This book seemed so cute in the premise, but I tried for weeks to read it and I could just not make myself get invested. The main character was so whiny that I didn't want to read his perspective. A flop for me.

This is an emotional but great read. Many adults deal with mental illness so this book about a child whose parent has a mental illness will likely resonate with many readers. Very well done!

Thank you for the digital ARC. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

The main plot here, of Rio's drive to find White Beak, is easy enough to follow. And the subtext of his journey adjusting to his new life and coming to understand his mother and grandmother better is pretty straightforward as well. I appreciate too that Gold resists the temptation to make Rio wise beyond his years. He is serious, to be certain, since he has been serving as a caregiver to his mother. But he is still a child. He engages in magical thinking and is only beginning to see adults as real, complex people who don't have all the answers. The whale plot stretches the imagination a bit more than I would like but the characters are strong enough to give this one my approval.

A sweet and moving story about a young boy whose mother is dealing with mental health issues. Rio moves from England to California to spend time with his grandmother while his mother recovers. During this time, he becomes obsessed with whales and their preservation. For fans of A Song for a Whale.

Hannah Gold wrote an amazing story about Rio's mother's mental illness and how he goes in search for "The Lost Whale" feeling like he might be able to help her by finding it. It has a lot of information about whales and the major threats they face and how we can make a difference. Such a touching story that should be shared by all and one I highly recommend.

Thank you to Hannah Gold, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Netgalley for this ARC!

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

As someone who grew up in California near the coast and has seen migrating whales over the years, I enjoyed getting to see that experience brought to life. The Lost Whale is an engaging story about family, friendship, protecting the ocean, and the impact of mental health. My students enjoyed reading aloud Gold's first book, The Last Bear, and I think they would enjoy this one as much!

Would recommend this book to students who enjoyed A Whale of the Wild or Song for a Whale.

"The Lost Whale" by Hannah Gold is a beautiful story of family, ocean, friendship, trust, and love. The book provides a perfect springboard to other connected learning opportunities for children learning at home or within classrooms..

I recommend this book starting at 3rd grade, possibly end of the year at 2nd grade. This is the perfect read aloud and I will be adding it to my list of books to share with my students. Hannah Gold is a writing wizard- she captures our hearts and souls through story. Her characters are relatable and you both hurt and celebrated with them as they progress through the story.

Another great book by Hannah Gold! I love how she has her tween characters going on adventures and helping the environment at the same time. They also are overcoming coming of age issues and discovering more about themselves and how they fit into the world around them.

This one is a solid five star phenomenon! I read basically any stories concerning whales or sharks or dolphins and often attempt to collect them for my children, but this one is unique in that is parallels the protagonist’s plight to save his mother from her severe depression that is slowly drawing her into a world inside her head where she has forgotten how to be happy, forgotten how to smile, forgotten how to live, and Rio, our 11 year old narrator, is determined to be her hero, to save her, even though he has been shipped off across the ocean from London to sunny dazzling California to stay for what was initially a short period of time but it extended, to stay with his distant grandmother whom he initially resents but grows closer to with time. As marvelous as the informative gray whale eduction that’s included is, which is so well done that is never feels preachy or boring but always like icing on an already delightful cake, it is the deep connection between Rio and his mother, and his mother, himself and an enigmatic female gray whale named White Beak that drives the heart of the story, for Rio who is sullen and resentful, only begins to open up when introduced to the marine mammoth his mother once loved dearly, and he not only forms a deep belief that photos of White Beak will bring his mother out of her depression and back to him, but he forms his own soulful connection to the beautiful behemoth and when she suddenly goes missing on her long coastal migration, he will stop at nothing to find her again. This tale is a sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes heart lifting, but always enthralling and glorious epic that treads the often untouched waters of the effects of a child growing up with a parent who suffers from mental illness, and how the wonders of nature can restore our souls and bring family together.

Suspenseful, heartwarming story of a boy who is enamored by White Beak, the same whale his mother loved. He sets off to find her, and finds a lot more in the process.

An unforgettable tale of spiritual connections beyond explanation!

I like sharing reviews that are genuine and less about giving a summary of the book. And so, I have to admit that I am so in overwhelmed with emotion, and so in love with this book that I was challenged as to what to write and how to write it. So, I took the advice of the main character, Rio, and listened with my heart.

I set off with this warm-hearted tale and in general enjoyed the introduction to the characters and the ocean theme. The story and characters appeared to be comparable to the middle grade regulars I often enjoy reading about. Then the story took a magically astounding turn! I was hooked and there was no turning back. My everyday life came to a halt. I couldn't stop reading and my connection to the characters deepened. Learning more about the multiple levels of the characters made me want to know more, made me want to join in their adventure. With elements touching on mental health, friendship, trust, family and animal and environmental conservation there is so much to learn and delight in this story.

If there was an option for a 6th star or a golden button - I would push my golden button for The Lost Whale.

BEYOND Grateful to have received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley & Harper Collins Children's Books.

If you enjoyed The Last Bear, you will love this book as well, and you will certainly want to go whale watching! What an awesome adventure we go on when Rio, whose mom is in the hospital back in London, is sent to stay with grandma in California. There he meets Marina whose dad has a whale spotting boat. When he finds his mom’s many sketches of a gray whale, White Beak, he’s able to go on Marina’s boat. One day he sees White Beak, and Rio feels it’s a sign that he’s on track for helping his mom feel better. He can take pictures of White Beak, and it might help mom feel better. When no one has seen White Beak in a while, Rio feels it’s his responsibility to make sure she is safe just like his mom. When they do find White Beak, there is a problem. Can they save White Beak or is it too late? This book also brings awareness to the threats whales face in their everyday lives such as noise pollution, ship collisions, netting, and more.