A Galaxy of Whales

Eleven-year-old Fern’s father died three years ago. While her grief is still present, she’s grateful that it brought her closer to her best friend Ivy, whose mother also died some time ago. When Ivy returns from a trip, however, Fern is not the first person she calls, leaving Fern jealous and unsure of their connection. Even more troublesome is her family’s failing whale-watching business. The rival company, led by their neighbors, is doing much better, which has driven a wedge between Fern and their son, classmate Jasper. But when Jasper tells Fern about a photography contest—and the cash reward—she determines to collaborate with Jasper to win the prize money. As the two attempt to photograph the endangered pod of killer whales that inhabit the Salish Sea that surrounds their island home, Fern learns that there’s more to Jasper than she realized. Fawcett (The Islands of Elsewhere) eschews traditional tropes surrounding friendship breakups by imbuing Fern and Ivy’s relationship with nuance and tenderly depicting Fern’s struggles to maintain relationships as those dynamics shift. Organically incorporated lessons regarding endangered animals and environmental challenges add further depth. Fern and Jasper are depicted on the cover with white and brown skin respectively. Ages 8–12. (May)