| Koby
can count on nobody - but herself÷Nothing
has been the same for Koby since she lost her foot in an
accident four years ago. Between the smothering concern of
her parents and the awkward glances from the kids at school,
Koby can truly feel at home only when she is on the ocean in
her dinghy, Titmouse. But tonight, when
twelve-year-old Koby finds herself stranded in the middle of
the dark ocean with two dying pilot whales and an aching
"phantom" foot, she can do little more than
tremble. The lives of the two whales are literally in Koby's
hands and her strength is weakening. There are no rescuers
in sight. The ocean is the last place Koby wants to
be.
"[Stranded]
has many of the same elements that made Sparrow Hawk Red
(1993) so successful: strong, well-developed
characters, an interesting plot in which an engaging main
character is repeatedly placed in danger, and an exotic
setting so clearly described that readers will feel they
have been there to visit."
-Booklist (starred review)
"Mikaelsen
. . . knows the first rule of adventure stories for
children: put the kid - hero and reader - smack in the
middle . . . Koby is a seaworthy heroine who makes things
happen."
-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books |
| This story
idea came to me when I watched a volunteer organization
called the Pod Squad release two pilot whales. There was so
much emotion in the release of the whales, Trish and Alex,
that I had to try and capture it on paper. This emotion
provided the soul of my story.
My research
consisted of visiting dolphin research centers, talking with
marine biologists, swimming with dolphins, and helping
veterinarians care for sick mammals. I spent time with two
very special people that had amputated lower legs. They
helped me to understand their problems and communicate them
with my character Koby. |
