Draden's Whale

eBook

English language

Published by Grant Pollerd.

4 stars (1 review)

On an ocean, where marines hunt pirates who hunt whalers who hunt whales, an animal-loving orphan will find out what it is like to be both predator and prey. Draden, a fifteen-year-old boy trapped in a brutal island orphanage, finds solace in nurturing Maggie, a motherless lamb. When Draden is caught rescuing Maggie from the feast for the start of whaling season, the matron sentences him to ten lashes. A visiting captain cuts him a deal to escape the lash and the matron forever, on one cruel condition: he helps the captain hunt whales.

After the whaling ship's destination is revealed to be the last untapped whaling grounds, guarded by the man who tore Draden's family apart, the famed pirate Silverbeard, Draden must decide what and who he is willing to kill to gain vengeance.

"Treasure Island" meets "Moby Dick", "Draden's Whale" is a high-seas adventure where the answers to …

1 edition

Good young adult adventure tale

4 stars

In an unexpected coincidence, I found myself reading two whaling-themed novels this month, To Ride A White Horse and Draden's Whale. The two are very different books with Draden's Whale having the feel of a classic high seas adventure tale. I think it would be an appropriate story for teenage readers as the central character is a fifteen-year-old boy, and could also suit reluctant readers because Pollerd keeps up an energetic pace throughout the book. There's never a dull moment!

I liked Pollerd's convincing portrayal of Draden, especially the way we get to see his increasing maturity as the book progresses. After years living in the sheltered orphanage environment, Draden encounters a number of totally unfamiliar situations in fairly rapid succession and, as readers, we see his thoughts and outlook shaped by each event. The brutal world of the whaling ships was dangerous for the sailors with their lives and …

Subjects

  • Historical fiction
  • Young adult
  • Adventure

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