Orcas Calling

Joan Buchanan is a writing instructor and storyteller, and the author of
Taking Care of My Cold! and The Nana Rescue.

The weather is perfect for Alicia’s Thanksgiving weekend of whale
watching on the northern coast of British Columbia. However, her solo
expedition on the beach takes a surprising turn when she confronts
someone shooting orcas.

Gord Smedley describes nature aptly; for instance, a pod of killer
whales have black fins that “cut through the foam-topped waves like
knives of polished jet, leaving V-trails in their wakes.” The accuracy
of the setting and the details of marine life reflect the author’s
research and familiarity with these areas. With fifty-seven pages of
fairly large print, including eight full-to-half-page illustrations and
no chapter breaks, this book reads like a long short story. Even though
Alicia has just started high school and is presumably in Grade 8, the
sentence structures and vocabulary are simple, and thus suitable for 8-
to 12-year-olds. Fast-paced action and a realistically motivated
character add to Orcas Calling’s accessibility. The use of clichéd
phrases and some word redundancies are weaknesses that do not intrude
overly.

The black-and-white sketches by Gayle Hammond add interest and variety
to the text. The pictures are lively and full of character, featuring
detail balanced with simple, strong lines. Recommended.