SONG OF THE DOLPHIN BOY

A lonely boy’s first friends are dolphins, but he can’t save them from deadly pollution alone.

In the tiny, remote Scottish village of Stromhead, 11-year-old Finn McFee lives in a tumbledown cottage with his depressed dad. There are just 11 children in his primary school, and the only ones near his age want nothing to do with him. Finn longs for friends, but even more, he wants to know what happened to his mum, who disappeared when he was 2. His dad forbids him to go near the cove, but Finn finds solace in contemplating the water. After a bully chases him off the harbor wall, he discovers a magical connection to the sea and makes friends with a pod of dolphins. But their lives are soon endangered by the release of 5,000 promotional balloons by a new supermarket. Finn needs the other kids’ assistance—and friendship. Along the way, Finn learns the truth about his mother—and that kids can make a difference, even if adults give up. Finn, who’s cued white, has long been surrounded by rumors about his mother; he ultimately finds camaraderie with peers who also feel isolated, including Pakistani British Amir and Ethiopian and Scottish Jas. The themes of friendship, belonging, and environmental activism are admirable, and the gentle writing, reminiscent of older classics, is lovely. The character development feels somewhat one-dimensional, however. Black-and-white line drawings enhance the text.

A story of modern threats to sea life grounded in Scottish legend.