Reviews
The Spirit of Springer: The Real-Life Rescue of an Orphaned Orca by Amanda Abler, Levi Hastings
jena_33's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
4.0
Glad this one was selected for the 2023 IL Bluestem Award list because it brought it to my attention. I know readers will love getting to know Springer!
lostinausten's review against another edition
4.0
The true story of rescuing and releasing an orca whale.
I love reading books about topics that I've never heard of and I've definitely never heard of Springer the orca whale. There was so much great imagery and information in this book, which makes it super accessible for kids. It was beautiful to hear a story about people helping animals and making it their mission to help give Springer the life she deserved. I appreciated all the information at the end about how she's doing now, maps of the locations talked about and how you can help orcas. For example, by not going to theme parks featuring orcas.
I love reading books about topics that I've never heard of and I've definitely never heard of Springer the orca whale. There was so much great imagery and information in this book, which makes it super accessible for kids. It was beautiful to hear a story about people helping animals and making it their mission to help give Springer the life she deserved. I appreciated all the information at the end about how she's doing now, maps of the locations talked about and how you can help orcas. For example, by not going to theme parks featuring orcas.
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
5.0
A beautifully illustrated and written story about the rescue of an orca in Seattle and Vancouver island. Learned a lot and will be looking forward to learning more about Springer.
My 12 year old son was not super excited about it, but he and my husband both enjoyed this story. I think everyone would love it.
My 12 year old son was not super excited about it, but he and my husband both enjoyed this story. I think everyone would love it.
happitybookie's review against another edition
It's a narrative non-fiction, of an incident of a real baby orca being all alone and reuniti g with her pod and then thriving. BUT IT HAS JUST TOO MANY WORDS!! Little kids had a lot of trouble sitting to listen to this whole thing!
smorrison4's review against another edition
5.0
I requested and received an advanced reading copy of this book from NetGalley.
WOW! This story got me right in the feels!
This is an amazing true story of an orphaned Killer Whale and human compassion. I live in Canada, and I had not heard this story before. The number of organizations, federal departments, and people that had to come together to bring this Orca home is impressive.
I love that this story has a happy ending, I don't think I could have handled it if it was a sad ending. I also loved the information this book provides about identifying Orca's, and how to improve Orca populations.
#TheSpiritofSpringer #NetGalley
WOW! This story got me right in the feels!
This is an amazing true story of an orphaned Killer Whale and human compassion. I live in Canada, and I had not heard this story before. The number of organizations, federal departments, and people that had to come together to bring this Orca home is impressive.
I love that this story has a happy ending, I don't think I could have handled it if it was a sad ending. I also loved the information this book provides about identifying Orca's, and how to improve Orca populations.
#TheSpiritofSpringer #NetGalley
lbandoch's review against another edition
3.0
Kids love orcas so you'll need this one in your collection. But the print was a bit too small for my tastes and the illustrations clashed with the content. I just like to see more real-life pictures in true stories. It felt very much like an in-between book. Great for late elementary students who may not be reading on grade level or perfect for those younger students who want a bit of a challenge (or, like me at that age, will check out every book on a subject I've just become interested in regardless of whether or not I can read it).
easyqueenie's review against another edition
4.0
Sophie’s first book this month was a short one with a long title. The Spirit of Springer: The Real-Life Rescue of an Orphaned Orca by Amanda Abler is a beautifully illustrated telling of a true story with a truly happy ending.
In 2002, an abandoned killer whale calf was spotted in Puget Sound just off the coast of Seattle. The calf was identified as Springer, a member of the A4 pod of Nothern Resident orcas who swim off the coast of British Columbia—several hundred miles north of where this calf was found after the apparent death of her mother. A group of scientists from the USA and Canada banded together to work out how to safely capture, rehabilitate, and release Springer so she could be reunited with her family.
The book tracks the work put in by these scientists from explaining how they identified Springer, why the decision was made to move her, and the difficult processes needed to do so. All throughout the book are gorgeous full-page illustrations by Levi Hastings that really bring Springer’s story to life and, at the end of the story, there are pages detailing the route used, a guide to Springer’s family tree, and information about Springer’s life after her voyage.
Sophie absolutely loved this gorgeous book. The happy ending is just what she needed during these dark, winter months, and she thinks that this will delight anyone with an interest in marine life and the scientists who work with orcas.
In 2002, an abandoned killer whale calf was spotted in Puget Sound just off the coast of Seattle. The calf was identified as Springer, a member of the A4 pod of Nothern Resident orcas who swim off the coast of British Columbia—several hundred miles north of where this calf was found after the apparent death of her mother. A group of scientists from the USA and Canada banded together to work out how to safely capture, rehabilitate, and release Springer so she could be reunited with her family.
The book tracks the work put in by these scientists from explaining how they identified Springer, why the decision was made to move her, and the difficult processes needed to do so. All throughout the book are gorgeous full-page illustrations by Levi Hastings that really bring Springer’s story to life and, at the end of the story, there are pages detailing the route used, a guide to Springer’s family tree, and information about Springer’s life after her voyage.
Sophie absolutely loved this gorgeous book. The happy ending is just what she needed during these dark, winter months, and she thinks that this will delight anyone with an interest in marine life and the scientists who work with orcas.
aidangowland's review against another edition
5.0
The Spirit of Springer is a fantastic book with positively magical illustrations. I have never read a book before where I wanted to take every page and frame it, but this book made me feel that way. Striking a delicate balance between being educational, entertaining and developing childrens' emotional skills, The Spirit of Springer is a book I would highly recommend to families, as well as to those who try to teach children about the outdoors and the natural world.
easyqueenie's review
4.0
Sophie’s first book this month was a short one with a long title. The Spirit of Springer: The Real-Life Rescue of an Orphaned Orca by Amanda Abler is a beautifully illustrated telling of a true story with a truly happy ending.
In 2002, an abandoned killer whale calf was spotted in Puget Sound just off the coast of Seattle. The calf was identified as Springer, a member of the A4 pod of Nothern Resident orcas who swim off the coast of British Columbia—several hundred miles north of where this calf was found after the apparent death of her mother. A group of scientists from the USA and Canada banded together to work out how to safely capture, rehabilitate, and release Springer so she could be reunited with her family.
The book tracks the work put in by these scientists from explaining how they identified Springer, why the decision was made to move her, and the difficult processes needed to do so. All throughout the book are gorgeous full-page illustrations by Levi Hastings that really bring Springer’s story to life and, at the end of the story, there are pages detailing the route used, a guide to Springer’s family tree, and information about Springer’s life after her voyage.
Sophie absolutely loved this gorgeous book. The happy ending is just what she needed during these dark, winter months, and she thinks that this will delight anyone with an interest in marine life and the scientists who work with orcas.
In 2002, an abandoned killer whale calf was spotted in Puget Sound just off the coast of Seattle. The calf was identified as Springer, a member of the A4 pod of Nothern Resident orcas who swim off the coast of British Columbia—several hundred miles north of where this calf was found after the apparent death of her mother. A group of scientists from the USA and Canada banded together to work out how to safely capture, rehabilitate, and release Springer so she could be reunited with her family.
The book tracks the work put in by these scientists from explaining how they identified Springer, why the decision was made to move her, and the difficult processes needed to do so. All throughout the book are gorgeous full-page illustrations by Levi Hastings that really bring Springer’s story to life and, at the end of the story, there are pages detailing the route used, a guide to Springer’s family tree, and information about Springer’s life after her voyage.
Sophie absolutely loved this gorgeous book. The happy ending is just what she needed during these dark, winter months, and she thinks that this will delight anyone with an interest in marine life and the scientists who work with orcas.
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