A captivating account of the only successful orca rescue and reunion in
history told in first person by Donna Sandstrom, a citizen participant
of the rescue.
In 2002, a young orca was spotted alone in Puget Sound near Seattle --
lost, underweight and 300 miles away from her home waters in Canada.
Donna Sandstrom, an orca enthusiast in Seattle, eagerly joined the
volunteer effort to help. Here she tells the riveting story, from
identifying the orca as a missing calf named Springer; through making
the decision to try to transport her home; to planning and organizing
the trip; to, finally, releasing her near Vancouver Island, where
Springer was reunited with her family. It's an incredible story of the
only successful orca rescue and reunion ever, and readers will be
captivated as the epic rescue unfolds!
Donna Sandstrom's fascinating up-close-and-personal depiction of the
rescue mission, with new behind-the-scenes details, uses an innovative
mix of narrative storytelling interspersed with spreads of factual
information about orcas and the history of their relationship with
humans. Sig Burwash's evocative watercolor illustrations make the
perfect accompaniment to the text. Orcas and their survival are a
topical issue, and readers will discover what it's like on the front
lines of whale rescue, including the collaboration and teamwork that are
required. There are numerous curriculum links to life science here,
particularly animals and habitats, as well as to social studies in the
descriptions of the connections and cooperation between Canada and the
United States. The book includes a map showing Springer's trip, tips for
how to help whales and dolphins, resources and a glossary.
