May 1, 2023
A budding journalist takes a dip into marine science while investigating a series of mysterious power failures at a local aquarium. Tied in with long-distance video interviews, infodumps, and an appended multipage color photo spread to the real OceanXplorer research vessel, this series kickoff finds easily distracted fifth grader Marena Montoya volunteering as a junior science reporter for the aquarium's newsletter--providing a tailor-made opportunity for readers to learn more about coral reefs and recent discoveries in marine biology as she researches topics for articles or makes presentations. Meanwhile, looking into a strange series of nighttime power failures leads her from romanticized notions of a ghost in the building to exposing the solidly scientific real cause (which involves a precocious octopus and is based on a true incident). Monochrome images of Marena and her best friend, Aisha, depicting both with dark skin, add stylish notes; the episode's STEM-centric slant is underscored by a substantial number of full-page and spot views of maps, documents, the featured ship, and marine life. An uncomplicated caper with a large but not unwieldy informational load. (Fiction. 9-11)
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