Robin Elsbeth Jenkins

softcover 978-1-961905-62-7
e-book 978-1-961905-63-4

September 29, 2025 | 202 pages | Ages 8-12 & 13-18 years

Categories: Juvenile fiction | Social themes | Emotions and feelings | Science & nature | Animals

A Seal. A Circle of Friends. A Special Kind of Magic.

Twelve-year-old Ellie moves to her grandmother’s Maine homestead, uncovering extraordinary secrets about her family, community, and nature. In a silent town, she finds her voice as a young climate activist, aided by misfit friends, a mysterious seal, and her grandmother’s spirit. Set on the wild Maine coast, The Secret of the Catapus is a coming-of-age tale blending environmental urgency with heartfelt storytelling, humor, and magical realism.

For Parents, Teachers, and Young Eco-Warriors If you’re looking for middle-grade books about climate change, children’s books set on the Maine coast, or novels for juvenile and YA readers that blend friendship, marine life, and environmental themes—The Secret of the Catapus is your next must-read.

Explore themes of grief, courage, identity, and community action, all grounded in a realistic, compelling narrative. Perfect for fans of Carl Hiaasen’s Hoot and anyone passionate about nature, seals, or saving the planet.

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Retailers and schools, bring our transformative stories to your community. Wholesale inquiries welcome via our Contact page. Schools receive a 10% discount on all purchases.

12 Willows titles can also be purchased from all major bookseller platforms.

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“Beautifully written, with a vivid sense of place that will connect readers with nature and make the environmental crisis real and personal. Engaging characters and human warmth demonstrate that individuals can be part of creating solutions to the threats we all face. Accessible, readable adventure with a true green heart.”
—Nicola Davies, author of The Song That Sings Us

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“The Secret of the Catapus is an extraordinary story of love: for the natural world, for standing up for what is right, and for carrying forward a grandparent’s legacy. Ellie is a force, and the town of Whitneyport hums with Down East traditions as it confronts our desperate need for greater ecological responsibility. You’ll have to listen to these whip-smart kids, and you won’t want to leave these waters.”
—Gregory Brown, author of The Lowering Days

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“Full of good-hearted humor, compelling issues, lovable characters, friendship, and hope, The Secret of the Catapus will resonate long after the last page is read.“
—Kristine Bondeson, Echoes Magazine, columnist

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“Ellie is a young climate warrior with such a good heart! Descriptions of the Maine coast and its inhabitants, rich intergenerational backstory, and a touch of magical realism have strong literary qualities that enrich the narrative..”
—Kate Risse, author of Inland

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“Thank you for writing this book! I am so glad an author has finally published a story about environmental activism so true to the experience of a young person!“
—Thea Dugas, 15-year-old old environmental activist and Citizen’s Climate Lobby volunteer