• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

It's hard being an animal lover in a fishing family.

Fourteen-year-old Maya sneaks out in her kayak before breakfast every morning to check on a family of sea otters living in the nearby bay. The animals Maya loves threaten her family's main source of income, and Maya doesn't know if she can trust her family not to hurt them. She is determined to protect the sea otters, no matter what. One morning, Maya discovers she's being watched. Who is it and what do they want? Soon Maya finds herself in a dangerous race to save both the sea otters and her family's livelihood.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Kari Jones is happy to call Victoria, British Columbia, home: a city where you can go down to the beach with your kayak, find an island, a lighthouse and an adventure, and be back in time for dinner. Kari is a college instructor who teaches students to write, but when school is out, she can often be found with her family and friends exploring the natural world and dreaming up adventures to share. Kari is the co-author of Hiking Adventures with Children as well as several essays and articles on being in nature with kids. For more information, visit www.karijones.ca.

Kari Jones' profile page

• Commended, Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Quick Picks
• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens

"Features a high-energy plot rendered in accessible language...The narration is richly descriptive, so strongly visual readers will follow the story easily, and the breath-taking races and chase scenes create engaging drama and suspense...Provides an accessible, relevant reading experience for its intended audience."

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"This quick read for grades 7-10 has a strong female main character, and her storyline will hold readers' attention...The suspense will keep readers reading till the end. This is a good addition for libraries looking for high-interest easy reading books."

Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group (SOYAMRG)

"An interesting, nail-biting book filled with suspense, [and] an easy, quick read with no difficult words...Worth reading for entertainment and educational reasons."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials