Song of the River Dolphin

This is a heartwarming story about the bond between a girl and a baby dolphin, and finding the courage to use your voice. Perfect for fans of Barbara O'Connor and M.C. Ross!When Ava first started school, she had a hard time talking to people. But once her dad taught her how to sing, she found her voice in other places too--until he died two years ago. Now, eleven-year-old Ava is struggling to speak again, especially when she's anxious. But when she's around the animals at the aquarium where her mom works, she feels at home.On a visit to see the wild dolphin habitat in a nearby river, Ava makes a quick connection with Spike, a baby dolphin that has an unusually pointed fin. Routinely checking up on him, Ava starts to realize that the river that Spike and his pod call home is being overrun with human activity and trash. And it's only getting worse. Until eventually, Spike is missing and the pod of dolphins is fleeing the polluted and rapidly developing area. Ava finds herself in a situation where, if she doesn't speak up, nobody will.

Reese Eschmann holds a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois-Chicago and worked in schools for six years. When she's not writing or taking naps, Reese enjoys rock climbing, baking, and making movies with her family. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and their hound dog.