Ramona’s Reviews > Water, Water > Status Update

There are bad people - the teen pirates - who think only of themselves. Then there are those, who created the floating junk island - that rescue Rafe and Dao from the little house. They find that those you call family don't have to be related. All obstacles can be overcome or dealt with if you work together. Humans are smart and if they use their brains and kindness they will come up with solutions.

The main theme of the story is coming through. The Earth is being ruined by man. Greed and hate are the main thrust of why people are unable to stop the pollution, and mistreatment of the planet. Many people believe that a global event will happen, perhaps like the one in this story, where the heart is flooded. You cannot be "an Island" - everyone needs someone, and all should work together for survival.

A disagreement quickly arises the next morning. Dao grabs a fourth can of food, and Rafe tries to explain that they must not eat up all their food.

The canned foods the author chooses are funny. Rafe has a meal of pickled mushrooms and cream of asparagus soup. Next, a small girl, that speaks another language, and a cat on a pool raft are rescued, by Rafe. Rafe serves Dao some beef stew, sardines, and corn, using Frisbee for her plate, and a ruler broken in two as their utensils. Rafe wonders how the girl survived, having nothing, compared to what he has.

Rafe begins to understand that we all need people in our lives. We miss things in our busy lives, or we just don't pay attention. He makes up a song and finds ten tins of sardines, a bottle of lemon juice, a rubber ball for Buddy, and a Tupperware container of old pictures. A family's life is displayed in those pictures. Rafe has a family! The next find is a can of purple paint. He paints "Rafe says Hi!"

Chapter 8. The Age of Sail. Another package, flat this time - don't get your hopes up. A tent - with tent poles. Rafe had watched a documentary with his parents - the Age of Sail." That's it. A sail could move the room faster and farther - maybe he could find land, more food, or people. Rigged up like a parachute, the tent catches the air, and the room moves! Not good - with no pointed front the room jerks.

Chapter 6 - 50 R.D. Rafe hauls in a crate with the help of a bungee cord and lots of patience. Rubber Ducks! Useless. Chapter 7 is strange. Rafe starts to read a book for a "last day of school" English assignment. The story is odd. A young girl has a conversation with a rabbit, in her yard. The little stories in the story are an interesting addition. Again, Rafe sees something on the water - what is it?

The whole room is going up and down the waves like a rollercoaster. Lightning turns everything white. He thinks to collect the rainwater - uses his Lego bucket - he puts water in every container he has in his room. He thinks about a school chum, Allen Gilruddy who could do the two-finger whistle. Back up on the roof, potty break, and a walk, he spots a sea serpent! Not the Loch Ness monster - a pile of garbage.