Budding naturalist Artemis Sparke retreats to the nearby salt marsh when the world becomes overwhelming. Teased and ridiculed for her stutter, Artemis prefers the predictability of communing with her animal friends and collecting data in her science journal. Unpredictable circumstances, however, creep into her world of solitude when she notices changes in the salt marsh and concludes it's dying. Channelling knowledge and techniques from deceased ecologists, Artemis learns that the hotel where they live and her mother works is likely the cause of harm to the ecosystem. But challenging herself to speak up, especially to her Mom's boyfriend, who also is the hotel owner, will prove to be her greatest obstacle.

Includes discussion questions.