In the middle chapters of White Dolphin by Gill Lewis, the story deepens both emotionally and thematically. As we move from Chapter 11 to Chapter 20, the novel’s message becomes more urgent, and the personal struggles of the characters intertwine more tightly with the fight to protect the natural world. Today, we are studying the summary of chapters 11 to 20.
Chapter 11:
Kara is surprised to see Felix at Mr. Andersen’s house. He is the same boy who was rude to Daisy in the ice cream parlour. Mr. Andersen introduces his son to Kara. Mr. Andersen asks Felix to show Kara his upcoming computer projects. Kara reminds Felix that Daisy only wanted to help him in the ice cream shop. Felix tells her that he is not bothered by what people think about him. Kara feels that Felix is not happy with his parents’ decision to settle there. He is annoyed with the weak internet connection in their area. Mrs. Andersen comes to meet Kara and treats her with affection. It seems Mr Andersen is interested in buying Moana. They decide to have a trial run in Moana.
Chapter 12:
Kara and her dad are preparing for the test run. Kara informs Daisy that Mr Andersen’s son is the same rude boy who humiliated her in the ice cream shop. Kara and her dad load the important stuff into the boat, waiting for the Andersen family. Mrs. Andersen drops Mr Andersen and Felix at the harbour. Moana starts sailing smoothly. They slow down towards the mouth of the rocky inlet where they keep their lobster pots. There, Dougie Evan crosses them, having a sarcastic smile on his face. Kara remembers Jake’s words,
” Soon, you and your dad will have nothing left.”
Chapter 13
Felix feels drowsy due to seasickness. He stumbles down and injures his face. Kara’s dad decides to move back, noticing his miserable condition. Felix persists to keep moving towards the Gull Rock. To divert his attention, Kara’s dad teaches Felix to sail the boat. Surprisingly, Felix proves himself to be good at sailing the boat. Felix enjoys the smooth sail, and his eyes shine with excitement. Dad informs them about the regatta race, which is held every summer. He also invites Mr Andersen to participate in it. They take their lunch at the Gull Rock. Kara wants to have a quick swim. Mr Andersen asks Felix to accompany her. Kara realises that Felix is an expert swimmer. They swim down to the seabed and watch different sea creatures. Felix is bemused to see the captivating beauty hidden underwater.
Chapter 14
Kara and Felix continue to swim down the seabed, enjoying the beautiful sight. Mr Andersen helps to haul them out of the water. Felix tells his dad about his experience of swimming underwater. Kara informs Felix that soon the dredging ban will lift. Then dredgers would haul their metal rakes across the seabed for scallops. They would not only rip out scallops but also every rare and precious thing else. Soon, there will be nothing left. The dredgers are so influential figures that local bodies do not take any action against them. She informs him about Dougie Evan, who is waiting anxiously for the ban to be lifted. She says that her mom put up the ban to stop the dolphins from becoming extinct. When the dredgers throw nets in the water, the dolphins get tangled in them.
Summary Chapter 15
Mrs Andesen is waiting for Mr Andersen and Felix on the harbour wall. Felix’s face shines with excitement, and he gives a thumbs-up to his mom. He looks like an entirely different person. Kara and her dad tidy up Moana and anchor the boat. Kara asks her dad if Mr Andersen is serious about buying Moana or not. He says that he will inform after discussing it with his wife. They reach home in the evening, tired and sunburnt. Mr Andersen calls Kara’s dad to inform him that they are not willing to buy Moana.
Summary Chapter 16
Kara is sitting in Mrs Carter’s office repairing the Bible. She apologizes to Mrs Carter for damaging the Bible. Mrs Carter tells her politely that she is aware of Kara’s domestic issues, but school management cannot tolerate violence. She warns Kara that if she does this again, she will be excluded from school. Mrs Carter tells Kara a story about a man who dreams he is talking to God along a beach. Kara is not at all interested in her stories. Instead, she wants to rush to the beach to see the dolphins. Finally, she is allowed to leave her office. She runs outside of the school straight to the harbour. She reaches the cove and observes something different in the water. The blue-grey body of the dolphin twists and turns in the shallow water. Kara runs towards her. There is another dolphin in the water rushing toward the shore. She is the mother dolphin trying to reach her calf. The calf has deep scratches, dark with blood, all over her back. She doesn’t move or blink. Kara moves closer to her and sees a fishing net around her lower jaw.
Chapter 17
The dolphin appears on the surface, and a blast of wet breath fills the air. Kara takes a sigh of relief to see her alive. The dolphin watches Kara, and her tail flukes flap the shallow water. The baby dolphin stares at Kara as if she is analyzing just who she is and what she is going to do. Kara has been dreaming of rescuing a dolphin for ages, and now that she has a dolphin to rescue, her mind is totally blank. The Dolphin’s skin is dry and hard. Kara covers its body with seaweed in order to prevent dehydration. Kara examines its wounds. She scoops water with her hands and lets it trail across her wounds. She taps her fingers on her side to stop herself from dozing off. Suddenly, she notices someone stumbling through the shallow waves.
Chapter 18
Felix arrives with his dad and is surprised to see Kara with a baby dolphin. Kara briefs him about the situation, and they both crouch down beside the dolphin to examine her. Mr Andersen tries to call the rescue team, but the signals are weak. He then decides to call Carl to rescue the dolphin. Meanwhile, Felix and Kara scoop water and run their hands along the dolphin’s skin. Felix informs Kara that they have got a dinghy through a cerebral palsy charity. It’s specially designed for the Paralympics.
Mr Andersen and Kara’s dad arrive with Carl and Greg. Carl was her mum’s marine Biology student, and Greg is a member of the divers’ team. The baby dolphin is dehydrated, so Carl decides to inject some fluids through the stomach tube. They conclude that the dolphin should be kept in a proper place for a thorough medical check-up.
Chapter 19
Kara suggests that the baby dolphin should be kept in the Blue Pool for medical treatment. Mr Andersen and Felix agree, and Carl decides to shift her. Carl consults the vet, and she fears that the stress of moving the dolphin may be a life risk. They load the baby calf into the rescue boat. They notice that her flippers and tail are losing their deep blue colour. Carl gives her first aid. Then they shift her in the rescue boat and move towards the Blue Pool. The mother dolphin follows the rescue boat till they reach the Blue Pool. Carl fears that the high tides might push the mother dolphin away from the Blue Pool. This could be stressful for both of them. Kara wants to stay with the baby dolphin to give her moral support, but Carl insists that she must stay home. He promises that he will keep her updated…
Chapter: 20
Cara tells Daisy all about the dolphin, and she is curious to see her. Aunt Bev drops them off at school. Since the rescue team needs volunteers to look after the dolphins so Felix and Kara decide to offer their services. When the bell rings at her school, Kara rushes to Daisy’s class and almost pulls her down the road. She can’t wait to see the dolphin. There are lots of people at the Blue Pool. The policewoman stops her from going near the pool. She calls Carl and inquires about the present condition of the dolphin. He informs that she is a little better, but she can’t swim due to the damaged muscle. The vet has restricted the general public from going near the dolphin as she could pass some diseases onto people. Carl informs Kara that the calf cannot survive in the sea without her mother, but unfortunately, she has been scared away. Felix and her dad are struggling to find her. Kara dejectedly runs back. She desperately wants the mother dolphin to return to her calf.