X-Book

The Lost Whale

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book.

Listen to a sample

What to expect

The Lost Whale is the enchanting second novel from the author of The Last Bear: the bestselling debut hardback of 2021 and The Times Children’s Book of the Week, winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Blue Peter Award and shortlisted for the British Book Awards and the Indie Book Awards 2022

‘Unforgettable highly accomplished animal adventure about the connection between a boy and a whale, with strong ecological themes’ The Bookseller, Editor’s Choice

What if you could communicate with a whale?

Rio has been sent to live with a grandmother he barely knows in California, while his mum is in hospital back home. Alone and adrift, the only thing that makes him smile is joining his new friend Marina on her dad's whale watching trips. That is until an incredible encounter with White Beak, a gentle giant of the sea changes everything. But when White Beak goes missing, Rio must set out on a desperate quest to find his whale and somehow save his mum.

Dive into this incredible story about the connection between a boy and a whale and the bond that sets them both free.

Perfect for readers of 8+, beautifully illustrated throughout by Levi Pinfold – winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal and illustrator of Harry Potter 20th anniversary edition covers.

Critics Review

u2018The Last Bear, Hannah Goldu2019s award-winning debut, explored the intense connection between animal and child that can help with expressing pain and anxiety u2014 and The Lost Whale reprises that themeu2019 Daily Mail

u2018A winning book from a master storytelleru2019 Irish Independent

u2018Unforgettable highly accomplished animal adventure about the connection between a boy and a whale, with strong ecological themesu2019 Fiona Noble Bookseller

u2018A powerful and deeply moving storyu2019 Daily Mail

u2018Lyrical page-turneru2019 Observer

u2018The authoru2019s passion for the natural world currently under threat makes their book outstandingu2019 New Statesman, Best Childrenu2019s Books of the Year

u2018An irresistible, ocean-loving yarnu2019 The Times

u2018Simply beautiful u2013 tender, heartfelt and hopeful with such crystal-clear storytelling. . . Rio and White Beaku2019s story will stay with me for a long timeu2019 Sophie Kirtley, author of The Wild Way Home

u2018Beautifully crafted story of hope and healingu2019 Katie Heap, Scope for Imagination

u2018Magnificent! The Lost Whale will lift your heart as high as the ocean is deepu2019 Piers Torday, author of The Last Wild

u2018The most spellbinding read. I raced through this book, completely engrossed in Rio and his quest to find White Beak. My book of the year so faru2019 Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant

u2018The Lost Whale is filled with wonder, fascinating facts and a main character with a heart as a big as a whale. You wonu2019t want to miss itu2019 Annabel Steadman, author of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief

u2018Both a stirring page-turning adventure, and an eloquent and heartfelt plea to #SaveTheWhales and in doing so save ourselves. Resonant, timely, wonderful!u2019 Nicola Penfold, author of Between Sea and Sky

u2018The story is beautifully told and issues of mental health are sensitively handledu2019 Juno Magazine

About xigxag and the x-book®

Discover the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed to simplify finding, purchasing, and enjoying your favourite books in audio format. Our flexible pricing model makes bestselling audiobooks affordable, offering the best audiobook deals without the need for a subscription. You can also give the perfect gift with our convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

A core differentiator of xigxag is our groundbreaking listen-and-read x-book® technology, which delivers a truly immersive digital book experience. This unique innovation seamlessly combines the audiobook, text, and images into a brilliant, integrated format, complete with exclusive audiobook features and a next-generation digital reading experience. Our growing x-book selection is easily discoverable by looking for the distinctive purple x-book® ribbon, or by simply filtering your search by ‘x-book’.

Beyond our technology, xigxag is committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we stand as a leader in audiobook innovation and a compelling alternative to big tech. Our commitment extends to delivering extraordinary customer service, provided by our friendly UK support team.

Effortlessly search audiobooks, gain insights from honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. You can download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere, guaranteeing the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Experience the future of audiobooks today.