Whale Boy

by Nicola Davies

Perfect for any young reader who loves animals, the powerful and heartwarming story of a boy's friendship with a baby whale Michael, a young boy growing up on the tropical island of Rose Town, has been saving up for his own fishing boat for years. But when a terrible storm wrecks his home, Michael is forced to take a job working for a rich, mysterious newcomer named Spargo. Spargo asks Michael to search for one thing in the deep waters around Rose Town—whales. This is moving, adventure-packed fiction at its very best, with a strong environmental message.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Adventure

272 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2013

About the author

"I was very small when I saw my first dolphin," says zoologist Nicola Davies, recalling a seminal visit with her father to a dolphin show at the zoo. Enchanted at the sight of what she called the "big fish" jumping so high and swimming so fast, she determined right then that she would meet the amazing creatures again "in the wild, where they belonged." And indeed she did--as part of a pair of scientific expeditions, one to Newfoundland at the age of eighteen and another to the Indian Ocean a year later. In WILD ABOUT DOLPHINS, Nicola Davies describes her voyages in a firsthand account filled with fascinating facts and captivating photographs of seven species of dolphins in action.

Nicola Davies's seemingly boundless enthusiasm for studying animals of all kinds has led her around the world--and fortunately for young readers, she is just as excited about sharing her interests through picture books. The zoologist's latest offering puts a decidedly quirky twist on her years of experience: POOP: A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE UNMENTIONABLE is a fun, fact-filled guide to the fascinating world of poop across species. "As a zoologist, you are never far from poop!" the writer explains. "I've baked goose poop in an oven with my dinner, looked at bat poop under the microscope, and had my T-shirt stained pink with blue-whale poop. I was obviously fated to write this book."


The exceptional combination of Nicola Davies's zoological expertise and her first-rate children's writing is apparent in her remarkable catalog of award-winning titles. Her first book with Candlewick Press, BIG BLUE WHALE, was hailed by American Bookseller as an "artfully composed study" offering "language exactly appropriate for four- to seven-year-olds and precisely the right amount of information." In ONE TINY TURTLE, Nicola Davies's clear, compelling narrative follows the life of the rarely seen loggerhead turtle, which swims the oceans for thirty years and for thousands of miles in search of food, only to return, uncannily, to lay her eggs on the very beach where she was born. The author's next book, BAT LOVES THE NIGHT, is a tenderly written ode to a much-misunderstood flying mammal, the pipistrelle bat, while SURPRISING SHARKS--winner of a BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Honor Award--contains unexpected facts about another one of the planet's most infamous animals.


When she is not off on scientific expeditions, Nicola Davies lives in a cottage in Somerset, England, where she is lucky enough to have pipistrelle bats nesting in her roof.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this back when i was about 10 years old. I found it again and it brought back so much nostalgia. Now reading it today i can truly understand the fundamental message of this book - endangered species in the ocean and how we as humans have such a big impact on their environment, affecting their ability to survive in the oceans e.g through climate change, pollution (things which still have relevance today). Insightful and definitely a great book for younger readers!

[Nancy Brill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will always be a 5/5 for me. I read it as a child, I vividly remember, it gave me a love for whales and boats and exploration, not like I could ever go out to sea. Sometimes even the greatest of books can't fix fears I'm afraid. But I vividly remember reading it, I don't know where, when, or whose book it was because it certainly wasn't mine but I remember. And personally I like buying my books from bookshops, searching around in the ceiling high shelves full of peoples lifes work and each one its own universe to be lost in, but everywhere I looked they didn't have Whale Boy. Whale Boy, I mean, It wasn't some unheard of manga or comic book I'd found in the back of my loft, It was a classed kids book (Although I come to disagree because I could read that forever) by Nicola Davis? Not some one-hit-wonder. But anyways, it was nowhere, until my boyfriend bought it online as a surprise once he saw my struggles. And it is just as I remembered, it has that childlike, nostalgic feeling of familiarity, and it's just a boy, using his independance and quick witt to do what he'd wanted his whole life. Have his own boat. It shows determination, and friendship, and the thrill of exploration. But now I've got my hands on it, I'm never letting it go.

