The Whaler's Daughter

June 1, 2021
In pre-World War I Australia, 12-year-old Savannah Dawson wants to be a whaler like her father. She knows whaling is in her blood, however, as a girl, she is stuck as a cook's helper. Given the chance, she would gladly follow in her father's footsteps even though that is how both her brothers lost their lives. Her mother has also passed away, and her absence is palpable. Through her new friend, Figgie, an Indigenous boy whose real name is Calagun--Savannah renames him after an ineffectual attempt to pronounce it--she learns about Indigenous beliefs positioning orcas as the guardians of the Earth and the need to live in harmony with nature. As she comprehends the balance between whaling and the beasts of the deep, she has increasingly cryptic dreams. Meanwhile, industrialization is encroaching thanks to wealthy American investor Jacob Bittermen, who wants to introduce factory processes to whaling. Savannah, who is White by default, is a well-developed, three-dimensional character who starts off only caring about her own goals but grows through her friendships. Whaling terms and Australian slang add atmosphere and pull readers deeper into the colorful world. Unfortunately, the Indigenous characters feed into tropes of mystical guides. Figgie is not as well rounded as Savannah; his actions support her journey of self-discovery, but apart from that, he does not appear to have a purpose in the story. A strong sense of place and an appealing protagonist cannot overcome outdated stereotypes of Indigenous people. (list of abbreviations, glossary) (Historical fiction. 12-14)

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June 4, 2021

Gr 7 Up-Savannah wants nothing more than to become a whaler and prove to her father she has what it takes to carry on the family legacy. They work with orcas to hunt whales, but Savannah believes the orcas are behind the deaths of her brothers, who haunt her. After Savannah joins the crew, thanks to the help of an Aboriginal boy named Figgie and her own near-death experience, things begin to change. The mysterious spirit orca, Jungay, returns to rescue her. Savannah vows to protect the orcas from the business she is learning is more dangerous and complicated than she initially thought. At times the novel, set in 1910 New South Wales, Australia, can be tricky to follow given the plethora of characters. However, Savannah's coming-of-age story is intriguing and will open many teens' eyes to a world they're unfamiliar with. The narrative tackles death-of humans and animals alike. There are some lighter moments to offset the difficult ones. Other than Figgie and his uncle, who are described as Aboriginal, the race of the characters isn't noted. VERDICT An additional purchase.-Amanda Borgia, Uniondale P.L., NY

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2021
Grades 4-7 In 1910 New South Wales, 12-year-old Savannah has only one aim in life--to join her father on the whaling boats, using orcas to drive the hunt. To her disappointment, he aims to keep her safely ashore after losing his two sons to a mysterious boating accident, but Savannah has plans of her own. Readers are quickly drawn into this episodic chronicle of community, with its unique characters and histories, including the Aboriginal people among whom Savannah lives. Her best friend, Figgie, provides life-path support and a sweet first romance, and she also finds strength in Aboriginal beliefs that stoke the magic present in Savannah's relationship with an orca pod that she adopts as family. Mikorenda creates authentic characters who carry the story's mix of humorous and meaningful moments as change comes to their community, along with revelations and understanding. His writing style successfully captures a period and place on the precipice of the modern world, and middle-grade readers will appreciate the glossary, which brings greater depth to the language used.

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