Chris Vick was shortlisted for the Carnegie Award for his book, Girl, Boy, Sea and his latest book, The Last Whale, which is an equally powerful and mesmerising story about the journey to save whales and their importance to the survival of the earth. The story’s strength lies in the character of Abi and her relationship with an AI computer as they, and future generations battle unbelievable odds to save the last whale on earth.

Abi is a smart, savvy young teenager and an active member of Earth Crisis, an environmental group whose mission is to save the planet at any cost. Its most active members undertake what the government defines as terrorist activities, like hacking into computers to help achieve its goals. When Abi wins a school competition to work with an AI computer she cleverly reprograms it and enlists its support.

The story begins after Abi has been expelled from school and is en route (with the stolen AI) to a family holiday on a very remote island off the coast of Norway, where her grandmother lives. It is here that Abi discovers her family’s history as whale hunters, but also the extraordinary work her great grandfather did to record the songs of whales. This is when Abi has her first encounter with whales, reinforcing a lifelong commitment to save them and the planet.

The Last Whale is an engrossing and complex story dealing with many different, but significant, themes and storylines. It travels three generations to 2070 when Abi’s daughter, Tonje and her family are on their ultimate journey. It is a story about hope, passion and the significant choices and sacrifices its young heroines undertake to ensure the future of the planet.

Reviewed by Karen Williams
Age Guide 14+

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chris Vick is a graduate of the Bath Spa MA in Writing for Young People. In between writing and teaching, Chris works for a whale and dolphin conservation charity and is a proud member of Authors4Oceans.

He lives near Bath with his wife and daughter.

Girl. Boy. Sea. was shortlisted for the 2020 CILIP Carnegie Medal.