The Lost Whale
- Downloads：7896
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2023-01-06 08:51:47
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Hannah Gold
- ISBN：0008412960
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
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。
‘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。
Reviews
Rose English
，
A beautiful story with gorgeous illustrations which are actually rather dark but only serve to emphasise the sadness running throughout the book。
Camio。Dontchaknow
，
I don’t know why so many kid’s stories are “kid trying to process grief and trauma with lots of explosive emotions， and grown ups who clumsily help but， ultimately， they have to learn a lesson from the kid as well。”Some parts were very carefully written， some parts were very clunky。 Overall I enjoyed it ok， but it’s not one I’d recommend or go back to。 Too glum andI found myself rolling my eyes too many times。 Yes， I know it's a children's story but I think I'd have done the same even as a kid。 I don’t know why so many kid’s stories are “kid trying to process grief and trauma with lots of explosive emotions， and grown ups who clumsily help but， ultimately， they have to learn a lesson from the kid as well。”Some parts were very carefully written， some parts were very clunky。 Overall I enjoyed it ok， but it’s not one I’d recommend or go back to。 Too glum andI found myself rolling my eyes too many times。 Yes， I know it's a children's story but I think I'd have done the same even as a kid。 。。。more
Auro Books
，
I had no doubt I would love this book as much as I loved The Last Bear。Hannah Gold has something very special and unique when it comes to write stories: they trespass the pages and become a part of you。While reading The Lost Whale I not only felt for Rio and his mum。 I also became much more aware about the situation whales are in， how our actions affect them， what we can do to help and how much better their environment would be if every body helped a little。
Sophie Slater-Evans
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Loved loved loved it
Anthony Frobisher
，
The Lost Whale by Hannah Gold is one of those rare books that permeates your soul and infiltrates your thoughts。 A book that takes a beautifully observed premise of a young boy sent to California from London to stay with his grandmother， while his mother undergoes treatment for depression and anxiety。 Hannah Gold does not shy away from the fear and confusion that a young child must encounter when caring for or experiencing mental health conditions in a parent。 She handles a delicate subject with The Lost Whale by Hannah Gold is one of those rare books that permeates your soul and infiltrates your thoughts。 A book that takes a beautifully observed premise of a young boy sent to California from London to stay with his grandmother， while his mother undergoes treatment for depression and anxiety。 Hannah Gold does not shy away from the fear and confusion that a young child must encounter when caring for or experiencing mental health conditions in a parent。 She handles a delicate subject with subtlety and gently infuses the story throughout。 Yet central to the story is the bond between the human experience and that of encounters with nature。 In particular the sheer excitement of whale watching。 Rio， the young boy develops a close connection with White Beak， a whale his mother knew as a child and was similarly close to。 Hannah Gold expertly creates a narrative that grips you as Rio and his new friend Marina， set out to try to find White Beak who has gone missing。No spoilers from me。 Just an overriding sense of satisfaction at a book， while aimed for the middle grade children's audience， is equally as engaging for the adult。 Hannah Gold interweaves observations on the human impact upon our oceans， from plastic pollution and fishing， climate change and ocean temperature rises。 But it is the connection between boy and whale that serves the greatest lesson。 How we can live in harmony and need to respect and cherish the natural。 As the books says， these are not 'our oceans' they do not belong to mankind， but to the creatures that inhabit them。 We are custodians and need to do so much more to protect the oceans and its wildlife in the future。A wonderful book， as wonderfully written as Hannah Gold's fantastic The Last Bear。Read it。 Whether you are 8 or 58。 。。。more
Jamie
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Thank you to HarperCollins for sending me this book。 This was an adorable story about a boy who is sent to live with his grandmother while his mom is in the hospital。 It was a story about finding happiness， the importance of protecting gray whales（and the ocean） and the horrible effects of climate change， ocean pollution and overfishing。 It is told in a way that highlights that everyone can make a difference。
Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin
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This book was so good and made me cry！！ Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 This book was so good and made me cry！！ Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 。。。more
Ms。 Yingling
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E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus or Netgalley
Claire （the_reading_apprentice）
