The Year of the Whale

Like it or not, the journey of the whale is more interesting than our own. That's one of the reason's I grabbed `The Year of the Whale' from the $1 bin. When I saw it was written in 1969 (yr of my birth), I nearly put it back. Why read outdated whale data, when there is plenty of current info available? It was Victor Sheffer's ability to tell a story which quickly piqued and maintained my interest. He follows a calf's first year of life; mixing in relatable whale stories along the way. By entering the head of an animal, an author risks leaving the reader with animated imagery. VS manages to describe the thoughts of a mother whale/her calf, while remaining vested in a real undersea experience. He compares the thinking of the whale and that of man; often showing more reverence for the older mammal. A particularly interesting section described, Susie, the first sperm whale in capitivity. Named after a young girl who frequented the aquarium, the whale faced great adversity. VS has a real gift for encapsulating a story, doing so in less than 1 page at some points. TYotW is an early conservationinst book. Young readers will be surprised at the ease with which the slaughter is described. Yet, at the same time, VS describes these mammouth creatures, and their vital role, with great compassion. A terrific blend of poetry and science, 'The Year of the Whale' is a must for whale enthusiasts and lovers of the sea.