WHALE FALL, by Elysia Rourke, Nancy Paulsen Books, Sept. 15, 2026, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 10 and up)
A young orca who dreams of becoming the matriarch of her pod instead finds herself living a life in captivity in Whale Fall, by Elysia Rourke.
Whale, a young orca, dreams of becoming the matriarch and storyteller of her own pod one day, just like her grandmother. But her dream becomes a nightmare when she is captured by the Two-Legs and taken to a sea pen far from her ocean home. At first, angry and scared, Whale can only think of escape and finding her way back to her family. But as the months wear on, and Whale becomes restless and lonely, she finds herself befriending her keeper, Red, named for his bright red fur. Whale starts to look forward to their daily feeding rituals and playtime as they learn to communicate. As time goes on, she even counts on Red’s singsong laughter to fill her day.
But just as Whale gets used to life with Red, she is ripped away from the sea pen she’s lived in for more than a year. She’s taken on a long, painful journey in a container to somewhere new—the suffocating waters of an aquarium. Whale is given a name—Ingrid—and along with whales who don’t speak her language, she is made to perform. The grueling work is hard on Whale’s body, but if she doesn’t perform, she doesn’t eat.
Whale’s only solace is the memories of her pod and her grandmother’s stories of Great Mother and how whales came to be. Whale longs for the promise of Whale Fall, where the Great Mother will at last reunite her with her family—her body becoming one with the ocean. But also she tries to find joy in the here and now and in the comfort of her adopted pod. And, before rest, there is still one unexpected dream that will come true for Whale. —Synopsis provided by Nancy Paulsen Books
Whale Fall is a heartbreaking look at what captivity looks like for some of the world’s most majestic animals.
The story follows Whale from her joyous life with her family to her capture and subsequent move to a theme park where she is required to perform for the “two-legs.” Though told from third person perspective, Whale’s story is intimate and moving.
Author Elysia Rourke’s ability to form a connection between readers and her main character is to be applauded. And while she does anthropomorphize Whale’s emotions, she stays true to science. And the feelings of family, autonomy, and hope throughout the novel are universal.
Whale Fall is a beautiful, though sad, read that moves quickly. (I read it in one day.) It’s a strong debut from an author I hope to see more from. It should appeal to readers who enjoy animal books like Black Beauty and The One and Only Ivan.
*Sensitivity note: Whale Fall is an honest look at what happens to orcas taken into captivity. There are mentions of violence and abuse as well as exploration of mental health issues.
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