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SUPER READERS
Title:  The Arm Of The Starfish
Author:  Madeleine L'Engle
Reviewer:   Abigail K. '09

When Adam Eddington leaves his home in Woods Hole, New York he doesn't know what he is getting into. Early on in this marine biologist's trip he meets Kali Cutter, a beautiful blond-haired girl. They meet at the airport when Adam is waiting for his plane to Portugal. He will be working there during the summer for Dr. O'Keefe. Kali warns him that Dr. O'Keefe is up to no good. She says that Dr. O'Keefe knows more about arm and leg regeneration than anyone else does and that it can save many people's lives. Her father, Mr. "Typhoon" Cutter, is trying to help the world by getting this information. Adam promises that he will try to get the regeneration information to her.


Kali and Adam go on different planes. On Adam's plane he sees a priest and a young red-haired girl. Adam notices that the plane is flying away from Lisbon which is where he wants to go. The pilot announces that they are going to a different town due to the fog. When Adam's plane lands he finds out that the priest on the plane is Canon Talis and the little girl is Polyhymnia, or Poly, O'Keefe. Canon Talis works for Dr. O'Keefe. Canon introduces himself to Adam and says that he has come to give Adam instructions. Because Canon needs to go to England,  he asks Adam to take Poly to Lisbon.


On the plane, Poly goes to the bathroom and doesn't come back. Adam tells a steward. The steward doesn't remember seeing Poly board the plane. When Adam gets off the plane he is still "Polyless." He meets Dr. O'Keefe for the first time. Dr. O'Keefe doesn't seem as bad as Kali explained him. Is Kali telling him the truth or is Dr. O'Keefe really kidnapping his own child just so the world won't know about some important experiment? When Adam finds out the truth he needs to decide, "What side am I on?"

I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to people who like animals and people who like mystery.

 

Winter 2002


5th Grade Super Readers
Director:  Betty Grant - Lower School Reading Specialist
Web Site - Andrea Owens
Germantown Academy

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