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This book is an important one for children to read。As with all middle grade， it's a simple story to follow， but one that has a big impact。Through Rio， children will learn to appreciate the ocean and the creatures contained within， learning about pollution and the dangers garbage in the ocean creates for sea life。 The story shows that even one person who cares can make a difference， and that a group of like-minded people can change a lot， one small step at a time。 This book is an important one for children to read。As with all middle grade， it's a simple story to follow， but one that has a big impact。Through Rio， children will learn to appreciate the ocean and the creatures contained within， learning about pollution and the dangers garbage in the ocean creates for sea life。 The story shows that even one person who cares can make a difference， and that a group of like-minded people can change a lot， one small step at a time。 。。。more
Therearenobadbooks
，
Fantastic book。 Hanna Gold is already one of my favorite writers of children's literature。This is the perfect book for nature lovers， ocean protectors， and those passionate about whales。 Not only for those who love whales， but it also teaches us a lot about them。 It empowers us with the certainty that we can fight some wars， and we can do many things if we do it as a community。 It's very emotional too。"None of us can save the world single-handedly。 But together， we might just stand a chance。"Rio Fantastic book。 Hanna Gold is already one of my favorite writers of children's literature。This is the perfect book for nature lovers， ocean protectors， and those passionate about whales。 Not only for those who love whales， but it also teaches us a lot about them。 It empowers us with the certainty that we can fight some wars， and we can do many things if we do it as a community。 It's very emotional too。"None of us can save the world single-handedly。 But together， we might just stand a chance。"Rio moves from London to live with his grandmother on the coast of California because his mom is very sick。 He feels lost and far from her， incapable of helping her。 He transfers this sense of duty to the whale， but wanting to save her too and doing it gives him strength。 I love the parallelism between his mom and the whale。 It shows so well how he feels。 This is a novel that will please all ages。 It shows respect for the ocean and its creatures。 I loved it。 。。。more
Mikayla
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I needed this more than I thought I ever would。 Hugs please。The main character is sent away to stay with his grandmother for a month & discovers his mothers lost passion with whales。 The adventures begin from then on & this book will pull at your heartstrings a lot。Touches on mental illness & needing admitted to hospital for it。
Nicole
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An excellent story arc which approaches the topic of mental illness with excellent narrations， storyline and child-friendly characters and language。 A young boy processes his mother's mental illness while learning more about himself and returning to his mother's home。 He learns more about himself by coming into contact with the whales and the ocean where his grandmother lives。 The plot includes certain magical and imaginary elements such as the boy being able to communicate with whales and hear An excellent story arc which approaches the topic of mental illness with excellent narrations， storyline and child-friendly characters and language。 A young boy processes his mother's mental illness while learning more about himself and returning to his mother's home。 He learns more about himself by coming into contact with the whales and the ocean where his grandmother lives。 The plot includes certain magical and imaginary elements such as the boy being able to communicate with whales and hear them speaking in the ocean。 Also portrays a friendship between a girl and a boy and between members in the community in healthy and supportive ways。 Appropriate for readers ready to discuss mental illness or young readers who have personal experience with those impacted by mental illness。 Weaves in a storyline which advocates for whales and reduction of marine pollution。 The book feels very relevant for Gen Z readers who want to feel like they can do something to help the world in it's current state of pollution and species destruction， it made me feel hopeful as an adult towards our future world because of the power in children's everyday actions to save animals and the environment。 。。。more
Laura Simpson
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Hannah Gold has done it again！ It has taken me far too pong to pick this up and read it after pre-ordering it ages ago。 I am still jealous that this is not my own book too！A beautiful story about mental health and whales！ The beauty of the ocean， the human impact on our environment and … whales！！
Miriam
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This charming book for tweens and teens deals with climate change， environmental damage， whales， and so much more。 Set in Ocean Bay （a make believe place）， on the coast of California， the two eleven-year-olds go whale watching and race to save a lost whale。 There's lots about pollution on the high seas， loss of whales， and love of nature。 No matter your age， you'll love this story filled with love， concern for nature， and healthy relationships。 Thanks to the BookLoft of German Village （Columbus， This charming book for tweens and teens deals with climate change， environmental damage， whales， and so much more。 Set in Ocean Bay （a make believe place）， on the coast of California， the two eleven-year-olds go whale watching and race to save a lost whale。 There's lots about pollution on the high seas， loss of whales， and love of nature。 No matter your age， you'll love this story filled with love， concern for nature， and healthy relationships。 Thanks to the BookLoft of German Village （Columbus， OH） http://www。bookloft。com for an ARC to read and review。 。。。more
