Well this was a huge let-down. I did wonder how the evils of plastics were going to be converted into a good drama – and in fact that just didn't happen. Instead the book – and by default its prequel, about climate change – is insufferably woke and not interested in great plotting. Our lead heroine used to be the princess of their seemingly tropical kingdom, with her parents the King and Queen, but they were nudged out by a republican revolution, and now live in a tower block, where we see them working from home with a fake-crown mail order service. It's one of her best friends whose mother is ruling the place now, and of course she's in a lesbian relationship, because having a realistic and proportionate representation of heterosexuality is just evil. And don't get me started on the third of the friends, and how he insists on trying on all the blingy tiaras…

They want to investigate a preponderance of plastic, and perhaps the lack of fish they see when they go out to the tiny island belonging to the heroine's uncle, the King's brother. And they get more chances to investigate when modern-day pirates come calling, asking for a can opener. Yes, the great plot development of the can opener request – dissertations have been written on less. Elsewhere, irrelevant stress is put on random phrasing by a different, bold font, somebody turns up to show representation for the disabled, and you just struggle to see anything that has a decent bit of apolitical action. I feared for a bludgeoning eco-lesson, but instead got a drip-drip of every left-wing -ism imaginable. And before you think that my only issue here, the plot really was quite asinine. One and a half stars.

I can already think of several children in my current class who will enjoy reading this. The characters are super and all quite different from Princess Olivia (who doesn't want to be a princess) to Helga (smart and opinionated). I liked the mixture of story and non-fiction sections to give children more information about the issues which are tackled throughout the book. The inclusion of journal entries also appealed as I have children who will ask questions of a similar nature during the reading.
I hope there will be further adventures for Olivia and her friends which could tackle a different aspect of climate change.

A great series, educating young people on various global issues.

This one explores the ocean and the impacts the climate crisis has on different elements of it. Highlighting topics like plastic pollution & microplastics, overconsumption, sea level rise, global warming, coral bleaching and overfishing.

Although these are serious topics, the book is not all doom and gloom, it is filled with fun ocean adventures with pirates and inspiring messages of hope.

With little scientific fact files dotted throughout the book, explaining the issues in a more detail and the devastating effects they have on the ocean.

This was a wonderful read, and I'm sure it will inspire the next generation of marine scientists and climate activists.

Thank you to NetGalley & Puffin for the DRC.