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Animal Eyes
Tsunami Dolphins
'Morgan's writing is just wonderful... a brilliant follow-up to The Dogs of Chernobyl' – Lisa Edwards, author/publisher of The Hunger Games, His Dark Materials, Horrible Histories
An earthquake of unrivalled force.
A wall of water that has devastated the coast.
And with a toxic rain now beginning to fall, there’s never been a worse time for the dolphins of Fukushima...
Adrift from their pods, dolphins Mako and Fusa are thrown together in the wake of an unparalleled sequence of disasters. With Fusa desperate to return to her daughter, adolescent Mako admits a shameful secret: he has gravely insulted the trout-god, Moshiri.
Afraid that the vengeful giant will thrash again to cause even more destruction, the pair brave orca clans, radioactive pollution and militarised dolphins to find Moshiri and offer an apology.
But a deadly encounter with humans on the way prompts a life-changing question: why should they fear a myth, when the real danger dwells above the waves?
This highly original take on the 2011 Japanese earthquake – the second title of the “Animal Eyes” series – blends history and adventure to tell a story of survival that is as tragic as it is compelling.
An earthquake of unrivalled force.
A wall of water that has devastated the coast.
And with a toxic rain now beginning to fall, there’s never been a worse time for the dolphins of Fukushima...
Adrift from their pods, dolphins Mako and Fusa are thrown together in the wake of an unparalleled sequence of disasters. With Fusa desperate to return to her daughter, adolescent Mako admits a shameful secret: he has gravely insulted the trout-god, Moshiri.
Afraid that the vengeful giant will thrash again to cause even more destruction, the pair brave orca clans, radioactive pollution and militarised dolphins to find Moshiri and offer an apology.
But a deadly encounter with humans on the way prompts a life-changing question: why should they fear a myth, when the real danger dwells above the waves?
This highly original take on the 2011 Japanese earthquake – the second title of the “Animal Eyes” series – blends history and adventure to tell a story of survival that is as tragic as it is compelling.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 17, 2022
3 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Justin Morgan
10 books8 followersThank you for visiting my author profile – your interest keeps me writing.
On my bookshelf you’ll find character-driven, page-turning adventure novels that invite you to explore the natural world and discover hidden histories without ever leaving the comfort of home.
As an author, I believe in offering something authentic and unique, something that’s enjoyable to read and feels like time well spent. That’s why each of my novels is crafted to offer something of value to anyone open to receive it. Readers often tell me my books are not quite like anything they’ve read before, or what they would usually read, but once reading, they struggle to put them down, a great compliment I’m sure you’ll agree.
Synthesising a life of travel and exploration, my books are full of direct human experience and emotion and crafted by hand without the use of generative AI. Adventuring around the world for the last 20 years, I’ve been through the travel sickness, the food poisoning, the leeches, the bites, the sweating and the freezing so I can infuse realism into the world of my books, and so you don’t have to! My knowledge of and passion for the natural world is plain to see. Perhaps it’s a passion we share.
Grab a book today and be transported to the hard-to-reach places of the world – no passport necessary.
Claim your free copy of an exclusive ‘Animal Eyes’ title – ‘Malchik of the Metro’ – and find out more at: www.JustinMorganAuthor.com
On my bookshelf you’ll find character-driven, page-turning adventure novels that invite you to explore the natural world and discover hidden histories without ever leaving the comfort of home.
As an author, I believe in offering something authentic and unique, something that’s enjoyable to read and feels like time well spent. That’s why each of my novels is crafted to offer something of value to anyone open to receive it. Readers often tell me my books are not quite like anything they’ve read before, or what they would usually read, but once reading, they struggle to put them down, a great compliment I’m sure you’ll agree.
Synthesising a life of travel and exploration, my books are full of direct human experience and emotion and crafted by hand without the use of generative AI. Adventuring around the world for the last 20 years, I’ve been through the travel sickness, the food poisoning, the leeches, the bites, the sweating and the freezing so I can infuse realism into the world of my books, and so you don’t have to! My knowledge of and passion for the natural world is plain to see. Perhaps it’s a passion we share.
