Whalefall

Kraus’s (The Ghost That Ate Us) latest follows 17-year-old Jay Gardiner, who dons his scuba gear in search of his father’s remains in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Monastery Beach. The two were estranged and hadn’t reconciled before his father’s suicide the year prior. The guilt is eating Jay alive, and despite his unresolved anger, he hopes to make amends with his mother and sisters by returning with his father’s remains. However, his endeavor quickly becomes a fight for survival when, upon encountering a sperm whale, he is swallowed alive. With his oxygen depleting, Jay must free himself not only from the whale but also from his oppressive past. Kirby Heyborne’s impassioned narration intensifies Kraus’s fast-paced and action-packed writing. Heyborne’s authentic portrayal of Jay’s physical pain and mental anguish puts listeners in the belly of the whale alongside Jay. More than a tale of survival, this novel reflects on fathers and sons and love and loss while providing a stirring look at the beauty and harshness of the natural world.