Part of Magic Tree House, book 40
First published 2025
The magic tree house carries Jack and Annie to Monterey Bay, California, in the early morning hours. Their mission seems straightforward: gather sea urchins from the underwater kelp forests. But the siblings know nothing about sea urchin collection, and their only potential guide is an unfriendly boat captain who shows little interest in helping them. The situation becomes more complicated when Annie discovers a sea otter badly hurt from a shark attack. The children face a difficult choice. They aren't supposed to interfere with wildlife, but leaving the injured animal seems wrong. Jack and Annie must find a way to convince the reluctant captain to assist them in their rescue effort. The story explores themes of compassion and doing what's right even when it goes against the rules.
Genres: fiction, nature, animals, adventure, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Monterey Bay, California
Period: Early Morning
94 pages · Kindle Edition · Random House Books for Young Readers