Grab a book today and be transported to the hard-to-reach places of the world – no passport necessary.
Claim your free copy of an exclusive ‘Animal Eyes’ title – ‘Malchik of the Metro’ – and find out more at: www.JustinMorganAuthor.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 24, 2022
God, I absolutely loved this book! It was a beautifully written, thought provoking story about the animals and their suffering through natural and man-made disaster but also about us humans and our relationship with the environment. I felt sucked into this book from the first page and it took me less than four hours to finish it, it was incredible! I never thought I would be crying while reading about lonely dolphin calves and cheering on the main characters and their sea lion friends when they were going against the most dangerous creatures on this planet-humans but… I did. I cried, I laughed, I was annoyed and I screamed in happiness for these animals.
I’m glad this book was written. Just like ‘The little Prince’, which also talked about serious issues through easy language, the message of ‘Tsunami Dolphins’ can be understood by people of all ages (maybe not very young children as some parts of the book are very disturbing). I believe it’s a MUST READ for everyone, even those, or especially those who never even bothered to wonder ‘what happens to animals during natural disasters?’
Thank you so much, NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this ARC and thank you, Justin Morgan, for writing this amazing book!♥️
I’m glad this book was written. Just like ‘The little Prince’, which also talked about serious issues through easy language, the message of ‘Tsunami Dolphins’ can be understood by people of all ages (maybe not very young children as some parts of the book are very disturbing). I believe it’s a MUST READ for everyone, even those, or especially those who never even bothered to wonder ‘what happens to animals during natural disasters?’
Thank you so much, NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this ARC and thank you, Justin Morgan, for writing this amazing book!♥️
May 15, 2022
I really enjoyed Tsunami Dolphins and highly recommend this book. The ocean and its inhabitants have every right to be mad at our stewardship of this world. Must reading for the younger generations. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, and the opinions expressed are my own.
May 10, 2022
This was such an original and intriguing read. It was beautifully written with a compelling storyline and charcaters that I loved. I really enjoyed the historical aspect of it and I liked the adventure elements too. I just really enjoyed it all and I love the front cover that feels historical and contemporary all at the same time.
August 28, 2022
As the title of this novel indicates, this story is about dolphins - specifically about the dolphins there were around when the deadly tsunami of 2011 hit the eastern coast of the main islands of Japan.
It follows the adventures of an adolescent dolphin, Mako. When a tragedy occurs, he blames himself for it and decided to leave his pod. He meets other young female - then the tsunami strikes.
Through meeting members of other pods, and through encountering other species such as sea lions and whales, Mako:s core beliefs about the nature of life are challenged - and challenged again.
Most of all, he is challenged by what he learns about a species he has always adulated before now, especially where they loved his antics - humans. He is to learn that in southern regions and further west, that sometimes humans, instead of rewarding him with fish, like to capture dolphins - and much worse.
Those readers who enjoy animal stories where the animals, along with their communities, are anthropomorphised, should love this tale, which is also, very much a coming-of-age story. There is not just the horror and trauma of the tsunami, but also depths of cruelty that humans are capable of, where they believe that animals are not sentient. What makes novel more poignant is the reminder that the brains of these creatures are larger than those possessed by humans. These mammals may easily have their own myths and ways of making sense of the world, along with the same need for community ties that we do. Whether or not they will.also learn to hate humans and act on this, is moot.
Needless to say, the horror of Fukushima is also something that Mako and his fellow dolphins are aware of. The writer is clearly aware of ecological issues too, though the writer does mange not to preach.
It follows the adventures of an adolescent dolphin, Mako. When a tragedy occurs, he blames himself for it and decided to leave his pod. He meets other young female - then the tsunami strikes.
