BOOKMONGER
Immerse yourself in an adjacent world
If you love nothing better than to get lost in a different world
through a new book, have I got a pick for you.
“A Whale of the Wild” is a new offering from Greenwillow Books,
which publishes “books for children of every age.” This book strikes
that chord perfectly. While it’s offi cially a book for middle-grade read-
ers, I’ll wager that anyone from age 9 to 99 will fi nd it enthralling.
This Week’s Book
‘A Whale of the Wild’ by Rosanne Parry, illustrated by Lindsay Moore
Greenwillow Books — 336 pp — $17.99
Portland author Rosanne Parry and illustrator Lindsay Moore traveled
1,000 miles around the Salish Sea before writing the book. Their research
enabled them to immerse readers in this tale of two orcas, Vega and her
little brother Deneb.
While the orca is the apex predator of the ocean, it’s no secret that
human activities — in the form of trapping, overfi shing, and polluting
water and noise — have endangered southern resident killer whales. Their
shrinking population has been further endangered by recent high infant
mortality rates (Although since this book was published last fall, three
new orca calves have been spotted regionally within the last six months).
For this work of fi ction, Parry incorporates these different types of
hardships into her story and throws in an earthquake and tsunami —
resulting in the inadvertent separation of the siblings from the rest of their
pod.
Readers join the pair as they search for their lost family. The earthquake
and tsunami choked the inland waters with sediment and transformed the
shapes of landmarks both above water and undersea so the normal wayfi n-
ding cues are no longer available.
Vega and Deneb fi nd themselves heading out into colder open waters,
where they encounter seals, sea otters, sharks and other types of whales.
What they don’t fi nd is salmon — their sole source of food. After currents
carry them further out into the “Blue Wilderness,” Vega must summon all
of her budding skills as a wayfi nder to get them back to their home waters,
while Deneb hones his abilities as an essential helper.
Parry switches back and forth between the two whales’ points of view. It
may take readers a while to get accustomed to this.
Parry provides evocative descriptions of the habitats the duo swims
through and the sights they see, including “a shimmering moon of fi sh” and
“the long, steady shoosh of waves.” Parry also concocts amusing whale
terms for the strange human contraptions they encounter. More importantly,
she deftly infuses loads of information about whale culture into each action-
packed chapter.
On almost every page, Moore’s illustrations provide dreamy accompani-
ment. Rendered in shades of gray, this imagery transports readers from our
frenetic, human-built environment, ushering us into a world that operates at a
different pulse.
I can’t recommend “A Whale of the Wild” highly enough. Anyone who
reads it will emerge from the experience as a more thoughtful citizen of the
world.
The Bookmonger is Barbara Lloyd McMichael, who writes this weekly
column focusing on the books, authors and publishers of the Pacifi c North-
west. Contact her at bkmonger@nwlink.com
14 // COASTWEEKEND.COM