Blood in the Water

Gr 4–6—An exciting adventure story that will interest readers who like stories about the military and/or dolphins. Cory McNab wanted to be a Navy SEAL, but was not able to make it through basic training. After dropping out, he returns home. While surfing, Cory and his brother are attacked by a shark. The two of them are rescued by a dolphin and make it safely to shore. After the rescue, Cory becomes fascinated with dolphins and joins the Navy Marine Mammal Program, a branch of the service that teams an expert with an animal for important missions. Cory's dolphin partner is named Kaj, and it is not long before the two of them are needed for a dangerous mission in North Korean waters. The Navy needs Kaj's bio-sonar to find and destroy a lost submarine in enemy territory. Kaj is able to find the sub right away but things become complicated. Cory will have to step up and face his fears and insecurities if the mission is to succeed. This is a fast-paced story that will hook readers from the very first scene. Ideal for reluctant readers.—Patrick Tierney, Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School, RI