Three Blue Hearts

Max Conway struggles with self-image, feeling unable to live up to his councilman father’s expectations around sports, academics, or his own potential career in politics. While spending the summer on an island off the Gulf Coast with his marine biologist mother, Max seeks to create his own identity. The 12-year-old’s resolve is put to the test when, during his first excursion to the shore, he finds a beached octopus. Overcome by a sense of duty and empathy, Max and local boy Emmett rush the creature to the island vet, subsequently saving its life. Animal-lover Max is soon drawn into the animal rehabilitation community, befriending the doctors, developing a tender friendship with an indefatigable tween local called Ollie Mae, and forging a surprising kinship with the injured octopus, which the group names Ursula. As the summer comes to an end, however, and the octopus’s condition grows complicated, Max is forced to confront difficult truths about the natural world. Interspersing lightly scientific marine biology–related asides among emotionally earnest first-person narration and conversations between Max and his new friends, Kelly (The Secret Language of Birds) tells a gentle, sweet-hearted tale of a tween managing personal responsibility and finding his own voice. Max reads as white; supporting characters are racially diverse. Ages 8–12. Agent: Molly O’Neill, Root Literary. (Oct.)