Why the Whales Came

Michael Morpurgo's children's book Why the Whales Came was first published in 1985 by William Heinemann (UK) and Scholastic (US). It takes place in 1914 on the island of Bryher, one of the Isles of Scilly off the coast of Cornwall. 'Why the Whales Came' is about Gracie Jenkins, a ten-year-old girl who lives on Bryher, a tiny island off the western coast of Britain, in 1914. Gracie's Father had told her to stay away from the Birdman. The Birdman lives alone in a home that stands alone on a hill in the island's south. Gracie's father has stories about him that he believes are too heinous to tell her.

The Birdman used to reside on Samson Island, which is said to be cursed. Gracie and her pal Daniel have built a fleet of toy boats. When the lake where they typically sail their boats is overrun by irate swans, Daniel persuades Gracie to accompany him to a cove near the Birdman's cabin. She is terrified, but she eventually accepts. They soon find themselves on the most terrifying trip of their life. Gracie's father also serves in the military and is reported missing in combat. The whales in the novel are narwhals, which have a long, spiraling horn on the front of their heads. Gracie and Daniel discover a narwhal's horn on their journey. They must later determine whether to assist a stranded narwhal. The narwhal is then rescued. Later, the Birdman returns to Bryher, and he is greeted warmly by all.

Detailed information:
Author: Michael Morpurgo
Genre: Childrens, fiction, historical, animals
Published: June 24, 1985
Link to read: goodreads.com/book/show/1289436