Author：Evan Griffith
Translator：Masako Tagaya
*Original first published in 2022
As something fitting for the summer, I decided to read one of the books chosen for the 71st Youth Book Report Contest.
It brought back memories of my elementary school days, when I used to struggle to write book reports on the assigned reading.
This time, I chose Manatee Summer. The title alone evokes the feeling of a summer where a child grows up under the blue sky, white clouds, and blazing sun.
The story follows a boy who loves animals and grows through his encounters with a manatee.
It featured a diverse cast of characters—a single mother, a grandfather with dementia, a best friend named Tommy, and a newcomer at a manatee conservation center. Indeed, it contained contemporary American themes, such as family relationships and environmental protection.
The author’s website is also beautifully designed. Looking through the photos—including the author’s photo—helps you feel the world of the story. For Japanese, the scenery depicted in the website feels like a completely different world. The availability of online information today is another big difference from when I was a child.
(Completed reading: September 11, 2025)
