Pelican in Peril

“‘It’s strange there is so much water here,’ Ebony thought. ‘It hasn’t rained in weeks.’ She went closer and then she could see it wasn’t water at all. It was oil. A big murky pool of oily waste. And it had been dumped at the dunes.” (p. 59)

Best friends Ebony and Jay are racing along the pier when they stumble upon a frightened-looking pelican covered in oil. As dedicated Eco Rangers, the two decide to rescue the bird (whom they name Poseidon) and bring him to their local conservation center. Luckily, the center’s skilled doctors are able to nurse Poseidon back to health, but there still remains a mystery unsolved. Where did the oil come from in the first place? As it happens, Ebony and Jay end up overhearing some chatter from the local cruise workers. It seems like the company is doing some nefarious activities in relation to their oil waste. Determined to uncover the truth, Ebony and Jay take it upon themselves to investigate the matter themselves and put an end to the wrongdoings.

A fast-paced eco-mystery, Pelican in Peril reveals the lengths to which some companies will go for financial profit, even at the expense of wildlife and the environment. Early on in their investigation, Ebony and Jay watch an interview with the cruise company’s CEO, who was boasting about the company’s sustainable practices: “We care very much for the environment, and we can promise we have made every effort to ensure an oil leak never happens again. All remaining oil waste is contained in drums and has been disposed of carefully at the town’s waste disposal factory” (p. 52). But soon afterwards, the kids find out that this statement is not true at all! It turns out only a small percentage of the oil was properly disposed of while the rest was dumped into the ocean. Upon confrontation, the CEO has no remorse for his actions, admitting, “A little bit of oil waste in the sea is better than paying the huge amount of money they want to charge me at the waste disposal center. It’s saving me money, lots of glorious money, dumping the waste myself” (p. 76). By exposing the cruise company’s deceitful practices, Ebony and Jay shine a spotlight on the harmful effects of greenwashing. The company’s actions demonstrate how greed can not only damage natural habitats but also put countless species at risk. While perhaps a bit unreEbony and Jay’s important role of Eco Rangers offers a powerful lesson for young readers about the importance of youth climate activism and wildlife conservation. Their willingness to go beyond the surface and investigate behind the scenes encourages young people to ask questions, challenge misleading narratives, and take action when they see environmental injustices.

©2026 ClimateLit (Alexandra Delacruz)

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Publisher: New Frontier Publishing, 2020

Audience: Ages 4-7, Ages 8-13

ISBN: 9781912858842

Pages: 112

Lexile Score: 670L

Format: Novels

Topics: Conservation, Eco-mystery, Greed, Greenwashing, Human Impact, Marine Pollution, Oil, Oil Spills, Protection, Waste Reduction, Wildlife, Youth Climate Activism