The S.O.U.R.C.E.
An ESCAPE . . . from Ocean World? You’ve got to be kidding! IMPOSSIBLE!
Supposedly an escape from Ocean World can never happen, but a group of injured and physically challenged marine mammals under treatment at the park wants to go home. Against all odds, with an outrageous plan and teamwork, they miraculously escape to freedom.
Homeward bound on a journey filled with danger, the escapees encounter a couple of adventurous children, a magnificent sea creature, and her unpredictable twin. This unlikely group of characters forms a unique family and ends up on a challenging mission with a vital message they must share with the world. But how? And who would listen to them anyway? After all, they’re just kids. What do they know?
The S.O.U.R.C.E. is an inspiring fable for ages 8-12. In the guise of a highly entertaining adventure, this action-packed educational tale uses charismatic marine animals and their human pals to introduce children to the importance of friendship, teamwork, and protecting the environment. With powerful messages in a fun and exciting read, kids will come to understand; KIDS CAN make a difference.
The S.O.U.R.C.E.
An ESCAPE . . . from Ocean World? You’ve got to be kidding! IMPOSSIBLE!
Supposedly an escape from Ocean World can never happen, but a group of injured and physically challenged marine mammals under treatment at the park wants to go home. Against all odds, with an outrageous plan and teamwork, they miraculously escape to freedom.
Homeward bound on a journey filled with danger, the escapees encounter a couple of adventurous children, a magnificent sea creature, and her unpredictable twin. This unlikely group of characters forms a unique family and ends up on a challenging mission with a vital message they must share with the world. But how? And who would listen to them anyway? After all, they’re just kids. What do they know?
The S.O.U.R.C.E. is an inspiring fable for ages 8-12. In the guise of a highly entertaining adventure, this action-packed educational tale uses charismatic marine animals and their human pals to introduce children to the importance of friendship, teamwork, and protecting the environment. With powerful messages in a fun and exciting read, kids will come to understand; KIDS CAN make a difference.
He had ridden thousands of rails, jumped more curbs,
and spun more midair three-sixties on his skateboard than
any other kid in the state. Even with that, he was always
looking for something new and unusual to challenge
his ability and talents. Fearless, he would try just about
anything to create another one of his mind-blowing tricks.
This undisputed skateboard king, better known as Sky
Ryder, had just expanded his kingdom by capturing the
West Coast skateboard championship.
Clickity-clack, clickity-clack, clickity-clack, you could
hear him ripping along a block away. He was on and off
the sidewalks, jumping curbs and trash cans as he barreled
down the street to hook up with his best friend Silk.
Equally talented, she had easily captured her division at
the same championship competition.
The two friends loved creating and perfecting breakdancing
style tricks on their boards. Ryder specialized in
hair-raising stunts and eye-popping maneuvers, and Silk
added gymnastic acrobatics to her freestyle performances.
Wearing a shirt, jeans, a backpack, and a boogie board
strapped to his back, Ryder came flying around the corner
and crossed the street toward Silk’s house.
When he arrived at her driveway, she was waiting for
him, outfitted the same way.
“Wow, Ryder, you look super cool!”
“You too,” he replied, “awesome prizes we won, huh?
The trip to Ocean World, wetsuits, backpacks, boogie boards,
and these custom-made skateboards with our names on
them—unbelievable.”
Silk agreed, “Yeah, and just for doing what we love to
do best.”
“Got that right,” said Ryder as he pulled a sports drink
out of his backpack, chugged half, and motioned to Silk,
“come on, it’s flying time. This is going to be a blast!”
The day began with an early start, so the two
adventurers had plenty of time to do everything they
wanted to do. It was the first time the pair was going to
skate on their custom-designed wheels.
Heading to the beach, they planned to ride along the
bike path, surf with their boogie boards, and visit a funfilled
entertainment pier. The pier was a great place to hang
out. It had all kinds of shops, food stands, and a double
Ferris wheel that spun high out over the water.
The two stepped on their skateboards, and off they
went. They zigzagged through the neighborhood toward
the road that would take them down to the highway along
the ocean.
