It’s no secret that time spent in the natural world improves our health and wellbeing—even if we just spend a few minutes outside a day. But here’s the really interesting thing—the more we love and appreciate something, the more likely we are to do our absolute best to protect it.

As a final note, I know that sometimes the weight of saving the world can feel like a burden on young shoulders. During my school visits, I come across wonderful children, like yourself, who care so deeply and yet sometimes feel afraid of what’s happening to our planet. But I hope Rio’s story shows you the power of what you are capable of, and that by joining forces with other like-minded individuals, we can make a difference, not just to the world around us, but our own inner worlds too.

With love and heart-shaped hope,

Hannah

x

Resources and further reading

Here are some of the resources I used in my research that you might find interesting too:

Happywhale Database

The real Happywhale website is slightly different from my version, but the aim remains exactly the same. By encouraging people to become a citizen scientist and upload their whale sightings, we can create a world where our oceans are better understood, and more importantly, better protected.

www.happywhale.com/home

The Gray Whale Migration Route

This live, interactive map, with all the various observation points dotted along the Pacific coastline, shows the migration route of the gray whale on its journey to and from the lagoons. The fictional town of Ocean Bay would be somewhere between staging posts six and seven.

www.journeynorth.org/tm/gwhale/MigrationRoute_Map.html

WWF

You can read more about gray whales here and even watch a video of one of them in the Mexican lagoons.

www.worldwildlife.org/species/gray-whale

Hannah Gold Author Website

If you want to check out some photos and videos from my whale-watching trip, then I’ve shared a few on my website for you. Please excuse all the excited squealing!

www.hannahgold.world

Sightings by Brenda Peterson and Linda Hogan

This book is a beautifully written account of the history and the habitat of gray whales. It’s also where I got the name White Beak and the idea for Rio being able to hear them. I bought it during my stay in Mexico, and I wanted to acknowledge it as my inspiration for key parts of my own story.

Acknowledgments

Writing this book, mostly in lockdown, has been a real journey of discovery and sometimes, just like White Beak, I found myself getting a little lost. Similar to a wild animal, books don’t always want to do your bidding.

So, immense thanks to my wonderful editors Harriet Wilson and Erica Sussman for helping me find my way safely to the lagoons, for keeping the faith in the heart of this book, and for turning The Lost Whale into something I am so very proud of. You really are the kindest, best, most generous of women and I am extraordinarily grateful to have you both on my team.