The Boy Who Met a Whale

LoveReading4Kids Says

Selected for The Book Box by LoveReading4Kids

Nizrana Farook’s latest adventure story sends readers to Sri Lanka in a story that combines treasure hunts, daring escapes from multiple dangers, and some fantastic blue whale action. Ship’s boy Zheng is washed up on the shores of Serendib after his boat is shipwrecked.  He knows that two villainous crew mates caused the wreck, and he has with him the reason why – his captain’s treasure map showing the whereabouts of the famous Dagger of Serendib.

Razi, a local fisherboy, finds and helps Zheng, but the two villains are almost instantly on Zheng’s trail.  With the added assistance of Razi’s twin sister Shifa, the three children just about manage to stay one step ahead, but they need all their wits not to mention the unexpected help of a blue whale.  The story is full of action and a great sense too of the camaraderie that develops between Zheng and Razi and Shifa.  The setting makes this special as well, Farook treating her readers to a vivid encounter with the people, landscape, and wildlife of Serendib. One for all young adventurers!

Readers who enjoy this will also love the author’s previous book, The Girl Who Stole an Elephant, and Natasha Farrant’s Costa winning story Voyage of the Sparrowhawk.

Reviewed by Andrea Reece
Andrea Reece has spent almost her entire working life in children’s books, first as publisher, latterly as consultant, project manager and critic.
More reviews by Andrea Reece

About The Boy Who Met a Whale

Razi, a local fisherboy, is watching turtle eggs hatch when he sees a boat bobbing into view. With a chill, he notices a small, still hand hanging over the side... Inside is Zheng, who's escaped a shipwreck and is full of tales of sea monsters and missing treasure. But the villains who are after Zheng are soon after Razi and his sister, Shifa, too. And so begins an exhilarating adventure in the shadow of the biggest sea monster of them all...

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