White Dolphin by Gill Lewis is a heartwarming and thought-provoking novel that blends adventure, friendship, and environmental awareness. The story follows Kara, a young girl with a deep love for the sea, as she navigates challenges in her personal life while standing up for the natural world around her. Here is a detailed summary of white dolphin and what happened during the first 8 chapters.
Chapter 1 – summary of white dolphin
Let’s start with the first summary of white dolphin. Kara lives with her father in a fishing village in Cornwall. Her mother was a marine biologist. One year ago, she went to the Solomon Islands on a dolphin-saving expedition, but there she mysteriously disappeared along with her other colleagues. However, their bodies were never found. Kara has a firm belief that one day she will return to her. Kara and her father Jim have shifted to Kara’s aunt’s house, but due to financial crises, it’s hard for Aunt Bev to afford them. Jim is forced to sell their favourite boat named Moana, but Kara is not willing to lose it. Kara has dyslexia, and she has trouble learning like other children. Some children at school bully Kara and make fun of her father’s inferior job. Kara breaks the nose of the worst school bully, Jake, whose father, Dougie, owns the fishing trawlers that employ Aunt Bev’s husband.
Chapter 2 – summary of white dolphin
Jake informs Kara that her father is about to sell Moana. This completely shatters Kara, and she rushes to her father to confirm it. She goes to the ship where her father is employed, but can’t find her dad. She goes back to Aunt Bev’s home, where they are staying. Daisy, Aunt Bev’s daughter, asks her about her dad, but Kara finds no answer. Meanwhile, Dougie Evan angrily arrives. He inquires about Kara, but Aunt Bev assures him she is not there. Dougie frantically searches for her in every corner of the house. Kara jumps down through the window and runs toward the harbour.
Chapter 3
Here is the third summary of white dolphin. Kara goes to the harbour where her dad is about to sail Moana. She requests that he take her with him. She wants to ask him if he is serious about selling Moana, but is afraid to hear the truth. Eventually, she asks her dad if Moana is up for sale. Dad tells her that due to the financial crisis, they will have to make this hard decision. Kara is in a state of shock after hearing this. She reminds him how much Mum loved Moana, and she would never want to sell her. Dad reminds Kara that there is hardly any chance for Mum to return.
Chapter 4
Kara, in a state of shock, jumps down and starts wading towards the cove. Dad yells to stop her, but she ignores all the warnings. She is completely shattered and doesn’t want to face Aunt Bev or Uncle Tom. She knows Aunt Bev is concerned about her husband’s job. Dougie Evan might take revenge by terminating Uncle Tom. Kara remembers how peacefully they were living before her Mum was lost. She believed her Mum had special powers and thought her Mum could talk to dolphins. She swims towards the cove where she would go with her mother. They would spend hours watching the dolphins.
Kara suddenly notices a flash of white leap from the water. There are golden ripples on the surface of the water. This is the sign she has been waiting for. A pure white Dolphin leaps into the air again. She notices at least 50 more dolphins curving through the water. Kara waits for the white Dolphin. A much larger dolphin with her calf appears. They look at Kara with affectionate eyes. She feels so close to her mother. Kara is sure her mother is watching her, too. She forgets her worries in the company of dolphins when suddenly she remembers she has to return home.
Chapter 5
Kara heads back home after spending some time at the cove. She is serene after meeting dolphins. Aunt Bev comes to the coast road and finds Kara walking back home. She is extremely annoyed at Kara’s silly behaviour. The coastguards and the police have been frantically looking for her. Kara tells Daisy about her meeting with The White Dolphin. Aunt Bev inquires about Kara hurting Jake’s nose and leaving him bleeding. She reminds her that the only person with a proper job is employed by Dougie Evan. She is worried about Uncle Tom’s job, which is at risk. Kara’s dad apologizes to Kara for being rude to her. She excitedly tells Dad that Mum sent her a special message through that White Dolphin, and she is still there to help them. Aunt Bev rejects this story by saying that she is never going to come back. There is a call from a buyer interested in purchasing Moana.
