
By Hannah Gold
A boy's quest to find a missing whale may heal his family.
Rio, feeling isolated in California, befriends Marina and learns about migrating gray whales. Discovering his mother's love for these creatures, he believes reuniting her with a whale named White Beak will bring her back to him. But White Beak is missing. Rio embarks on a perilous ocean journey, hoping to find the whale and mend his fractured family. Will he succeed against the odds, or will the ocean's dangers prove too great? This tale of friendship and adventure explores the challenges facing gray whales and the power of hope.
A gorgeously written standalone from the acclaimed author of The Last Bear, Hannah Gold’s second novel is a touching story about adventure, recovery, and love–perfect for fans of Pax and A Wolf Called Wander.When Rio is sent to live with a grandmother he barely knows in California, he feels completely alone. Then he makes a new friend on the foggy beach–a girl named Marina, who teaches him about the massive grey whales that migrate nearby.As Rio grows to love the whales, he discovers that his mother loved them, too. He’s suddenly sure that if he can somehow find a way to connect her with these gentle giants - and especially with a particular whale named White Beak - she will get better and come to join him in California. But White Beak is missing–and Rio must embark on a desperate journey across the dangerous ocean to find her. An excellent choice for readers in grades 3 to 7, this fierce celebration of friendship includes information about the struggles facing real gray whales from climate change, pollution, and over-fishing.
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