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Manatee's Best Friend Paperback – August 3, 2021

by Sylvia Liu (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 33 ratings
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Perfect for fans of Catherine Hapka -- a heartwarming story about a girl who must find her voice, with lots of manatee and dolphin fun along the way!

Becca Wong Walker may be so shy that most people at school think she doesn't speak at all, but why should she care? She has more important things to worry about. Missy, the manatee who visits the dock in Becca's backyard, and Becca's only friend, hasn't been seen for a long time. When Missy finally does return, she has a new baby with her! Becca wants to be excited, but more than ever inconsiderate boaters are speeding through the river, putting the lives of Missy and her baby in terrible danger.

One day, Becca spots a dolphin in the river too! By bonding over the dolphin and manatees, Becca finally starts to make friends at school. But when Becca takes a video that goes viral, it seems like it will be harder than ever to save the manatees... and trying might just tear Becca's new friendships apart.

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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    8 - 12 years
  2. Print length
    224 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    3 - 7
  5. Lexile measure
    720L
  6. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.5 x 7.5 inches
  7. Publisher
    Scholastic Inc.
  8. Publication date
    August 3, 2021
  9. ISBN-10
    1338662260
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1338662269
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sylvia Liu is a children's author inspired by oceans, ghost crabs, and kraken. She grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, attended Yale College and Harvard Law School, and practiced environmental law for a decade at the U.S. Department of Justice and the nonprofit environmental group Oceana. Her picture book, A Morning With Grandpa, illustrated by Christina Forshay (Lee & Low Books 2016) was a New Voices Award winner. She lives in Virginia with her husband, two daughters, and cat.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Inc. (August 3, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1338662260
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1338662269
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 720L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.5 x 7.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 33 ratings

About the author

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Sylvia Liu

Sylvia Liu

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Sylvia Liu grew up with books and daydreams in Caracas, Venezuela. Once an environmental attorney protecting the oceans, she now spins stories for children, inspired by high tech, ghost crabs, and strong girls. Her middle grade sci-fi, HANA HSU AND THE GHOST CRAB NATION is a Bank Street College Best Children's Book of 2022. Sylvia lives in Virginia with her family and a very fluffy cat.

Visit her website at enjoyingplanetearth.com or follow her on Twitter (@artsylliu).

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
33 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

a reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Shy girls can be heroes, too
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2021
Verified Purchase
Shy Becca dreams of being a marine biologist. She becomes best friends with manatee Missy and her new baby Sunny. When Becca’s alone with them, she freely and expertly narrates her observations via video. But even the thought of talking to others or showing her talent publicly fill her with panic.

Her whole world turns upside down when the town considers a new business idea that is certain to endanger the manatees she holds so dear. When one of her videos goes viral, she risks losing her new friends *and* her manatees, unless she can somehow use her voice to turn everything around.

This is a great book for shy kids, and for anyone who loves manatees or the environment.
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J. Engel
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun modern tale about kids becoming world-changers
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2022
Verified Purchase
I read Manatee's Best Friend aloud with my 10-year-old, animal-loving daughter. We both really enjoyed the story, and my daughter was especially delighted to learn a lot about manatees and dolphins. This sweet story of friendship and finding your voice is perfect for middle-grade readers.
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Janet
5.0 out of 5 stars Save the Manatees
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2022
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed the story and thought about all the wonderful implications it could have as a teaching novel for students. Students might believe that they can actually make a difference.
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KatyS
5.0 out of 5 stars Great middle schooler book!
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2021
Verified Purchase
My eleven year old loved this book! She finished it and started all over again! Great story and love the topic. Themes of overcoming shyness, building friendships, and respecting nature.
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stewygirl
5.0 out of 5 stars Great middle grade contemporary with an environmental twist
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2021
Verified Purchase
Perfect for fans of Stella Diaz and anyone who needs a reminder on how to find their voice.
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Louis Jennings
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for budding activists
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2022
Becca can’t talk. Not in school. Not in public. Not enough to make friends. The one true friend she has is a manatee, Missy, and now Missy’s gone missing. When Missy returns with calf in tow, Becca’s excitement bubbles over and even though it feels very strange, she talks to her new glamorous next door neighbor about the pair and her fears for their safety. A science project garners Becca another possible friend, and even though it’s a bumpy road, Becca begins to find her voice. A beautiful story about the importance of conservation and the value of friendship.
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Teresa Robeson
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming and fun...perfect MG book
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2021
In 1988 when my husband and I were still dating, we took a trip to Florida with our canoe. One misty morning, we set out on the canoe at Blue Spring State Park where we had camped for the night. We were the only ones on the water. While we were quietly paddling, a large pod of manatees appeared below our canoe. We stopped padding and just drifted over these magnificent creatures who floated lazily below, occasionally stopping to peer at us (possibly laughing at the goofy, enthralled expressions on our faces). This incredible moment lasted for a mere half hour, but I have never forgotten it.

Ever since that magical meeting, I’ve been in love with manatees and been concerned about their plight. So, I was simply delighted to see this wonderful middle grade book about a girl who overcomes her shyness, makes new friends, AND saves the manatees in her waterfront backyard by working with her new friends and learning how to take a stand. The believable and sympathetic characters puts a reader right in the thick of things and you can’t help but cheer when the manatees catch a break thanks to their clever plan, while the town doesn’t lose out on the tourism that it so badly wants.

Highly readable with an engaging voice, good pace, and optimistic ending, this book is sure to appeal to readers of all ages…and hopefully will make more people care about the plight of these gentle creatures.
One person found this helpful
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Michelle Mason
5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable & inspiring, inside and out!
Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2021
How adorable is this cover for MANATEE'S BEST FRIEND by Sylvia Liu? If you ever doubt the power of a great cover, let me just share that without knowing anything about the story, my 11-year-old saw this cover and said, "That looks good!"

The story inside is just as fantastic. Becca Wong Walker is incredibly shy, but she's comfortable talking to the manatees that visit her dock. She also loves to record her observations and research about their habits and lives. When she gets paired with two outgoing classmates--one her new neighbor--for a science project, she has to learn how to speak up for herself and the manatees. Because her favorite animals are being threatened by boaters and a festival her own father is spearheading. There's also an incredible story involving a dolphin that befriends the manatees.

I really loved learning about manatees and conservation through Becca's story. I also appreciated how Becca grew in confidence and learned what it meant to be a friend. I highly recommend adding this book to your middle grade collection.
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