For Amy Henderson, 1973 has been a lonely year of too many awkward moments to count--that is, until she helps rescue an injured seal pup. To help save Pup, she forms an unlikely alliance with a questionable boy in a worn-out army jacket, and a peculiar older woman the kids in town call "Old Coot." 

Amy finds that people aren't always what they seem, as she nurtures Pup back to health with the help of Craig and Miss Cogshell, while trying to hide Pup from the harbormaster and a group of nosy popular girls who have their eyes on Craig. Just as Amy starts to feel at home with her newfound friends, she must face an unexpected challenge that could change the future of her town, and her own life as well.

Our thoughts:

This is Strykowski's first novel and it was really cute. The budding friendship between Amy and Craig was very sweet and believable, as was their relationship with an elderly woman that the kids all referred to as "Old Coot". What I had a hard time believing was the idea that they were harboring a seal pup. I didn't think you could even keep a seal alive without having some place for him to swim, no less be able to keep him in a house. I can't imagine what that must have smelled like.

On the whole I liked this book. The characters insecurities, self-doubt, and wisdom made them all very convincing. This was a nice coming of age book.