THE BOY WHO SAVED A WHALE
AGES 9–12
Eleven-year-old César lives in a small fishing village on the Pacific coast of Baja California, where he spends his mornings at sea catching bait fish with his grandfather, Abuelito. They sell their catch to captains of sportfishing boats, and César dreams of one day joining them—just as Abuelito once did.
When César learns about the dangers of plastic pollution, he begins to see the ocean in a new way.
After a sudden tragedy leaves him alone, César sets out in his little boat to chase his dream of catching a blue marlin. Instead, he finds a humpback whale tangled in plastic netting. Remembering Abuelito’s words about duty, César makes a brave choice—one that leaves him alone on the vast open ocean, fighting to survive.
A powerful story of courage, loss, and the responsibility to protect what we love.
★★★★★
"The storytelling literally pulled me back to 1929."
— Sunshine, Amazon reviewer
★★★★★
"A captivating page-turner, grounded in accurate historical detail...that masterfully weaves romance and risk with the tense undercurrent of a Prohibition-era syndicate."
— Amazon reviewer
★★★★★
"I was addicted to this book! I don't normally go for historical fiction, but every chapter left me either wanting more or on the edge of my seat."
— Brooke, Amazon reviewer
1929. Newlyweds Lily and Charlie set out to build a family amusement park atop a derelict WWI oil tanker—a wedding gift from Lily’s father—grounded along the shores of Monterey Bay. They dream of filling their ship with children’s laughter.
But bootleggers cashing in on Prohibition have other plans, secretly installing a speakeasy in the ship’s hold.
When war breaks out between rival crime syndicates, Lily and Charlie are caught in the crossfire and must outwit ruthless gangsters to survive—and save each other.
MARK MARINOVICH
Mark Marinovich is the author of the historical thriller Seacliff Park and the new middle-grade novel The Boy Who Saved a Whale. A former journalist and communications professional, he has also written award-winning screenplays and several novels that explore history, adventure, and the relationship between people and the natural world.
A San Francisco native, Mark now lives on California's Monterey Bay, where the region's dramatic coastline and rich history inspired Seacliff Park. His volunteer work for an ocean environmental organization planted the seeds for The Boy Who Saved a Whale, which he hopes will instill an appreciation in young readers for the perils of plastic pollution in our oceans.