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The whale who saved us

Nicola Davies - Author

The story follows Suki as she adjusts to life in Whale Bay and seeks a reason that might help her brother, while the bowhead whales and conservation work become part of the adventure.

More about this book

Suki and her brother Levi have grown up in the far north of Canada, in a town with few prospects for young people. When Levi tries to commit suicide, Suki's mother bundles Suki on to a plane bound for Whale Bay, a small village further up the coast, where her great grandmother and uncle are waiting for her. Expecting to be bored and miserable, Suki is surprised by how busy she is as she helps out with jobs like ice fishing, dog-sledding, igloo-building and even a whale-hunt! But Levi's life remains in danger and unless Suki can find a reason for him to live she will never be able to help him. Could the bowhead whales of Whale Bay hold the answer?

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Book Analysis

At a Glance

Discover

Wildlife· ExplainedConservation· Explained

Consider

Violence and harmA whale hunt is part of Suki's experience in Whale Bay.Violence

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

wildlifeconservation

FictionIllustrated book

Themes in Context

Bowhead whales and conservation

The Arctic adventure is based on a real project to protect bowhead whales and includes information about that project.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: The conservation project has an informational role alongside the fictional adventure; its inclusion connects the whales to real-world protection work.

Talk about: What does the project aim to protect, and how does the story connect that work with Suki's experience?

Why It May Be Worth Reading

It brings a wildlife-and-conservation adventure together with a serious family crisis, so readers encounter both Arctic activities and concern about a sibling's wellbeing.

What Deserves Attention

Levi's suicide attempt and continuing danger are central to Suki's worries. The story also includes a whale hunt, which may prompt questions about people, wildlife and conservation.

A Conversation Worth Having

If Suki believes she must find a reason for Levi to live, how does the story handle the weight of that responsibility, and what support do other characters offer?

Reading Approach

Consider reading together or checking in after the chapters about Levi, then let the reader lead any conversation about suicide. You could separately explore what the conservation information says about protecting bowhead whales.

Confidence & Basis

Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.

What remains unconfirmed

Bowhead whales and conservation: The project details and the story's conclusions about conservation are not established.

The Whale Who Saved Us - Nicola Davies - Google Books

Limited information

Checked: 2 October 2026.

Relevant to: Bowhead whales and conservation

The whale who saved us by Nicola Davies | Open Library