Trade Paperback, 352 pages

This is a love story between an eclectic group of people and a killer whale. Their prodigious efforts to save and rehabilitate him from a less-than-ideal situation are movingly portrayed in this novel of devotion and commitment.

I enjoyed getting to know the quirky characters, including a shy artist with an unlikely name of Johnson Johnson, the hugely rich, eccentric Ivy, usually dressed in running shoes and floor-length Egyptian caftan, Libertine Adagio, animal communicator/psychic loosely connected to an animal-rights group and Gabriel who has a “sixth sense” for animals. Add to the mix some animal characters, like Miles the pot-bellied pig, ornery Chihuahua Julio Iglesias, and animal lovers will revel in this book. The star, of course, is Friday, a 19-year old Orca whale, living in captivity for 18 of those years. 

I learned a lot about whales. They are highly intelligent, learn very quickly, are easily bored, have a sense of humor, are playful, goofy, and seem to love the company of humans. At one point Libertine falls into the deep, frigid pool that houses Friday. Before panic sets in, Friday surfaces with Libertine sprawled across his back. He then swims to the side of the pool, gently tipping until she rolls onto the concrete. Friday stays nearby, “his mouth closed, eyes inscrutable” in the words of the author. Beautiful! Orcas are truly awe-inspiring, as is so deftly shown by the author.

This is a work of fiction, loosely based on real-life events occurring in the late 1990’s. It deals with emotional issues regarding captivity of wild animals with humor and compassion. It also highlights the tender dedication of people towards animals who are unable to help themselves. 

The sub-themes of loneliness and friendship, humans and animal, are explored on various levels.

I highly recommend this delightful, uplifting novel. 

This book is rated C = clean read.

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About the author:

Diane Hammond is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Seeing Stars, Hannah’s Dream, Going to Bend, and Homesick Creek. She has worked as both a writer and an editor, and is the recipient of an Oregon Arts Commission literary fellowship. She served as a spokesperson for the Free Willy Keiko Foundation and the Oregon Coast Aquarium, and currently lives in St. Paul, MN, with her husband and daughter.

Find out more about Diane at her website and connect with her on Facebook.

Reviewed by Sandra

Disclosure: Thanks to HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

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