[Putu Sita Witari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good book for mid-grade readers, children, or anyone. It might be quite edgy with a slight of adult violence that is presented in a not so obvious way. There is a smooth and loving way to introduce young readers to the reality of life.

Just a tiny comment on the story as a whole is, it's a bit in rush for the ending. I prefer the process of problem-solving take its time since that can be where the character's growth and value are more perceptible.

[Kathleen Chagall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging kids book with a good message.

[Elise-May · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a really good book but I don’t know how to do it on the website I read it at school and it’s really good book

[sunflower · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have loved this better if I was younger, like 12-13 year-old younger.

And also, save the whales!!!!!!

[AidanKameleon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun children's book! Was a nice change of pace after some heavier reading.

[Shiv Barot · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/10 and 10/10 very long for no reason so 3/10 but very good book to be honest and it would be 15 pages if the guy who has gonna give him the boat didn't die or the red note book was kept safe

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because it was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award. It's about a boy who lives on a small island in a fishing town called Liberty (is that in the Caribbean?) His mother left for England when he was a baby and never came back. His father went after her some time later and also never came back, as did his uncle. So he lives with his grandmother who has brought him up. He wants to be a fisherman like his dad and have his own boat.
But a big new building developement is springing up near the harbour and the locals are intriged and also worried about what it means for their tiny, peaceful island. The developer offers the boy a boat of his own in return for news of whale and dolphin sightings. although he's excited about this he quickly realises that if something sounds too good to be true it probably is and when he finally meets and befriends a baby whale it isn't long before the bad guys come after both him and the whales. All this happens as his grandmother is unexpecdly taken out of the picture and he can't go to her for advice or help.
It's a great story and refreshingly different to a lot of current children's fiction in terms of its location and themes. The setting and characters are lovingly described and very real, and the description of the relationship between the boy and the whale is heart-warming.
There was just one bit that didn't work for me and I can't say too much because it's a spoiler. But at one point a long-lost family member makes a reappearance and their actions seem just too evil to be totally realistic. That really put me off a bit, but I was too intrigued about how it was going to end so I kept reading and I was glad I did because the ending was definitely worth it.
I'd place it with top juniors or possibly lower secondary as there is a certain level of violence in one section, although it's nothing gory.

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like a 3.5 ig

[Sue Murdoch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whale Boy will appeal to readers who enjoy Michael Morpurgo and Sam Angus stories. It raises awareness about whale hunting, makes us think about all kinds of animal cruelty and we witness a community being given the opportunity to make the right decision. There are some heart-breaking moments and a real sense of the author's deep knowledge of the animals she has worked with during her career. A moving story.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shortlisted for the 2014 Blue Peter Book Awards (Best Story category), this is an exciting, eyeopening, thoughtprovoking story exploring themes of "progress" at the cost of environmental damage. A book that could fire up the next generation of activists, but also simply a great read. Good perhaps for 9+

[Ari]

I'm 10 by the way I liked this book and I would recommended

I would recommend this book as it has a happy ending even though some bad things hapend like whalemeat and freedoms mother was killed by spargo and jj

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the Whale Boy because Michael made a good decision at the end. He didn't want people to bump into any more people and have bad things happen again. says Luke, aged 7.

[Nadine Martyniuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read, quick to set the story and a good amount of truth behind it. Excellently told for a younger audience.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. At its best when describing the beauty and wonder of the sea, and the simple and fulfilled life of the island inhabitants - poverty and riches.

[Runningrara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moby Dick meets the Famous Five with a bit of Free Willy. What's not to love?

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little tale about a boy and a whale, and what it means to be free.

[Rara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that it was an amazing book and it was very inspirational.

[Zak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was an interesting story with an easy plot to follow, yet at the same time was fun to read and thrilling at some parts. In conclusion, it is a great book.

[Varsha Seshan · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.varshaseshan.com/blog/whal...