Make a Little Wave: An Interview with Author Kerry O’Malley Cerra

Moving to a new house, making new friends, and speaking up for sharks is always hard, but Savannah gives it her best shot in Make a Little Wave. When she discovers her new friend’s family is involved in inhumanely killing endangered sharks for profit, she forces herself out of her comfort zone to stand up for the sharks.

Today author Kerry O’Malley Cerra shares why she wrote this middle grade novel and what readers can do to get involved in wildlife conservation. Read on to watch the official book trailer and download the free activity guide.

This book is about sharks. First, we want to know, are you afraid of them?

I grew up in Florida, so the beach has always been a huge part of my life. As a kid, I never really worried about sharks. But that changed around high school—maybe because that’s when I learned to surf and fear crept in, or that’s when I saw the movie Jaws for the first time—so yes, I was scared of them as a teen. I think that goes to show most people aren’t inherently afraid of sharks, but rather, we’re conditioned to be.

As my daughter earned her college degree in marine biology with a concentration in sharks, I listened to her talk facts, watched her in her field, and felt her passion. That’s when my thoughts shifted again. If you pay attention to the statistics, accept the low probability of being bitten, and understand that humans are not part of sharks’ diets, that fear slowly dissipates. At least it did for me, and I hope it will for others too.

Now, I enjoy swimming with sharks. Knowledge really is freeing.

The book states that many sharks are on the endangered species list. Is this true? And if so, should we be concerned?

It’s absolutely true. Sharks are being killed to the point of extinction. And we do need to be concerned. Our world is so interconnected, and sharks play a critical role in making sure oceanic ecosystems function properly. 

Sharks are apex predators that help keep the food chain balanced. Here are two examples: If sharks weren’t around to keep the seal populations in check, the overabundance of seals would decimate fish populations that regulate healthy levels of small organisms like phytoplankton. Healthy phytoplankton on the ocean’s surface are crucial in that they provide most of Earth’s oxygen–the air we breathe every day. And another example: if sharks aren’t around to eat stingrays, the stingray population explodes. These extra stingrays would eat too many shellfish. Then there wouldn’t be enough shellfish to keep coral reefs healthy. And we need healthy reefs, which not only help regulate the nutrient balance in the ocean but also provide habitats for the seaweed and seagrass, which help produce some of Earth’s oxygen. Healthy shark populations ensure a healthy planet!

Without sharks, oceans can’t thrive. Whether we love them or hate them, the fact is, we need them.

Click here to read more about why sharks matter and why we should care. My daughter, Kylie, wrote this scientific note, which appears at the end of the book.  

What was your goal in writing this book?

Words are powerful, and written words give kids the ability to digest information in their own time. My hope was to hook readers with a compelling story and get them thinking about big ideas like ocean conservation and activism.

Like my character, Sav, I’m not naturally inclined to stand up on a podium and rally a crowd. Writing is my contribution to the shark preservation movement. I’ll never consider myself an expert on sharks, but if I can use my writing to promote awareness and make little waves, then I’m doing my small part to help better our world.

Your main character, Sav, wears cochlear implants in both ears. Why did you include that in the story?

I’m deaf and recently chose to have cochlear implant surgery in my left ear. As a huge reader growing up, I never saw someone like me in books. I wish I had. I wish I hadn’t spent so many years feeling less than, simply because disabilities like mine weren’t widely talked about—at least not in positive ways. Through my writing, I want kids who are deaf or have hearing loss to see themselves, and I hope others who don’t live this experience will gain an understanding of what it’s like. There are so many misconceptions about deafness and hearing loss, so hopefully, books like this open doors for conversations.

One of the opening scenes involves Sav, a restaurant, and a mysterious bowl of soup. It’s both hilarious and serious all at once. Can you tell us a little about that?

Ha, yes! I had so much fun writing this scene. It’s the moment that changes everything for Sav, and for that reason, it is serious—the horror in her realization of what’s happening. But her reaction is what makes the scene funny and endearing. It’s a true Sav moment! I don’t want to give anything away here, so you’ll just have to grab a copy and read it for yourself.

You credit your daughter with your love of sharks. Can you explain that to our readers?

Yes! It’s funny how I spent so much of her life teaching her things, but now in the most beautiful and extraordinary way, she’s the one educating me—and the world. This book would not exist without her passion and her knowledge.

As a bonus, every shark dive I’ve done has been with Kylie. From Caribbean reef sharks in Bimini to whale sharks in Mexico, I hope she’ll forever be my shark-dive buddy because there are so many more species I’d like to cross off my list.

Sav gets in a lot of trouble as she figures out how to make her voice heard for the sharks. Why did you choose to write her journey this way?

Most kids have moments where they disappoint adults—and themselves. Most have moments when they are full of big feelings but aren’t sure how to channel them. If Sav immediately knew the “right” way to make herself heard, her story wouldn’t be as interesting or as honest.

Questioning the world and figuring out how to navigate it helps kids grow into smart, free-thinking adults. Sav experiences consequences for her actions, and she learns to adjust behavior that doesn’t serve her or her cause, but she also stands firm in her beliefs. Perhaps reading this book will help another kid figure out this balance too.

There’s a scene where a character talks to Sav about how messy—but necessary—activism is. Navigating that can be hard for anyone. What matters most is that Sav learns from her missteps and doesn’t give up.

This book was accepted for publication before laws like Florida’s Kristen Jacobs Ocean Conservation Act and the nationwide James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act of 2023 were signed. These made it illegal to possess, sell, buy, or trade shark fins (with a few exceptions). How do these new laws impact this book?

These legislative acts are tremendous victories made possible by people a lot like my main character, Sav. And while readers won’t necessarily need to join rallies or write letters to stop shark finning in the United States anymore, like Sav does in the book, they certainly can take other steps to help sharks. There is still a lot of work to be done, such as rallying to ban shark fishing tournaments.

When it comes to getting involved in shark advocacy and ocean conservation, are there organizations you recommend as sources of information and starting points for action?

I recommend you follow all three of the organizations below. They’re well-respected, ethical, and dedicated to protecting sharks and educating humans. They also rely on donations and volunteers, so please consider making a contribution and follow their socials so you can be informed of their needs.

• Shark Allies https://sharkallies.org/
• Rob Stewart Sharkwater Foundation https://www.robstewartsharkwaterfoundation.org/
• Madison Stewart and Project Hiu https://www.projecthiu.com/

Praise for Make a Little Wave

“This realistic portrayal of a kid who goes full steam ahead with her passion is a relatable, engaging, if sometimes frustrating, read that captures the hard-headedness of an eighth grader and provides nuance and growth for the burgeoning activist.”—Booklist

“A conservation tale with the ability to empower readers.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Via empathetic depictions of her actions—through which Sav makes more than a little wave—O’Malley Cerra (Just a Drop of Water) illustrates how diplomacy and team-building get the job done.”—Publishers Weekly

Free Educator Resources

Young readers are endlessly curious. Encourage that curiosity with the discussion and activity guide to use before, after, and during reading! Download this free resource here or from the Lerner website.

Watch the Official Book Trailer

Share this trailer with your students and give them a sneak peek from the story!

Connect with the Author