Aaryn
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I liked the message more than the story itself。
Leah
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My favourite thing about my job is reading really good children's books with children。 In the words of my student; 'I wanted to go to sleep IN this book。' Me too。 My favourite thing about my job is reading really good children's books with children。 In the words of my student; 'I wanted to go to sleep IN this book。' Me too。 。。。more
Katie
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I was very excited for Rio and White Beak's story， and I was not disappointed！ Lost track of how many times I got goosebumps！ Descriptions and emotions make you feel like you're right there with them！ Love it so much！ I was very excited for Rio and White Beak's story， and I was not disappointed！ Lost track of how many times I got goosebumps！ Descriptions and emotions make you feel like you're right there with them！ Love it so much！ 。。。more
Hwee Goh
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The Pacific Ocean’s grey whale is the seventh largest of the whale species， and every year， embarks upon a magnificent round trip journey from Alaska down to lagoons in Mexico， sometimes returning with a calf in tow。We are witness to this journey in Hannah Gold’s new book， so beautifully illustrated by Levi Pinfold， I just had to acquire my own copy。Eleven-year-old Rio has been sent all the way from London to Ocean Bay on the west coast of the US， to live with his grandmother。 He is resentful， u The Pacific Ocean’s grey whale is the seventh largest of the whale species， and every year， embarks upon a magnificent round trip journey from Alaska down to lagoons in Mexico， sometimes returning with a calf in tow。We are witness to this journey in Hannah Gold’s new book， so beautifully illustrated by Levi Pinfold， I just had to acquire my own copy。Eleven-year-old Rio has been sent all the way from London to Ocean Bay on the west coast of the US， to live with his grandmother。 He is resentful， unwilling to adapt and counting the days he’s back with his Mum who has been hospitalized for a mental illness。When Rio discovers a drawing of a whale by his mother， in a box she left behind， he is spurred to find out more about this “White Beak”， in the hope of helping his Mum to recover。What follows is an awe-inspiring sequence of events， so vividly described I felt every new discovery， clenched at what we humans do to our oceans。 And most of all: soared with Rio as he moved， with conviction。“There were many grown-ups around the world who seemed to be waiting for the right moment to do something。 Many people who were leaving it too late。”“…sometimes trying was all you could do。”If you or your young reader has read Gold’s The Last Bear， this was just as good and in my opinion， could only get better。 📚: @times。reads 。。。more
Jessica Cerqueira
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Hannah Gold wrote an amazing story about Rio's mother's mental illness and how he goes in search for "The Lost Whale" feeling like he might be able to help her by finding it。 It has a lot of information about whales and the major threats they face and how we can make a difference。 Such a touching story that should be shared by all and one I highly recommend。Thank you to Hannah Gold， HarperCollins Children's Books， and Netgalley for this ARC！ Hannah Gold wrote an amazing story about Rio's mother's mental illness and how he goes in search for "The Lost Whale" feeling like he might be able to help her by finding it。 It has a lot of information about whales and the major threats they face and how we can make a difference。 Such a touching story that should be shared by all and one I highly recommend。Thank you to Hannah Gold， HarperCollins Children's Books， and Netgalley for this ARC！ 。。。more
Julie
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With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review。As someone who grew up in California near the coast and has seen migrating whales over the years， I enjoyed getting to see that experience brought to life。 The Lost Whale is an engaging story about family， friendship， protecting the ocean， and the impact of mental health。 My students enjoyed reading aloud Gold's first book， The Last Bear， and I think they would enjoy this one as much！Would recommend this With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review。As someone who grew up in California near the coast and has seen migrating whales over the years， I enjoyed getting to see that experience brought to life。 The Lost Whale is an engaging story about family， friendship， protecting the ocean， and the impact of mental health。 My students enjoyed reading aloud Gold's first book， The Last Bear， and I think they would enjoy this one as much！Would recommend this book to students who enjoyed A Whale of the Wild or Song for a Whale。 。。。more
Heidi Gardner
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Stopped listening to the audiobook because the person playing Rio was so annoying I honestly could not listen to it anymore。
Jackie Mc
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A very heart warming true story。 Loved reading it， might even read again sometime。
Kate Cotter
