The Spirit of Springer: The Real-Life Rescue of an Orphaned Orca

On an ordinary day in January of 2002, a baby orca is found in Puget Sound swimming alone. Typically, resident orcas stay close to their mothers and swim in the same pod for the duration of their lives. To the astonishment of many, this beautiful creature is determined to be more than three hundred miles from her home on the northeast side of Vancouver Island. Through voice recognition, DNA testing, and photo matching, she’s identified as two-year-old Springer, a member of the A clan. After nursing her back to health, she’s transported on July 13, 2002 to the area in which her family resides. She eagerly responds to the calls of the surrounding orcas, and, at last, is set free to roam the waters with them and make a life of her own among them.

For young orca lovers, this non-fiction piece is a treasure trove. It’s not only informative but also deeply touching. The author brilliantly captures the moment in which Springer first hears the dialect of others from her native clan and the jubilance of onlookers when they discover in 2016 her own calf swimming alongside her. In addition to the heartwarming story of her capture and release, vibrant, lifelike illustrations, a map highlighting Springer’s route north, and supplementary intriguing facts about these amazing mammals are included.