secrets of topsea series
BOOK ONE: A Friendly Town That’s Almost Always by the Ocean!
Welcome to Topsea — the strangest town you’ll ever visit. There’s a high tide and a low tide… and a vanishing tide. Dogs are a myth, but mermaids are totally real. And seaweed is the main ingredient in every meal. (Watch out, it might just start chewing you back!)
Davy’s mom keeps saying they’ll get used to life in their new town. But why is his locker all the way at the bottom of the school swimming pool? Why can’t anyone remember his name? (It’s Davy!) And why does everyone act like all of this is normal?!
Through newspaper articles, stories, surveys, notifications, and more, follow Davy and the rest of Ms. Grimalkin’s fifth grade class through the weird world of Topsea. (Whatever you do, don’t make eye contact with the rubber ducks.)
Written as Kir Fox with M. Shelley Coats and illustrated by Rachel Sanson
Ages 8-12; Disney-Hyperion 2017 & Little, Brown 2020
ISBN: 9781368000055
A Junior Library Guild Selection, 2018
"In the style of Louis Sachar's Sideways Stories from Wayside School, this first title in the Secrets of Topsea series is replete with wittiness and absurdity, but a deeper look reveals universal themes of struggling to fit in, fearing new things, and coping with loss…. Their inclusion, along with a diverse representation of families and social groups, make this story a gateway for children to see themselves and to feel seen."
— Publishers Weekly
"A deft mix of chills and chuckles."
— Kirkus Reviews
BOOK TWO: The Extremely High Tide!
Talise knows more about the ocean than any kid in Topsea. Any adult, too. As the best-and only-bathymetrist in Topsea, Talise is able to predict important things about the sea, like the next tide (Severely Low with a threat of Wildcard) or the arrival of Seaweed Season. What she can’t predict, however, are her classmates’ behaviors. Sometimes it’s as if they’re speaking different languages.
When Talise discovers a mysterious message in a bottle, her classmates believe it must have been sent by someone stranded on a deserted island. (Not to be confused with a dessert island.) But Talise is convinced the message is meant for her. And it’s telling her to build a boat.
Everyone thinks she’s just being silly. All Talise knows is that she’d better finish fast — because an Extremely High Tide is on its way.
Written as Kir Fox with M. Shelley Coats and illustrated by Rachel Sanson
Ages 8-12; Disney-Hyperion 2018 & Little, Brown 2020
ISBN: 9781368000291
A Junior Library Guild Selection, 2019
"Wonderfully weird... [A] celebration of individuality, friendship, and embracing your uniqueness."
— Booklist