Hannah Gold’s second novel, beautifully written by the acclaimed author of The Last Bear, is a moving story about adventure, recovery, and love, perfect for fans of Pax and A Wolf Called Wander.

When Rio is sent to live with a grandmother he barely knows in California, he feels utterly alone. Then he makes a new friend on the foggy beach—a girl named Marina, who teaches him about the enormous gray whales that migrate nearby.

As Rio begins to love the whales, he discovers his mom loved them too. He is suddenly sure that if he can somehow find a way to connect her to these gentle giants—and especially one particular whale named White Beak—she will get better and come to join him in California. But White Beak has disappeared, and Rio must embark on a desperate quest across the dangerous ocean to find her.

An excellent choice for third to seventh grade readers, this fierce celebration of friendship includes information about the struggles real gray whales face due to climate change, pollution, and overfishing.