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The Lost Whale

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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

  • ‘The Last Bear, Hannah Gold’s award-winning debut, explored the intense connection between animal and child that can help with expressing pain and anxiety — and The Lost Whale reprises that theme’ Daily Mail

    ‘A winning book from a master storyteller’ Irish Independent

    ‘Unforgettable highly accomplished animal adventure about the connection between a boy and a whale, with strong ecological themes’ Fiona Noble Bookseller

    ‘A powerful and deeply moving story’ Daily Mail

    ‘Lyrical page-turner’ Observer

    ‘The author’s passion for the natural world currently under threat makes their book outstanding’ New Statesman, Best Children’s Books of the Year

    ‘An irresistible, ocean-loving yarn’ The Times

    ‘Simply beautiful – tender, heartfelt and hopeful with such crystal-clear storytelling. . . Rio and White Beak’s story will stay with me for a long time’ Sophie Kirtley, author of The Wild Way Home

    ‘Beautifully crafted story of hope and healing’ Katie Heap, Scope for Imagination

    ‘Magnificent! The Lost Whale will lift your heart as high as the ocean is deep’ Piers Torday, author of The Last Wild

    ‘The 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 far’ Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant

    ‘The Lost Whale is filled with wonder, fascinating facts and a main character with a heart as a big as a whale. You won’t want to miss it’ Annabel Steadman, author of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief

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

    ‘The story is beautifully told and issues of mental health are sensitively handled’ Juno Magazine

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