Washed Ashore

Hayley Risso is stuck in Scotland with nothing to do but read and sleep, until she meets the Dunbar brothers. A stormy night finds Fraser Dunbar out on a boat looking for whales, when he hears a faint cry for help. His younger brother, Dunny, hasn’t spoken for years and has taken up writing messages on shells. The three come together when two bodies are found washed ashore: one of a whale and one of a man. The mystery deepens when they meet a man living in the caves, putting them on the path of something far more dangerous.

This coming-of-age story follows two teenagers from different backgrounds who learn to put aside their differences to help a stranger. Kerr Thomson tackles heavy topics such as immigration and human trafficking with honesty and high emotional stakes. Dunny never talks, but that doesn’t stop him from shining in every scene. He’s a delightful and unique character who’s full of heart and magic that drives the story. Washed Ashore draws on myth but is well-grounded in reality, humanity, and new beginnings.