Sudeshna Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley for sending me this ARC copy for reviewing. The cover of this book is really pretty and the story is very cute and thought provoking too. The story is about twelve year old Artemis Sparke who loves talking to nature and birds. She cares deeply about the Salt Marsh surrounding her house. She feels sad when the nature in Salt Marsh starts to diminish and she decides to do something about it.

This book is really fun to read and I really loved how the author has brought out several things through the story like Artemis's stuttering but even though she stutters she is really strong according to her age and can do anything for the nature surrounding her and specially her bird friend RT. I really loved the sudden entry of ghosts in the story and how they helped Artemis to save the Salt Marsh. The pure friendship between Artemis and Warren was a treat to read. This book really made me think that Nature is so precious and we should try to save it in whatever way we can. Just loved reading it.

#ArtemisSparkeandtheSoundSeekersBrigade #NetGalley

[bythecshore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story/book is perfect for middle graders, offering a delightful and captivating plot filled with adventure. The characters, especially Artemis, are truly engaging.

Additionally, the cover is absolutely charming! I could envision her repeatedly as being the "real" character in the book.

[Pine Reads Review]

“There’s a war going on, and we need members who will speak up when they see people riding bikes in nature preserves or disturbing nests with BB guns or disrespecting plants and animals in other ways.”

Artemis Sparke spends most of her time observing the wildlife at the nearby Long Island Sound salt marsh. She speaks to the birds, she cleans up litter, and she takes note of every wildlife sighting in her trusted notebook. However, the trends are concerning her—the egrets, fiddler crabs, and fireflies are all disappearing. The worst part about the whole situation is that the only person who seems to care is Art — not her divorced parents, or the boys in her class, or even her best friend Warren. So, Art takes matters into her own hands to save the salt marsh. Along the way, she makes unlikely connections with the people who live in the Long Island Sound, including the ghosts of a few environmentalists.

Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade is an endearing middle-grade novel that packs an impactful punch with its theme. Art is a well-written main character, and Kenna does not hesitate to give her flaws. She’s a passionate young girl with a temper. She puts her own interests above those of her friends, abandoning their plans to focus on her own. Also, a lot of Art’s actions are impulsive. Though her intentions are good, her actions do have consequences that harm others.

While none of these are necessarily positive character traits, they are realistic ones. In this novel, Kenna has managed to write a relatable and realistic 12-year-old character. It was one of my favorite parts of the novel, because I know I was far from perfect as a middle schooler. It was refreshing to see a main character make a lot of mistakes and then learn from them to become a better friend at the end of the story.

[Martha Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has all the elements of a great story -- a focused, determined, prickly heroine, a cause near and dear to her and to anyone with a heart for ecosystems, a struggle with disparaging, dismissing parents, a friend who has an interesting and painful arc of his own, and magical realism in both nature and in history! However, I felt that the author's ability to tie this all together and time it properly was in need of a lot more editorial support. There was a feeling of unreality in the book that could have benefited from more time describing the lovely Long Island Sound ecosystem. The deux ex machina ending was great but should have been prepared for throughout the book. The latter half of the book is rushed, too. The beautiful story elements deserved more time to breathe and grow naturally. I would have LOVED to love this book, but couldn't. Definitely an author to watch as she develops. She's got a masterpiece in her -- this just wasn't it.

[Sandra Waugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, important tale, with a heroine full of pluck, passion and perseverance.

[Nancy]

A memorable main character navigates lots of changes: in her home life, friendships, and the Long Island Sound itself. Kids who care about climate change issues will love this one.