Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan
The Author:
Rick Riordan is probably known best for his world-famous series Percy Jackson and the Olympians (now a Disney Plus series!). And while the Percy Jackson series was rolling out while I was in middle school, I didn’t actually read them until a few years ago - and I love them.
Riordan has a rare talent for middle age fiction, and I think the most important thing he does is elevate his audience.
That’s why his writing hits so well for all age groups. That’s why young readers love his work.
He doesn’t dumb anything down.
Riordan presents real world problems without pulling any punches. His prose pushes readers to reach - the scientific names dropped in Daughter of the Deep had me reaching for Google - and I have a degree in organismal biology. Meanwhile, his characters show resilience in the face of learning disabilities, betrayal, and loss, teaching young readers how to lift themselves, how to show up as a friend.
And all of those qualities show up front and center in Daughter of the Deep.
The Book:
Daughter of the Deep is middle grade fiction (and currently a stand-alone). At no point should the term “middle grade” deter you. This novel tackles the hard realities of parental loss, forging friendships, choosing your destiny, and navigating a turbulent heritage.
Ana Dakkar is a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a specialized school for marine science. Since the recent loss of their parents, HP is essentially home to Ana and her older brother. So when the school falls under attack from a rival academy, Land Institute, Ana will do anything to find out if her brother’s alive and salvage what students she can, even if it means facing the truth of her heritage.
Named as a descendant from the infamous Captain Nemo, Ana is after answers. Answers about her parents’ deaths, answers about her brother’s disappearance, and answers about her own destiny. After all, Captain Nemo left more than a lineage as his legacy.
The Beastie:
Socrates the bottlenose dolphin!
Truthfully, I had no idea a dolphin was in this book until after I started reading. And, as someone who dreamed of being a dolphin trainer from ages 5 to 15, yes, I absolutely freaked out. A dolphin BFF? Yes. Yes, 100% sign me UP.
Even more of a surprise (though, I suppose it shouldn’t have been knowing Riordan’s track record), was how significant of a role Socrates came to play.
First and foremost, Socrates’ name immediately gives us a sense of Ana’s character. After all, he didn’t name himself. Choosing a Greek philosopher’s name for her dolphin pal shows us the depth of Ana’s education and her value on intellect and ingenuity. Things she hopes to cultivate in herself. At the same time, it quickly reminds us how smart dolphins are to begin with. They create games, they’re brilliant hunters, and they can easily differentiate between different humans.
The next thing we learn about Socrates is that he’s a notorious goof - which also rings true with dolphin natural behavior. He loves to play and dance which provides two essential elements to Ana’s story. First, it’s a source of comic relief - and not just to the reader. Socrates is there after intensely dark moments to play hokey pokey and goose anyone that dares to swim to close. It gives the reader a moment to breathe, and it also gives Ana a chance to find that silver lining.
Which brings us to point number two. Ana’s going through a lot of heavy trials (losing her parents, her brother, her school, and seemingly any choice over her destiny), but Socrates is there to remind her to find the good in the bad. To appreciate her friends and create moments of joy instead of waiting for them. He’s teaching her how to be resilient, which is an invaluable tool for anyone at any stage in life.
However I believe the most important role Socrates plays in Daughter of the Deep is acting as a bridge between Ana and her brother. In the middle of trying to figure out who they want to be as emerging adults, these two kids have lost the pillars of their family. They’re trying to heal as individuals, while also being hormonal, overwhelmed, and stressed-out teens, AND find some sense of normalcy in their relationship as siblings.
Socrates makes it easier. He’s neutral ground, something outside of school and family and themselves that they reach for every single morning to stay connected with each other. And when Ana’s brother is missing after the attack on HP, Socrates is a reminder of their bond, of what they mean to each other. He gives Ana a sense of family when she has none left.
And in the end, when every truth comes to light and all secrets surface, Socrates might just be their bridge back to each other.
While Daughter of the Deep is a wonderful adventure all on its own, I truly think Riordan’s inclusion of Socrates makes the story so much richer. He’s a symbol of ingenuity, fun, resilience, and family, giving Ana a silver lining through the deep.
Vet Tech Tidbit:
This particular vet tech tidbit is near and dear to my heart. I’ve lived my entire life adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay and had the privilege of seeing bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat more times than I can count.
But that’s exactly what it is - a privilege.
There’s a rule I always thought was my dad’s, which is basically “let them come to you.”
When we’d spot dolphins off the bow (and I was promptly losing my mind), my dad would cut the engine and let us drift. Sometimes the dolphins would come check us out, but most often they’d pass us by. I thought he was just being respectful - which he was - but it wasn’t until later I actually learned he was following the law.
Dolphins and other marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which you can find out more about through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
With such an influx in human activity on the water, not approaching, interacting with, or, most importantly, feeding, dolphins is critical to preserving their existence in the wild.
Here’s some tough love for you. Jumping into the water and interacting with a pod of dolphins sounds magical, right?
Thanks for reading! Be sure to catch the awkward, recorded version of my appreciation for Socrates on Books&Beasties on YouTube. And if you think of any books or beasties you’d love to see featured, let me know!
Happy reading,
Sarah