Why the Whales Came facts for kids
Why the Whales Came is a children's story written by Michael Morpurgo. It was first published in 1985. The book is set in 1914 on Bryher, a small island that is part of the Isles of Scilly. These islands are located off the coast of Cornwall, in the UK.
Story Summary
The story follows ten-year-old Gracie Jenkins, who lives on Bryher island in 1914. Gracie's father often warns her to stay away from a mysterious old man known as the "Birdman." He lives alone in a cottage on a hill. Gracie's father has many scary stories about the Birdman, which he believes are too frightening to share. People also say the Birdman used to live on Samson Island, which is thought to have a curse on it.
Gracie and her best friend, Daniel, love to sail their toy boats. When their usual lake becomes home to some grumpy swans, Daniel convinces Gracie to explore a cove near the Birdman's cottage. Even though Gracie is scared, she agrees to go. This decision leads them into a very exciting and sometimes frightening adventure. During this time, Gracie's dad also goes to war and sadly passes away.
The whales in the book are narwhals, which are a special type of whale known for the long, spiraling "horn" on their heads. As Gracie and Daniel continue their adventure, they discover a narwhal's horn. Later, they face a big decision: should they help a narwhal that has become stuck? They decide to rescue the whale. By the end of the story, the Birdman returns to Bryher, and everyone on the island welcomes him back.
Main Characters
- Gracie Jenkins — Gracie is ten years old and lives on Bryher island. At the start of the story, she is quite fearful and believes all the scary tales about the Birdman. She also believes in ghosts and curses. Her best friend is Daniel Pender.
- Daniel Pender — Daniel is Gracie's best friend. He is good with his hands and loves adventure. He is also very social, but he is afraid of the dark.
- Zachariah Woodcock — This old man is known as the Birdman. He is deaf and lives by himself away from most people on the island. He is a talented woodworker who creates beautiful bird sculptures. Zachariah enjoys traveling by sea to Samson Island with his dog, Prince.
- Peter Jenkins — Peter is Gracie's father. In the story, he can sometimes seem a bit angry, but he is also good at pretending or acting.
- Clemmie Jenkins — Clemmie is Gracie's mother. She has a calm but sometimes "weird" personality. She is also quite fearful.
- Mr. Wellbeloved — He is Gracie and Daniel's teacher. He often judges students based on their math skills. Mr. Wellbeloved also predicted that a war would start, which later came true.
Book Publication
Why The Whales Came was first published in the year 1985.
