Paris Whale

Paris Whale For Real?

Whether this story could have actually taken place or not, I’ve no idea. Never the less, A Whale in Paris by Daniel Presley and Claire Polders is a highly engaging story set in World War II France.

Summary:

During the German occupation of Paris, Chantal, twelve, spies a whale while fishing with her father in the Seine and is determined to return it to the ocean before the Nazis or starving Parisians can destroy it.

World War II stories enjoy great popularity in our world—those who lived through it are at the end of their lives now, but it’s still a time of great importance, destruction, violence, change—and something we all hope happens never again. As a result, most of us are familiar with that time through books and movies.

A Whale in Paris brings the culture and wartime feeling of Paris vividly to life. Chantal is a sympathetic girl hero. And I imagine most people would succumb to the allure of having a personal relationship and communication with a whale!

Horse Crazy / Whale Crazy

I remember how horse crazy I was as a youth—I would be equally whale crazy if given the opportunity Chantal enjoys!

Combining the esprit de corps of the “Save Willy” movies with the wartime family drama of The Nightingale, Kristin Hannah’s huge bestseller, I say this book is a winner as a read alone or read aloud book.

In addition,

Another point in its favor: it uses character relationships to model the importance of moving past generalizations into discerning the worth of a person as they truly are.

Two thumbs up for A Whale in Paris! This one is new this year (2018), but my library had it. If yours doesn’t yet, ask them to acquire it!

Happy Reading!