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My daughter loved this book so much that she insisted I read it。 It was a great story and I really liked how the author blended in eco themes into the narrative that resonated with the reader。
Gemma Wilson
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Another beautiful book by Hannah Gold。 Liked this more than The Last Bear， as it is much closer to reality。 Girl and her father are searching for a whale on its migratory journey and worried that it has been seen。 Great example of young people taking action and risks。
Lorie
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Rio is from England and goes to California to live with his grandmother while his mother is in the hospital。 He is lost until he meets Marina and learns about whales。 He loves whales and finds out his mother loved whales too。 I thought it was a great book and I think my grandkids will love it。
Jennifer Ayre
，
Adorable！ I really liked this and it made me cry towards the end。I am slowly getting obsessed with environmental middle grade， and want to read more！One thing I particularly liked about this book， is that the adults were involved in the rescue， I think it is an important message to include adults in your plans， because two 10 year olds stealing a boat and sailing it into the Pacific is dangerous on so many levels。
Cordelia Rose
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I gave the lost whale five stars because I love animal books especially about whales。 I think whales are fascinating sea creatures they are probably my second favourite sea creatures my first would be narwhals and I love that this story is set in California that really captures the book just the setting and I also love that the the lost whale is about friendship and adventure。 My favourite part was when rio saved white beak from the net and she was nearly dieying but then rio soft words saved he I gave the lost whale five stars because I love animal books especially about whales。 I think whales are fascinating sea creatures they are probably my second favourite sea creatures my first would be narwhals and I love that this story is set in California that really captures the book just the setting and I also love that the the lost whale is about friendship and adventure。 My favourite part was when rio saved white beak from the net and she was nearly dieying but then rio soft words saved her from drowning。 I also loved that rio had a strong connection with the whale。 。。。more
Oscar Pimlett
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3 stars feels harsh for this so not doubt I’ll change it at some point considering it wasn’t bad and I enjoyed the quick read， I just didn’t fully gel with it。 I think maybe part of the reason why was because of the length; although it clocks 8n at 300 pages （at least my edition does） the pages are short with a big type and I think certain aspects of the story would have benefitted hugely from expansion。 That’s not so say it wasn’t a good book though， the plot is interesting and heart-warming an 3 stars feels harsh for this so not doubt I’ll change it at some point considering it wasn’t bad and I enjoyed the quick read， I just didn’t fully gel with it。 I think maybe part of the reason why was because of the length; although it clocks 8n at 300 pages （at least my edition does） the pages are short with a big type and I think certain aspects of the story would have benefitted hugely from expansion。 That’s not so say it wasn’t a good book though， the plot is interesting and heart-warming and the characters show signs of potential depth， as well as the description evoking clear and beautiful pictures of the surroundings。 I would recommended but only if you feel you can get through quickly， as I feel that’s how this book is best consumed。 。。。more
Kate
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This was such a beautiful story。 I loved every single bit of it。 I could read it over again and again and not get bored of it！！！ I loved the characters and Hannah Gold made me love whales even more than I do now。
Valerie Holden
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I’m a volunteer， at a school， where I help by listening to young readers。 My little friend and I had been reading this together but it was obvious we wouldn’t get it finished， before the end of term， so I gave him my copy and borrowed one from the library。 It’s a delightful story about 11-year-old Rio who goes to California to stay with his grandmother while his mum is in hospital back in the UK。 It is also a book that touches on mental health， friendship， family， nature， pollution and the effec I’m a volunteer， at a school， where I help by listening to young readers。 My little friend and I had been reading this together but it was obvious we wouldn’t get it finished， before the end of term， so I gave him my copy and borrowed one from the library。 It’s a delightful story about 11-year-old Rio who goes to California to stay with his grandmother while his mum is in hospital back in the UK。 It is also a book that touches on mental health， friendship， family， nature， pollution and the effect on the oceans and creatures that live in them。 It is written in such a way to appeal to children and adults。 I hope my little friend enjoyed it as much as me。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Lost Whale
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Lost Whale&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Lost Whale&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0