Here we have White Dolphin by Gill Lewis synopsis.
White Dolphin by Gill Lewis is a deeply moving novel that blends environmental awareness with human resilience and emotional strength.
Kara Wood, a dyslexic girl, lives with her father Jim in a small fishing village in Cornwall. Her mother, Kay Wood, a marine biologist, disappeared nearly a year ago during a dolphin conservation expedition to the Solomon Islands. Since the mission was expensive, Jim had taken a heavy loan to support it. Although presumed dead, Kara firmly believes her mother will return. This belief is strengthened when she repeatedly sees a rare white dolphin, which she considers a hopeful sign from her mother.
Here we have White Dolphin by Gill Lewis synopsis.
Meanwhile, financial hardship forces Kara and Jim to live with Kara’s aunt and uncle. Due to mounting debts, Jim is compelled to sell their beloved family boat, Moana.
Kara is heartbroken, as Moana is one of her last emotional connections to her missing mother.
At school, Kara faces constant bullying, particularly from Jake and Ethan. Matters worsen when Kara breaks Jake’s nose after he insults her missing mother and unemployed father. Jake’s father, Dougie Evans, owns large fishing trawlers and holds a grudge against Kara’s family. He blames Kara’s mother for campaigning successfully for a ten-year dredging ban, which he believes caused the drowning of his elder son, Aaron.
At the same time, Mr Andersen moves to Cornwall with his family. His son Felix has cerebral palsy and struggles to adjust to the new environment. Mr Andersen initially considers buying Moana but later withdraws, choosing instead to buy a specially designed dinghy so Felix can sail independently.
One day, Kara discovers a white dolphin calf trapped in an old fishing net. With Felix’s help, she provides first aid, and the marine rescue team is alerted. The injured calf is placed in a tidal pool but becomes separated from its mother. In a brave night dive, Kara locates the mother dolphin and reunites her with the calf.
Determined to save the marine ecosystem, Kara and Felix campaign to extend the dredging ban. Using Kay Wood’s documentary—retrieved from a dolphin-shaped memory stick—they expose the long-term damage caused by dredging. Their efforts mobilise public support, leading to hundreds of petition signatures and the extension of the ban.
Later, Kara learns the painful truth about her mother’s death through a photograph shown by Felix. Despite this loss, Kara finds strength and closure.
In the climax, a violent storm threatens lives during a regatta. Jake and Ethan recklessly sail Moana, while Kara and Felix follow to rescue them. Their bravery saves both boys, and this act of selflessness finally transforms Dougie Evans. Realising his mistakes, he restores jobs to the fishermen and signs the conservation petition.
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