In no time, they reached the stop sign at the top of the
canyon above the beach. Ryder spun around on his rear
wheels and stepped off. Silk did the same as he took some
snacks out of his backpack.
“Here you go,” he said as he handed one to her and
then ripped open the wrapper on his. Silk watched as he
devoured his trail mix bar and washed it down with the
rest of his energy drink. Finished in less than a minute,
he barked out a couple of obnoxious belches and tossed
his trash over his shoulder. The wrapper and empty drink
container landed in the drainage ditch next to the sidewalk.
Silk confronted him as she put her trash in her backpack.
“Why did you do that, Ryder?”
“What are you talking about?” he asked, completely
clueless.
“Tossing your trash,” she responded, pointing to the
ditch.
“Duuuuuuuuuuuuuh! Why do you think? To get rid
of it!” he said, ignoring her concern. He rolled his eyes,
jumped on his skateboard, and headed down the sidewalk
along the canyon road.
“You’re a trashing pig, Ryder!” she snapped, shaking
her head in disgust as she followed behind. The road to the
beach paralleled the drainage ditch. As Silk skated down
the sidewalk, she saw Ryder’s trash. It was being washed
down the hill along with other debris by runoff water.
When they reached the bottom of the canyon, they
followed the sidewalk down into a huge cement drainage
pipe leading under the highway. Whooping like a howler
monkey, Ryder shot through to the other side. As Silk
followed close behind, she noticed his container and
wrapper floating in the drainage water next to them.
Upon reaching the other end, the sidewalk connected
to the bike path. It was there Ryder stepped off his wheels
and flipped his board up into his hands. Stepping off her
board, Silk glanced back at the tunnel.
“What’s going to happen to all that stuff?” she asked,
pointing to his trash and the garbage floating toward them.
“You mean you can’t tell?” he said sarcastically.
“Really, Silk! It will just get washed out to sea and sink. You
know, out of sight, out of mind—no big deal. Who cares
anyway?” he added as he dropped his board next to her.
“Enough with the trash talk. Come on now; it’s fun time.
We’re at the beach!”
Silk rolled her eyes and shook her head as they
simultaneously stepped on their boards and sailed off, side
by side down the bike path.
Our story begins with Sky Ryder, the undisputed skateboard king of the West Coast and his best friend Silk skateboarding. The duo are jumping curbs as well as trashcans. They can even do breakdancing style tricks on their boards. Silk has also added gymnastic acrobatics to her performances. They are psyched because they just won a competition. Part of their prizes include: a trip to Ocean World, wetsuits, backpacks, boogie boards, and custom made skateboards with their names on them. Today, they are headed to the beach. And as kids so often are, they're hungry and stop for a snack. Ryder tosses his trash (a wrapper and empty drink container) over his shoulder. We slowly see Ryder's trash being washed down the hill along with other debris. His response when being scolded by Silk is "Out of sight, out of mind, ...no big deal." Then they continue to the beach. There they meet Jaxx the sea lion, Duster the pelican, Nikki the gray whale, Rio an orca, and Patches a baby sea otter. Soon they find that their adventures are just beginning.
I really enjoyed reading The S.O.U.R.C.E. by Suzanna Royse. I just got a kick out of all the illustrations. Each page was filled with an awesome depiction of what's going on. That is a definite must for helping keep younger readers engaged. From the very first page the author begins with excitement and there's never a dull moment.
Each sea creature that the two encounter have had a problem in one way or another with pollution. For example Rio the Orca got pollution sickness from bad things people have dumped in the ocean. Poor thing got caught in floating garbage. Jaxx the sea lion got caught in a steel fishing wire leaving him deeply scarred for the rest of his life.
I appreciated the fact that the chapters while easy to read (for younger ones) don't talk down to older readers. The point however couldn't be more clearer: pollution is everyone's problem. When I saw the artist depiction of the whales and dolphin swimming under a bunch of trash it just made my heart hurt.
I give The S.O.U.R.C.E. by Suzanna Royse 5 out of 5 stars. For encouraging young people to take responsibility and get involved in protecting the environment. Because everyone young and old needs to know about the affects and effects of ocean pollution on the entire planet.