Discovering the Sea is the story of Fern, a sixteen-year-old girl home for the summer after completing her first year of boarding school, and intent on exploring the concept of the Covenant of God. Through discussions with friends and family members, Fern learns about the Bahai concept of the Covenant as an agreement between God and mankind in which God promises never to leave us alone without guidance. Fern discusses the religions of the past, and the ways in which disunity seemed to arise among their followers after the passing of the Prophets and Founders of the religions. With the help of her family members and friends, Fern studies the wills of Bahaullah, the Prophet and Founder of the Bahai Faith, and Abdul-Baha, the eldest son and appointed successor of Bahaullah, and comes to appreciate the unique and significant Covenant made between Bahaullah and His followers. Over the course of the summer, Fern also spends time with Callum, a classmate who is staying nearby to work on his uncles fishing boat. The two develop a close and meaningful friendship and together explore the spiritual concepts that Fern is grappling with.