Rating: My Bookshelf
Reading level: Early Elementary
This was a really informative Boxcar book! I learned about indicator species, oil-spill clean up procedures, and the usefulness of mayonaise helping animals overcome oil pollution! It was a refreshing change from the spooky direction some of the other Boxcar books have taken; not much spook factor at all in this one.
I love how the oil industry is *not* demonized and the captain who ran the ship aground causing the spill shows remorse. The town comes out to work together to solve the problem & doesn’t condemn her at all.
Considerations:
- When talking about habitat, there was mention of climate change leading ocean levels to rise. Animals that live in sand dunes are boxed in by hotels & homes on the other side. This wasn’t a huge push, but endangered animals were obviously a theme.
- Another common theme was that everything is connected. This was treated more in a scientific way rather than a zen way, but nevertheless might be an issue for some families.
As for me, I’m happy to add this one to my bookshelf.

Here are links to my reviews of other Boxcar Children books: