The Lost Whale by Hannah Gold

Rio has been sent to live with a grandmother he barely knows in California, while his mum is in hospital. 

All Rio wants is for Mum to get better so he can return home. But everything changes when he joins a whale-watching trip and meets White Beak, a gentle giant of the sea. 

Rio forms an instant bond with the whale, and for the first time in ages he feels a spark of hope. 

Then White Beak goes missing and Rio may be the only person who can help.

Can Rio draw on their special connection to somehow find and save his whale . . . ?

Perfect for readers of 8+, beautifully illustrated throughout by Levi Pinfold

Paperback, 336 pages 

Published February 2, 2023

 by HarperCollins

4.5/5 stars

When Rio is sent to live with his grandmother, whom he hasn’t seen for many years, the loneliness creeps in as he misses his mother back in England.

The Lost Whale is a story of family, mental health, the environment and friendship. After finding a box of his mother‘s treasures when she was a child, Rio is introduced to a whale that sent him  not just on an emotional journey, but a physical one as well. It is through the struggles that Rio grows closer to his new friend, his grandmother, and even his mother who is thousands of miles away. 

This was a well written story that will grab at the heart strings as this 12-year-old boy grows in ways he never imagined. It was an informative story to learn about the habits of whales along the western coast of Canada and the US along with the dangers they faced along the way.

This was my first time reading a Hannah Gold story. I'm excited to explore her back list and see what other adventures she takes readers on.

This book was part of my 2025 reading off my shelf challenge and is book #20, it was obtained through a book box by onceuponbookclub.