Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Book Review: 'A Sandy Grave' by Donna McDine

A Sandy Grave, by award-winning author, Donna McDine, is an inspiring story that chronicles the truth about poaching.  Leah, Nicole, and Haley are ready to start their beach summer vacation; they sprint to the beach only to come across a crowd of people buzzing like bees near a dead whale that has washed ashore.

190_ASG_wtext_8x150-1The girls watched in horror as scientists from the Marine Biology Institute examine the whale, then make a startling discovery. Someone has removed teeth from the whale.
Leah had noticed two men, who dug into the sand with their feet, dropped a bag into the hole, and covered it up. Her instincts tell her that the men are up to no good.
Will Leah report what she saw?
Unfortunately, poaching goes on all the time and many people get away with it.
There are many lessons young people can learn from reading A Sandy Grave.  Here are two lessons that come to mind.

Doing the right thing: Leah and her friends help the authorities capture the two poachers. The girls do not allow fear to stop them even though it is a potentially dangerous situation. Below is my favorite section in the book:

They dropped down to their hands and knees and started to dig. They dug down about a foot, exposing a rope. Leah pulled on it, finding a burlap bag on the end of the rope. Curious, they opened it up, peered in, and saw huge teeth!

Teaching adult and kids about poaching: I love the way Ms. McDine related the truth about what can happen to poachers.  The passage below is clear and concise.

It’s also against the law to tamper with a dead marine mammal. “What happens to people who try and steal the teeth,” Leah asked. “If caught, they’re arrested and can be charged with jail time and thousands of dollars in fines if found guilty.”

 I love this well-written story.  The illustrations by Julie Hammond capture the true essence of the story and pull the reader into the story.

To learn more about award-winning author Donna McDine, please visit her website.

14 comments:

  1. Thank you Nicole for this great review and Donna for a story on such an important worldwide problem. The greed of these poachers knows no limits. I'm pleased to see a book where justice wins out so kids can believe in right over wrong again..

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    1. Hi Penny,

      Thanks for stopping by and visiting. I'm glad you enjoyed Nicole's review and the topic of A Sandy Grave.

      Warmly,
      Donna

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    2. Penny,
      Thanks for stopping by. You are right it is always a good thing when the bad guys are held accountable for their bad deeds.

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  2. Nicole,

    Thank you for your terrific review of A Sandy Grave. It makes my day when a reader grabs the essence. Thank you for your never ending support.

    Warmly,
    Donna

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    1. Donna,
      I love reading your books. Thanks for affording me the opportunity to read and review A Sandy Grave. Your book taught me a lot about poaching.

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    2. Hi Nicole,

      I'm delighted you enjoyed it.

      Have a great weekend!

      Warmly,
      Donna

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  3. Thanks to Donna and Nicole for writing and showcasing this important book. The cover art, done by Julie Hammond, is beautiful and haunting. Best wishes to you all, and congratulations on your collaboration.

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    1. Hi Nancy,

      Thank you for your heartwarming and never ending support. Yes, Julie's illustrations are splendid!

      Warmly,
      Donna

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  4. This sounds like the kind of book that will make a positive difference in the world.

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    1. Hi Janet,

      Thanks for your wonderful support!

      Warmly,
      Donna

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  5. Children have a strong sense of social justice and it is imperative there be books that demonstrate to them that adults will help them do the right thing in the face of difficult decisions. Thank goodness Donna wrote such a book!

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    1. Hi Terry,

      Glad you enjoyed Nicole's review. You grabbed the true essence of A Sandy Grave.

      Warmly,
      Donna

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  6. A terrific Review Nicole, of a terrific and very timely topic by Donna. Your books are always fun to read, Donna, as well as very informative. Love the art work as well. I have pinned this review to my Book Reviews (kids to YA) on Pinterest.

    Books for Kids - Skype Author Visits
    http://www.margotfinke.com

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    Replies
    1. Hi Margot,

      Awww, thanks for pinning Nicole's review. You have become such a marketing guru and I'm always learning fantastic tips from you.

      Warmly,
      Donna

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