Chris Vick, The Last Whale, Bloomsbury, August 2022, 304 pp., RRP $22.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781803281629
Whales are an integral part to the earth’s eco system, and The Last Whale allows readers to see the vast impact the world will have without them.
The story follows Abi, an environmental enthusiast who will do anything to change the world and keep her AI device, Moonlight (even if this gets her into a bit of trouble). While holidaying on a Norwegian island with her family and grandmother, Abi discovers the extent of her family’s history and what her grandfather had discovered was the true meaning of whale songs. Using this, Abi and Moonlight embark on a lifelong adventure to save the whales until there is only one left, many years later. At this point, the earth is slowly dying, with the lack of oxygen in the air that the whales and plankton would usually produce. Tonje, Abi’s teenage daughter, is dragged along for the desperate whale search, and discovers a new interest along the way.
I liked how the depiction of this rapid change in the future was meaningfully shown through the use of different generations, especially as this book provokes important questions for the future such as: How many generations do we have left? Is this what our world will become? What do we need to do to provide change?
This book would be perfect for budding environmentalists at a recommended age of 12 and over, as it provides inspiration for change to occur for our future generations.
Reviewed by Emily Woolnough
