Ea is a young spinner dolphin born into a pod (or family) of dolphins in the Pacific Ocean. She is a curious and intelligent dolphin, and she quickly learns the ways of her pod once her family's elders decide to teach her their ways. However, she also begins to question the pod's traditions and beliefs after discovering that she has a disability that prevents her from spinning. Because of her disability, Ea is ostracized by her pod, making her feel terrible.
One day, Ea is separated from her pod and is forced to fend for herself. She soon meets a group of bottlenose dolphins, different from her pod in many ways. The bottlenose dolphins are more aggressive and territorial than the spinner dolphins and do not share the same beliefs.
Ea is torn between her two worlds. She loves her pod but also feels drawn to the bottlenose dolphins, who are mysterious but otherwise welcoming. She must decide where she belongs and what kind of dolphin she wants to be.
Ea's journey takes her on a voyage of discovery as she learns about the different ways of life of the two pods. She also learns about the dangers of the ocean and the importance of family and community. For example, she comes face-to-face for the first time with a human boat, the propeller of which nearly kills her.
In the end, Ea finds her way and realizes she can be both a spinner dolphin and a bottlenose dolphin. She learns that their cultures are alike in many ways and that the bottlenose dolphins are willing to accept her when her own species/family is not. She eventually comes to realize that she is a unique individual and has the power to choose her path in life. And she does just that: she stays with the bottlenose dolphins.
