The Lost Whale

Hannah Gold's second novel tells the story of Rio, a young boy sent to live with his grandmother in California, where he feels isolated and alone. On a foggy beach, he befriends a girl named Marina who introduces him to the migrating grey whales nearby. As Rio grows attached to the whales, he learns that his mother also loved them and believes that connecting her with a specific whale named White Beak could help her recover and join him in California. However, White Beak is missing, prompting Rio to undertake a perilous journey across the ocean to find her. The book, suitable for readers in grades 3 to 7, not only explores themes of adventure, recovery, and love, but also educates about the environmental challenges faced by real gray whales due to climate change, pollution, and over-fishing.