A Whale of the Wild (Voice of the Wilderness)

by Rosanne Parry (Author) Lindsay Moore (Illustrator)

A Whale of the Wild (Voice of the Wilderness)
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

In the stand-alone companion to the New York Times-bestselling A Wolf Called Wander, a young orca whale must lead her brother on a tumultuous journey to be reunited with their pod. This gorgeously illustrated animal adventure novel explores family bonds, survival, global warming, and a changing seascape. Includes information about orcas and their habitats.

For Vega and her family, salmon is life. And Vega is learning to be a salmon finder, preparing for the day when she will be her family's matriarch. But then she and her brother Deneb are separated from their pod when a devastating earthquake and tsunami render the seascape unrecognizable. Vega must use every skill she has to lead her brother back to their family. The young orcas face a shark attack, hunger, the deep ocean, and polluted waters on their journey. Will Vega become the leader she's destined to be?

A Whale of the Wild weaves a heart-stopping tale of survival with impeccable research on a delicate ecosystem and threats to marine life. New York Times-bestselling author Rosanne Parry's fluid writing and Lindsay Moore's stunning artwork bring the Salish Sea and its inhabitants to vivid life. An excellent read-aloud and read-alone, this companion to A Wolf Called Wander will captivate fans of The One and Only Ivan and Pax. Includes black-and-white illustrations throughout, a map, and extensive backmatter about orcas and their habitats.

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School Library Journal

Gr 3-7--Vega is a young orca whale being trained by her mother to one day be the group's Wayfinder--the whale who navigates their extended family toward food and away from danger. Vega is reckless and impulsive, but when she and her young cousin are separated from the pod by an earthquake and the resulting tsunami, Vega must use her wayfinding skills to reunite them with their elders. In the style of A Wolf Called Wander, Parry tells the story through the animal voices of both Vega and Deneb, weaving a great deal of information about orcas and their habits (and the negative effects that both humans and climate change are having on the orca population) into the narrative. The back matter contains resources for those interested in learning more. VERDICT Purchase where animal adventure stories are in demand.--Elizabeth Friend, Wester M.S., TX

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"After a tsunami devastates their habitat in the Salish Sea, a young orca and her brother embark on a remarkable adventure. . . . Vega and Deneb tell their harrowing story, engaging young readers while educating them about the marine ecosystem. . . . A dramatic, educational, authentic whale of a tale."—Kirkus Reviews
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780062995933
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Greenwillow Books
Publication date
August 31, 2021
Series
Voice of the Wilderness
BISAC categories
JUV002160 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Mammals
JUV001010 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure | Survival Stories
JUV002170 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Marine Life
Library of Congress categories
Brothers and sisters
Survival
Whales
Killer whale
Northwest Straits (B.C. and Wash.)

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