Through meeting members of other pods, and through encountering other species such as sea lions and whales, Mako:s core beliefs about the nature of life are challenged - and challenged again.
Most of all, he is challenged by what he learns about a species he has always adulated before now, especially where they loved his antics - humans. He is to learn that in southern regions and further west, that sometimes humans, instead of rewarding him with fish, like to capture dolphins - and much worse.
Those readers who enjoy animal stories where the animals, along with their communities, are anthropomorphised, should love this tale, which is also, very much a coming-of-age story. There is not just the horror and trauma of the tsunami, but also depths of cruelty that humans are capable of, where they believe that animals are not sentient. What makes novel more poignant is the reminder that the brains of these creatures are larger than those possessed by humans. These mammals may easily have their own myths and ways of making sense of the world, along with the same need for community ties that we do. Whether or not they will.also learn to hate humans and act on this, is moot.
Needless to say, the horror of Fukushima is also something that Mako and his fellow dolphins are aware of. The writer is clearly aware of ecological issues too, though the writer does mange not to preach.
August 14, 2022
A novel, whose protagonists are two dolphins rather than humans, depicting life in the oceans in the aftermath of the Fukushima earthquakes, tsunami and nuclear reactor disaster. The story follows Miko and Fusa as they experience the earthquakes, get caught up in the tsunami and begin to navigate life afterwards - what’s happened, why did it happen and can they make it back to their pods?
Looming large in this story are humans: should they be trusted or should they not. Miko enjoys performing flips for them in exchange for free food; Fusa is more wary but still generally positive. As the story progresses, they meet dolphins from the south and from China who have had negative experiences of humans. Will Miko and Fusa’s views on humans change?
The novel does a good job of presenting dolphin speech in terms of clicks and sonar echolocation but given that Miko and Fusa are different species of dolphin, are there any differences between them apart from appearance - in thought and speech they seem to be identical.
An interesting read from a different perspective. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Looming large in this story are humans: should they be trusted or should they not. Miko enjoys performing flips for them in exchange for free food; Fusa is more wary but still generally positive. As the story progresses, they meet dolphins from the south and from China who have had negative experiences of humans. Will Miko and Fusa’s views on humans change?
The novel does a good job of presenting dolphin speech in terms of clicks and sonar echolocation but given that Miko and Fusa are different species of dolphin, are there any differences between them apart from appearance - in thought and speech they seem to be identical.
An interesting read from a different perspective. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 31, 2022
It's been a while since I read a book where an animal was the protagonist. Although initially a bit annoyed with the mammalian perspective, once I remembered one of my favourite books as a YA was Firebringer, I recalibrated. And as the story wore on, it got better.
The title is a bit basic and reductive, but, it does set up the premise of the book. How would a dolphin view a tsunami? I think the premise is charming, and although it isn't my usual cup of tea, I have a number of students who I will be recommending this to.
Saying that, please be aware of the more-than-mild-peril/ trauma of the depiction of Dolphin Cove and human cruelty towards animals. It's one of those things where you want to protect younger readers but then realise that you were raised on the death of Mufasa, Bambi's mum, the baddies in Beethoven, Fern Gully and Free Willy.
I would recommend this to yr7 + readers, particularly those with an interest in ecology/ the natural world, although note CW above. Like all animal based stories, it may rip your heart out.
The title is a bit basic and reductive, but, it does set up the premise of the book. How would a dolphin view a tsunami? I think the premise is charming, and although it isn't my usual cup of tea, I have a number of students who I will be recommending this to.
Saying that, please be aware of the more-than-mild-peril/ trauma of the depiction of Dolphin Cove and human cruelty towards animals. It's one of those things where you want to protect younger readers but then realise that you were raised on the death of Mufasa, Bambi's mum, the baddies in Beethoven, Fern Gully and Free Willy.
I would recommend this to yr7 + readers, particularly those with an interest in ecology/ the natural world, although note CW above. Like all animal based stories, it may rip your heart out.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews