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High and Dry
Dylan lives on a remote island in the Pacific Northwest with his parents, but when they have to go to the mainland, his grandfather weathers a storm to come spend time with him. Grandpa's brought Dylan a number of gifts, and one comes in handy the next day while they are exploring the coast. In fact, this gift leads the duo to a dangerous discovery: a young orca got stuck on the rocks during the storm. Racing against the sun and the heat, Dylan and Grandpa need to work together to figure out how to save the calf while his pod circles nearby.
96 pages, Paperback
Published February 25, 2020
5 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Eric Walters
158 books909 followersEric was born in Toronto in 1957, which makes him "real old". But, as Eric says, "Just because I have to grow old doesn't mean that I have to grow up!" In his many roles as parent, teacher, social worker, youth sports coach and writer he is in constant contact with children and young adults. He draws from these experiences and feels that this helps him to capture the realistic interaction between young people—the conflicts, tensions, stresses and interests that make up their lives.
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 4, 2020
Is there anything more interesting to an elementary schooler than orcas? This book follows Dylan and his Grandpa's attempt to help a trapped orca (oreo) on the shoreline. Throughout the book, readers will learn about orca whales. What I felt like could help the book would be a more definitive setting. This probably takes place on the Pacific Northwest/Western Canada shoreline, but it would have been nice to hear exactly where. I think the setting could have solidified Dylan's whole love of orcas. Otherwise, the plot was straightforward and linear - perfect for those readers just starting off with chapter books. The illustrations aren't color, but do provide good visuals.
June 20, 2023
Things I liked:
Reflects what it is like to live on a remote island, and the realities that sometimes parents have to leave for a while in scary weather conditions.
That there's a level of trust in Dylan's abilities -- he's allowed the independence to scramble over rocks, to choose a potentially dangerous course (to be on a beach helping an orca), and is supported in those choices.
The high value that everyone in the story places on the Orca's lives.
The appeal of technology that kids don't always get access to (the drone and the metal detector).
Honestly, it's kind of an odd little book, but I think it's the kind of story that beginning readers will really enjoy.
Reflects what it is like to live on a remote island, and the realities that sometimes parents have to leave for a while in scary weather conditions.
That there's a level of trust in Dylan's abilities -- he's allowed the independence to scramble over rocks, to choose a potentially dangerous course (to be on a beach helping an orca), and is supported in those choices.
The high value that everyone in the story places on the Orca's lives.
The appeal of technology that kids don't always get access to (the drone and the metal detector).
Honestly, it's kind of an odd little book, but I think it's the kind of story that beginning readers will really enjoy.
February 7, 2021
This is a cool book its about him and his family. and they go to a dock and see whales when they get close the boy names them and there family takes pictures 1 of the whales name is Oreo will they get eaten by the whales will they see whales again read the book to find out.
May 12, 2021
On an island somewhere in the PNW (somewhere are the San Juan Islands?), a boy and his grandfather are temporarily cut off by a storm, and find a local orca baby stuck on the rocks. Basic ok story, suitable for 2-3rd grade.
March 10, 2020
I loved this book! It shows the love the Orcas have for each other as well as their intelligence. It also shows how a child can be the one to help an animal so they can then help themselves.
May 31, 2020
Good story!!
November 20, 2020
I think this book was pretty good.
September 15, 2021
Good read for young students.
October 21, 2021
huge hit with the group i read with for the library.
Just the right mix of imformative with out info-dump, suspenseful without drawing it out too much.
Just the right mix of imformative with out info-dump, suspenseful without drawing it out too much.
September 11, 2022
Cute story about helping an animal in need.
October 12, 2024
This was a nice story, but the writing was just meh for me.
Also, who approved this family of artists who have no survival experience to live on a remote island??
Also, who approved this family of artists who have no survival experience to live on a remote island??
October 6, 2021
Perfect short book for animal lovers!
December 15, 2023
1) I really enjoyed the relationship between Dylan and his grandfather. The grandpa seems like a fun grandpa with all his gadgets. But when it comes to the whales, he's right on the same page with Dylan for helping little Oreo.
2) We're told that the grandpa recently had hip surgery. This was good because it gave agency to Dylan. He was the one who had to do everything while Grandpa watched. (And yet, the Grandpa was there to give encouragement and advice.)
3) This is definitely a book geared toward the younger reader. It's a quick read... only 85 pages! The illustrations by Sabrina Gendron are a nice touch, especially for the reluctant reader.
4) I did learn a few things about orcas, which is cool!
5) Oreo. What a cute name for a whale! (And what's kind of cool is that the publisher is called Orca Books!)
FINAL THOUGHTS
I enjoyed this quick little read about a boy and a beached whale. Definitely would recommend this to the young whale lover.
2) We're told that the grandpa recently had hip surgery. This was good because it gave agency to Dylan. He was the one who had to do everything while Grandpa watched. (And yet, the Grandpa was there to give encouragement and advice.)
3) This is definitely a book geared toward the younger reader. It's a quick read... only 85 pages! The illustrations by Sabrina Gendron are a nice touch, especially for the reluctant reader.
4) I did learn a few things about orcas, which is cool!
5) Oreo. What a cute name for a whale! (And what's kind of cool is that the publisher is called Orca Books!)
FINAL THOUGHTS
I enjoyed this quick little read about a boy and a beached whale. Definitely would recommend this to the young whale lover.
January 2, 2024
Early chapter book. Only 85 pages but some words seemed challenging. Dylan is on an island with his Grandpa when they come across a young Orca. No one is around to help so Dylan with instruction from his Grandpa tries to save the Orca until high tide comes in.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews