Read this review of a great, environmentally sustainable, responsible book that your kids will love!

Gaia Girls Way Of Water

So many sequels disappoint; I approached Book Two, "Gaia Girls Way of Water" with some trepidation. I need not have worried. Ms. Welles soon swept me into "Water Girl" Miho's world as if I were body-surfing the perfect wave. Miho's parents were oceanographers; her first encounter with Gaia (now a sea otter) causes her to stay ashore the day her parents are lost at sea. Miho is sent to Japan to live with her only surviving relative, a crabby, chain-smoking, career-driven bachelor, distinctly appalled to have a dependent. The slow and rocky development of their affection for each other touched my heart.

Miho's uncle must journey to his boyhood home in Goza, where Miho is horrified to learn that there are still dolphin hunts in Japan. She befriends the local dolphins and vows to do something about the slaughter. She is helped by Gaia, who instructs her in powers over water.

I am a stranger to Japanese culture and walked every step with Miho as she moves from grief, cultural shock and bewilderment to understanding and power. Along the way we meet Sensei, who becomes her teacher, his grouchy daughter, dolphin friends like Notch, Curly, Larry and Moe, and baby Shinju, whales and sea turtle "Mama." I love it that Welles' girls are as imperfect as the rest of us, and Miho's overconfidence in her new powers costs her dearly. Again, the powers granted Miho seem a natural extension of who she is. We learn along with Miho about ocean health, bottom-trawling, overfishing, species depletion as well as the dolphin hunts. Again, no preaching. All this is embedded in a rippin' good storyline.

There's only one thing I don't like about the "Gaia Girls" series. According to the author's blog, it seems I will have to wait until Fall 2008 to meet "Air Girl." Rats! For now I'm going to don my "Embrace Your Inner Otter" Gaia Girls sweatshirt and send this along. I hope you will buy Gaia Girls books for any young readers on your list and hope you will request that your public and school libraries purchase the two books already out. I can't think of a better way to help kids and planet!

The "Gaia Girls" series is intended for middle readers, 8-12, but ANYONE "green" from 6 to 96, will love the Gaia Girls! Please check them out at www.gaiagirls.com. For more reader reviews, go to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chelsea Green.

Next week, we will have an interview with Lee Welles and the opportunity for you to win your own copies of her two books.

In The Series

Book Review: "Gaia Girls Enter The Earth," part I

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