The Literacy Bridge - Large Print - The Missing Manatee [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Cynthia DeFelice (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: The Literacy Bridge - Large Print

A New York Times Bestselling Author

All Skeet Waters wants is to catch a big, beautiful tarpon on his fly rod - and to keep everything else in his life in Florida the way it's always been. But on his spring break from school, Skeet overhears his mother telling his father to move out permanently. Then, while riding in his boat to escape his parents' troubles, he discovers a manatee that's been shot in the head.

Available only in The Literacy Bridge 5.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7–It's spring vacation, and Skeet Waters, 11, wants to spend his time fishing in his boat just off the coast of his Florida home. Instead, his day begins with him overhearing his mother telling his father to move out for good. Things go from bad to worse when Skeet finds a manatee floating in the water, dead from a gunshot wound. He goes back to shore to get the sheriff, and when they return to the spot, the animal is gone. The boy makes finding the missing body and bringing the killer to justice his mission. Meanwhile, his father's buddy, Dirty Dan, takes Skeet out fishing for tarpon and drinks Jack Daniels all day. When Skeet discovers a gun in a storage bin, he begins to suspect that Dan is the culprit and confronts him. The man confesses that his special-needs son accidentally shot the animal. DeFelice offers a realistic adventure story that is fast paced and full of drama. Skeet faces many difficult problems throughout the book, each with serious consequences, and his first-person narrative rings true. The characters are multifaceted and well developed, and the story should prompt readers to think about cause and effect.–Alison Grant, West Bloomfield Township Public Library, MI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. While cruising in his small boat through the maze of Florida's coastal rivers, young Skeet Waters comes across a dead manatee. Close examination reveals that the manatee was shot through the head. However, when Skeet and a deputy sheriff return to the scene of the crime, they discover that the manatee has disappeared. Skeet is determined to solve the crime, but he takes a break in his efforts to go fly-fishing for tarpon with Dirty Dan, a legendary local guide. Eventually, Skeet discovers that Dirty Dan is responsible for the manatee's death and disappearance. With the help of his funny and free-spirited grandmother, Skeet also learns that administrating true justice is not always simple or easy. DeFelice delivers a fast-paced mystery with a strong sense of place. Her lengthy description of the subtleties of tarpon fishing will grab young lovers of outdoor adventures. These elements, along with strong characters and an effective first-person narration, create an exciting whole, sure to hook readers. Todd Morning
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; 1 edition (December 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786281782
• ISBN-13: 978-0786281787
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,794,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An exciting and suspensional story, May 25, 2006

By 

Diana - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Missing Manatee (Hardcover)

From a teacher and graduate student's view point, I thought this was an awesome book. It was full of adventure and suspense. Skeet was on a mission and he was going to let nobody stop him. I think this would be an awesome book to use as a teacher read aloud and/or used as a "cliffhanger" activity. His Memaw added a touch of humor to the story which made it even better. Finally, the end had a surprising twist to it and one that I wasn't expecting. This was a very fun story to read.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love this book!!!, April 17, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Missing Manatee (Hardcover)

My reading teacher read this book to my class before my school met Cynthia DeFelice. I was not a person who liked mystery books, until my teatcher read this book to my class. This is a book I recamend for only people that can read a novle. This is a wonderful book.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Missing Manatee, May 9, 2011

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Missing Manatee (Paperback)

The Missing Manatee is a great book. It was written by Cynthia Defelice.The plot of the book was very myserious and interesting to read about. I enjoyed it the whole way through the book. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down.

Skeet Waters is the main character in this book. Skeet lives in Chassacoochie Springs with his mother. And all he wants to do is catch a tarpon. But he never gets the chance to. Skeet has just found out that his parents are now afficialy separated, and full with anger, dissapointment, and possibly tears, he thinks he needs to get out and have some fun. He gets in his skiff and heads out, not knowing what to expect. As he is riding alone on his skiff in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, he finds a dead manatee. The manatee has been shot in the back of the head. When he tries to call it in to Deputy Earl, a family friend, he remembers that his radio was not working. This makes the book very interesting in my opinion. And they investigate the tragic scene though out the book.

The setting of this book is in Florida. It is very important information to know while reading this book. It sets the tone for the entire book. In my opinion this book was magnificent and I recommend to everyone to give this book a shot! Even if you're just looking for a quick read to hook you on and have an enjoyable read.
- Julia Nicole Merrill