The Lost Whale

With my fascination for whales, I was taken by Gold's book.

Rio, who lives in London, is sent to California to be with his grandmother, while his violinist mother recovers from a breakdown. Everything is alien to Rio. Gradually, he begins to notice the migrating gray whales.

With his new friend, Marina, and her father, who runs a tourist boat, Rio becomes intrigued with one whale in particular, White Beak. They track White Beak, until suddenly, there's no trace of her. Rio and Marina, concerned that she has gotten entangled in fishing nets, are determined to locate her.

Their strong… show more.

I’m recommending this as another fiction book for middle grade readers / 9-12-year-olds that is beautifully written and has absolutely gorgeous illustrations. It touches on similar themes as in my book, but it’s set in California and mainly features whales. The illustrations and the way it’s written make it accessible to a wide range of readers too. I have been lucky enough to go whale watching and felt it took me right back to that life-changing experience. I loved this book and it makes for a great read aloud.