Whale of the Wild

Rosanne Parry is the author of the bestselling novels A Wolf Called Wander, A Whale of the Wild, A Horse Named Sky, and A Wolf Called Fire, as well as The Wolf Effect, a picture book illustrated by Jennifer Thermes. These “Voice of the Wilderness” stories center the voices of wild animals and focus on their struggle to survive in a dangerous and changing world. Based on rigorous research and inspired by the real animals of the western United States, Rosanne’s books are treasured by teachers and librarians and adored by animal-loving readers of all ages. The author lives with her family in Portland, Oregon, and writes in a treehouse in her backyard. Lindsay Moore studied marine biology and fine art at Southampton College on Long Island and figure drawing at the Art Students League of New York and earned her master's of science in medical and scientific illustration from Medical College of Georgia, now Augusta University. Her picture books include Sun Bird, Sea Bear, and Yoshi and the Ocean, and she illustrated Rosanne Parry’s bestselling novel A Whale of the Wild. Lindsay Moore lives with her family in Northern Michigan.

“After a tsunami devastates their habitat in the Salish Sea, a young orca and her brother embark on a remarkable adventure. . . . Vega and Deneb tell their harrowing story, engaging young readers while educating them about the marine ecosystem. . . . A dramatic, educational, authentic whale of a tale.” — Kirkus Reviews"Vega is a young orca whale being trained by her mother to one day be the group’s Wayfinder . . . But when she and her young brother are separated from the pod . . . Vega must use her wayfinding skills to reunite them with their elders. . . . Parry weav[es] a great deal of information about orcas and their habits into the narrative.” — School Library Journal"Vega, a late-adolescent orca whale . . . lives in the Salish Sea, an area of stunning ecological richness and diversity . . . When there’s an earthquake with its resulting tsunami, Vega and Deneb become separated from their pod. Parry does a convincing job of presenting orca life in fresh language that rings true. . . . [and] becomes increasingly heartbreaking as the characters try to deal with the fracturing of their world. The story contains gracefully integrated information . . . Detailed black-and-white illustrations beautifully support a powerful portrait of nature under threat." — Horn Book Magazine“Two young orcas search for lost family, meet unique friends and deal with the dangerous impact of pollutants and global warming on their undersea world, which is vividly rendered in this novel through words and pictures.” — Washington Post“Parry creates a spellbinding, heart-stopping adventure for middle-grade readers—this time about a pod of orca whales and their plight in today’s Salish Sea. . . . Parry’s thorough research, observation, and creative writing combine to share the marvelous matriarchal familial world of orcas . . . Her descriptive narrative rises in intensity to match each new danger and resolves with a bittersweet yet hopeful finish. . . . Excellent.” — Booklist (starred review)“A story about two young orcas, Vega and her little brother, Deneb. . . . When Vega acts impulsively, the siblings become separated from their pod. In searching for their lost family, they discover friends — and grave danger.” — Washington Post“[An] enthralling new novel . . . Parry writes in a tradition of animal adventure novels that address environmental issues from the animals’ point of view . . . A Whale of the Wild is a dreamily written, slyly educational, rousing maritime adventure.” — New York Times Book Review“After just a few pages, readers will be completely immersed in the underwater world of Rosanne Parry’s A Whale of the Wild . . . [Parry] skillfully incorporates details about orcas as well as the many threats to their existence. . . . A Whale of the Wild offers brisk drama alongside insight and wisdom, demonstrating the vital importance of taking care of each other and the world we live in—above and below the surface.” — BookPage.com