Whale Pot Bay by Des Hunt
HarperCollins, 2009. ISBN 9781869507305
(Ages 8+) Des Hunter very cleverly tells a tale of mystery, adventure
and intrigue, interwoven within a story of a young boy who has to cope
with big adjustment in his family life.
Whale Pot Bay, the setting for this story, is described as a New
Zealand beach paradise, isolation and tranquillity its biggest selling
point.
Jake and his dad live in Whale Pot Bay contented with their quiet life
together. Jake's mum ran from the bay soon after Jake started school;
the isolation was too much for her. Life went on very nicely for Jake
and his Dad, they worked together at the service station, surfed and
fished when they liked, ate what they liked and worked till midnight if
they wished! A life they were both very happy to maintain forever or so
Jake thought.
Soon after Jake's thirteenth birthday, with the introduction of Vicky
and Stephanie, life as Jake knew it certainly did change. What was Jake
to do, would he survive, could he get things back the way they were,
was there a way out?
Milton Summer, international rock star, establishes his retreat in the
bay, living in splendour on top of the cliff. Stephanie is Milton's
biggest fan, Milton wants to surf, Jake can teach Milton. Their
separate lives come together as their mutual love and concern for the
whales needs to bring them into action, they would do anything to save
them. Sounds like a perfect match, what could go wrong?
Jake and Milton's quiet life quickly disappears as the mysteries of the
Paparazzi, Tsunami, and a madman unfold as Jake and his friends
are
challenged trying to save Pimi the whale and her yet to be born calf.
This is an easy to read story with adventure, mystery and intrigue on
every page. A great story for young boys and girls, although I think
the
cover may not be so appealing to them.
Margaret Unsworth