The Secret of the Catapus

Winner of the 2026 Maine Literary Award for Young People's Literature

Twelve-year-old Ellie Andrews didn't plan on spending seventh grade in a tiny Maine fishing village. But when her parents' marriage falls apart, she finds herself at her late grandmother's coastal homestead in Whitneyport—where the lobster boats run at dawn, the tides tell time, and a mysterious harbor seal keeps turning up wherever she goes.

Gram was the town's beloved teacher, a fierce environmentalist, and a woman with a few secrets. As Ellie finds her footing with a misfit circle of friends, navigates a teacher who refuses to believe in climate change, and tries to keep a promise to a grandmother she can still feel watching over her, she begins to understand what Gram was protecting—and why it matters more than ever.

The Secret of the Catapus is a coming-of-age story about grief, courage, and what it means to carry someone's legacy forward. It's also about a seal named Catapus, who has his own ideas about where Ellie belongs.

For readers ages 10–14 who love the ocean, animals, and stories that stay with them. For fans of Hoot by Carl Hiaasen and Island of the Blue Dolphins.

Awards & Recognition
2026 Maine Literary Award for Young People's Literature
2026 Green Earth Book Award—Honor Book
2026 Lupine Award—Shortlist

"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."
—Gregory Brown, author of The Lowering Days

"Beautifully written, with a vivid sense of place that will connect readers with nature and make the environmental crisis real and personal."
—Nicola Davies, author of The Song That Sings Us

"Thank you for writing this book! A story about environmental activism so true to the experience of a young person!"
—Thea, 15-year-old environmental activist and Citizens' Climate Lobby volunteer