A Sea Lion Called Salena

Lorraine Douglas is the youth services co-ordinator at the Winnipeg
Public Library.

Kristie, who is really lonely when her best friend moves away, goes off
by herself to the beach on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia. There
she spots a sea lion pup that has been injured by hunters. She is
determined to help the pup, whom she names Salena. Kristie begins
catching fish for Salena but the pup becomes steadily weaker. The
problems increase when two boys from school, Ivan and David, discover
the pup, and the local fishermen decide to shoot Salena. Kristie gets
unexpected help from her family and Ivan, and they intercept the
fishermen. Staff from Undersea World come and take Salena away for
medical treatment, and Kristie becomes even more involved in the sea
lion’s care.

The characters and conflicts are particularly well developed in this
sensitive portrayal of Kristie’s relationship with her family and
friends, and of her caring for Salena. However, the novel is at times
too instructional (for example, when Kristie repeats some of the
information she is reading in a book about sea lions), and the
pointillistic black-and-white illustrations are awkward and do not
enhance this satisfying story. Recommended with reservations.