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

Twelve-year-old Ellie moves to her grandmother’s Maine homestead and uncovers unexpected truths about her family and the natural world around her. Guided by new friends, a mysterious seal, and her grandmother’s enduring spirit, she finds her voice as a young climate activist. A coming-of-age story that blends ecological urgency with heart, humor, and a touch of magic.

For fans of Hoot by Carl Hiaasen and anyone who loves the sea and believes in protecting what matters.

Awards & recognition

2026 Green Earth Book Award — Longlist
2026 Lupine Award — Shortlist

Robin Elsbeth Jenkins
Softcover: 978-1-961905-62-7 | $12.95
E-book: 978-1-961905-63-4 | $2.99
September 2025 | 202 pages | Ages 8-12

Buy Softcover
Sell Sheet PDF
Buy Ebook
Free Educator's Guide

Wholesale inquiries from retailers and schools are welcome via our Contact page. Schools receive a 10% discount on all purchases. 12 Willows titles are also available through all major bookseller platforms.

“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
“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
“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
“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, 15-year-old environmental activist and Citizen’s Climate Lobby volunteer
“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