Friday's Harbor

Book excerpt: The author of Hannah’s Dream returns with an “uplifting” story of a dying orca, the small-town zoo that saves him, and the battle over his fate (St. Paul Pioneer Press). It's been three years since Hannah, the elephant, departed the Max L. Biedelman Zoo, in Bladenham, Washington, and much has changed, including the appointment of new executive director Truman Levy, and the arrival of a failing killer whale named Friday. With the help of marine mammal rehabilitator Gabriel Jump, and a team of dedicated though inexperienced keepers, Friday begins to recover. But not everyone believes he should be in captivity—a debate that explodes onto a national stage. Now, Friday’s fate may no longer rest in the hands of Truman and the caring staff at the Max L. Biedelman Zoo . . . From an author who “writes with heart, compassion, and humor” (Terry Gamble, author of The Eulogist), Friday’s Harbor beautifully illuminates the special bond between animals and humans. “Killer whales are hardly cuddly, but Hammond’s sublime sensitivity and infectious empathy make these remarkable giants of the sea lovable.” —Booklist