A very good book indeed, and one that while you read you kind of wish to have seen years ago. Springer the orca (or killer whale for those not so up on the change in name – it only happened decades ago, mind, so fair enough) was known to be an orphan, but had not been seen for over a season, until she was found, still a relative toddler, and underweight. Scientists knew where her kin travelled about the seas, and so launched the cockamamie idea to get her picked up, moved to an observation pen for proof she was healthy enough to be amongst other delicate creatures, bulked up, and shipped further on to where she could sing and play and fish with her blood relatives. Only that whole side of things had never even been achieved before.

And the weird thing, perhaps, is that it's never been achieved since, which is proof that once stuck in a theme park pool, the orca can never be reattached to its relatives, although that's mostly because those relations aren't known. But, spoiler alert, this instance was a resounding success, and the fact the author can report – and report very well – things that happened almost twenty years ago means that there are several happy sequels to include in her narrative. The writing is fine for a young audience, flowing very well even with chapter headings interrupting it, and the artworks accompanying things – suitably in watercolour – are wonderful at evoking the northern waterways of the drama and the creatures involved. It all boils down to a lovely portrayal of the power of cooperation, and perhaps the resilience of mother nature – a side to her she only needs more and more on a daily basis. Four and a half stars.