Chapter 6
Aunt Bev advises Kara to be present in school on time. The headteacher wants to see her breaking Jake’s nose. Aunt Bev has already sent a box of chocolates to Jake as an apology from Kara’s side. Kara dejectedly leaves for school as she doesn’t want to confront Mrs Carter. Mrs Baker is Kara’s support teacher. She says her dyslexia is just a different way of thinking. Kara feels comfortable in her class as she tries to teach Kara through different exciting techniques. Another benefit of being in her class is that she is free from bullying. Kara meets Mrs Carter in her office to justify her offensive behaviour towards Jake. She also reprimands Kara for damaging the Bible. Kara says that she would mend the Bible. Mrs Carter wants Kara to apologise to Jake as well. She vows in her heart that she would never apologise to Jake Evan. And the sixth summary of the white dolphin is complete.
Chapter 7
Kara enters her Math class and notices someone else sitting in her seat. There is a new boy in her class named Felix. He is the son of Mr and Mrs Anderson. He has cerebral palsy, and due to this, he can’t maintain his balance and posture. Mrs Carter decides that special ramps and handrails will be fixed in the school to facilitate Felix. During the lunch break, Kara sees white plaster on Jake’s nose, who constantly glares at her. He threatens Kara that merely a box of chocolates won’t compensate the injury he has. Kara says that it wasn’t her who sent the chocolates. On hearing this, Jake threatens Kara that soon they will have nothing left. Jake blames Kara’s mother for his elder brother Aeron’s death.
Chapter 8
Kara picks up Daisy from Laureen’s party. Daisy wants to accompany Kara to see the White Dolphin. Kara gets confused as she has promised Aunt Bev to drop Daisy straight back home. Kara offers her ice cream from Zagni’s if she agrees to go back home soon. Daisy agrees. Kara and Daisy find Jake and Ethan in the ice cream parlour. Felix is also in the ice cream shop. Jake and Ethan make fun of his disability. Felix feels embarrassed, and his face darkens. Daisy, watching all this, explodes at the two bullies. She warns them to learn some manners and turns to Felix to greet him, but he says something that causes her to drop her ice cream. This causes her to run outside sobbing.
Chapter 9
Daisy dejectedly runs towards the harbor and sobs quietly. Kara is anxious to know what has happened to her. She tells Kara how Felix spoke to her rudely. To release her sorrow, Kara offers to take Daisy to the beach to see white dolphins. There was no sign of dolphins, so they decided to move towards the Blue Pool. There at the Blue Pool, Daisy notices the presence of Miss Penluna, known as the bird lady. Daisy tells Kara that Miss Penluna is a witch, but Kara rejects the idea by saying that there are no such things as witches. Suddenly, Miss Penluna starts moving towards them. She stumbles forward, and her stick slithers down the rock. She stops moving and rubs her knees. There is a blood stain on her knees. Kara helps her get up. Miss Penluna asks Kara if she is Kay Wood’s daughter. She tells Kara that Kay used to bring her birds. She asks Kara about her mother, but Kara doesn’t know what to say to her. Miss Penluna says gently that she will ask angels to find her mother soon.
Chapter 10 – summary of white dolphin
Let’s start the tenth summary of white dolphin. Kara’s dad is going to see the man interested in buying Moana. Daisy tells her dad that they met Miss Penluna the day before. Aunt Bev is annoyed, and she warns the girls that she only misguides innocent people by claiming that she can talk to angels. Aunt Bev continues by saying that her house is so filthy with bird muck everywhere. Dad tells Kara that Miss Penluna kept a couple of fledglings in the drainpipes for a night and freed them the next day. This assures Kara that whatever people talk about Miss Penluna is not true. Dad and Kara go to meet Mr. Andersen and fix the deal. Mr Andersen owns a software company in London. He has a son about Kara’s age. Mr. Andersen warmly welcomes them and shows them in. He introduces Kara to his son.