Author(s): Lauren St. John

Fiction (8 to 12 years)

It's June - winter in South Africa, and Martine and her grandmother are enjoying a cold but beautiful walk along the beach when they find a stranded, dying dolphin. Martine uses her gift of healing to help it back to the ocean but it's only the latest in a series of inexplicable beachings of dolphins and whales - and the start of a brand new adventure for Martine. After a last stolen midnight ride on her beloved white giraffe, Jemmy, Martine's class is off on an amazing school trip to the islands of Mozambique to witness the legendary 'Sardine Run'. It's a trip that goes drastically wrong and Martine, with close friend Ben, finds herself swimming in shark-infested waters, marooned on an uninhabited island and suddenly at the centre of mysterious submarine goings-on as she tries to save a pod of 100 dolphins from certain death. Like her debut novel, THE WHITE GIRAFFE, DOLPHIN SONG has plenty of action and adventure, and delves deeply into Martine's relationships with the people and animals around her. It makes her question the true nature of her gift, and what she will be called upon to do next.The incredible beauty of the flora and fauna of this little known corner of Africa is richly evoked as a result of Lauren's in depth knowledge and research of the area.