Why the Whales Came

By Michael Morpurgo

Book Overview

A stunning story of friendship and our natural world set against the backdrop of the First World War. From the nation's favourite storyteller, Michael Morpurgo.

Gracie and her friend Daniel have always been warned to stay away from the Birdman and his side of the island. But then they find a message in the sand and discover the Birdman is not who they thought.

But his warnings to stay away from the abandoned and cursed Samson Island stay with them. And when those warnings seem to be coming true, Gracie and Daniel must find out what the Birdman knows - before it's too late ...

Why the Wales Came is a gripping historical tale full of adventure and friendship, from the author of War Horse.

Michael Morpurgo has written more than one hundred books for children and won the Whitbread Award, the Smarties Award, the Circle of Gold Award, the Children's Book Award and has been short-listed for the Carnegie Medal four times.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0008640734
• ISBN13: 9780008640736
• Release Date: July 2024
• Publisher: Farshore
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.9" x 7.4"
• Age Range: 10 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 5 and higher

Customer Reviews

Michael Morpurgo's 'Why the Whales Came'

I really enjoyed the first part of the book, as it was really interesting. I think that the author Michael Morpurgo was really clever using something that he knows about. He also wrote `The Wreck of the Zanzibar' and both stories are very alike in some ways. They are set in the same sort of time, and are both set around the Scilly Isles. I like this story so far because it is very realistic. I think that this could actually happen although it is a bit of a fantasy. I enjoyed the first part of the book as it is a different literature than I usually read, that is interesting.At the start of the book Daniel and Gracie were sailing boats near the Isles of Scilly. When they couldn't find anywhere to sail their boats they went to the Birdman's territory. They lost one of their boats and the Birdman found it. The Birdman wrote messages in the sand to Daniel and Gracie and they gradually began to find out about him. The Birdman had had many bad stories told about him and everyone was terrified of him. Daniel and Gracie found the better side of him. This shows how many people judge other people by what they hear about them.I think that the Birdman was actually very kind inside.Daniel is very ambitious and likes to do things in a rush. Gracie is a bit shy and tries to stop Daniel in his frantic rush.

Only the good die young; only the best books go out of print

This was the first serious chapter book I read to my six-year-old and it has completely sold her on books. Think of a book from your childhood that made you cry: Black Beauty? To Kill a Mockingbird? Why the Whales Came will be on your child's list one day. Thank you Michael Murpurgo, where ever you are.

Brilliant read on the scillies

This book gives you the wonder of the Isles of Scilly mixed in with a wonderful story, about children living on Bryher during the war, and shows the reader a different kind of life. Excellently written and a real joy.