WhaleSnark Reviews: Race to the Bottom of the Sea by Lindsay Eager

I love the ocean, as you all know, so this book was an especially compelling to read.
Gosh, I really have to say how much I love this book cover too. It's visually stunning, and as usual, it gives insight into the contents of the book without spoiling.

I talked about this book in one of my earlier posts, so forgive me for copying the synopsis again here. Why reinvent the wheel?

"When her parents, the great marine scientists Dr. and Dr. Quail, are killed in a tragic accident, eleven-year-old Fidelia Quail is racked by grief — and guilt. It was a submarine of Fidelia’s invention that her parents were in when they died, and it was she who pressed them to stay out longer when the raging Undertow was looming. But Fidelia is forced out of her mourning when she’s kidnapped by Merrick the Monstrous, a pirate whose list of treasons stretches longer than a ribbon eel. Her task? Use her marine know-how to retrieve his treasure, lost on the ocean floor. But as Fidelia and the pirates close in on the prize, with the navy hot on their heels, she realizes that Merrick doesn’t expect to live long enough to enjoy his loot. Could something other than black-hearted greed be driving him? Will Fidelia be able to master the perils of the ocean without her parents — and piece together the mystery of Merrick the Monstrous before it’s too late? 

This book is charming. I love it. Full of lively descriptions of plants and animals found in the oceans, and some totally made-up, Eagar does a great job showing her personal love of the sea through words. 
Fidelia is a character I really connected with. She shows empathy, kindness, tenacity in the face of danger, and who doesn't love a bespectacled heroine!? There are not enough of them. Fidelia is KIDNAPPED while grieving, but she still is brave and does her very best in every situation. I enjoyed that we get to read what Fidelia's thoughts are as the book goes forward. Her emotions are palpable and real. I think any child reading this will learn some empathy. 

 There's mystery, romance, piracy, lunacy, adventure, tears, and it all is mixed in with lovely marine biological references! To me, that's perfect!
5/5 stars for sure!