Based
on a true story, this exciting account of the first
successful rescue of a net-entangled whale is told from the
whale's point of view, gently anthropomorphized to engage
young chapter-book readers. Ibis is a curious young humpback
whale who loves starfish and playing with her good friend,
Blizzard. At first the two are afraid of the boats that come
to watch the whales, but they grow to enjoy swimming up to
say hello to the smiling people.
Then one day they see a different kind
of boat. Without realizing what's happening, Ibis gets
tangled in a fishing net, and though she manages to struggle
free, part of the net remains caught in her mouth and
wrapped around her tail. Over the weeks that follow, Ibis
becomes ill. It's hard to eat, and even swimming to the
surface for air becomes difficult and painful. Ibis lacks
the strength to swim to warmer waters for the winter with
the rest of the whales. Luckily, when she most needs a
friend, Blizzard is there to help, pushing her to the
surface where boats of human rescuers are waiting.
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