From Mexico to the Arctic ice, grey whale mothers swim with their

calves. Following them, by bus, train and ferry, are Doreen and her

toddler Max, in pursuit of a wild hope. Doreen first visited Alaska as a

young journalist reporting on climate change among indigenous whaling

communities. There, drawn deeply into an Iñupiaq family, she joined the

bowhead whale hunt, watching for polar bears under the never-ending

light. Years later, now a single mother living in a hostel, Doreen

embarks on this extraordinary journey: following the grey whale

migration back to the Arctic, where greys and bowheads meet at the

melting apex of our planet.

‘Beautiful . . . Justifies its place alongside nature writing classics such as H is for Hawk‘ NEW STATESMAN

‘Wonderful … both frank and fearless’ TELEGRAPH BEST TRAVEL BOOKS OF THE YEAR

‘Fascinating’ GUARDIAN TOP TEN NATURE MEMOIRS

‘Soundings got under my skin. I finished it in tears’ AMY LIPTROT

‘What a voice! What a book!’ CHARLES FOSTER

‘Soulful, honest, insightful, humane and propulsive’ JINI REDDY

‘Thrilling, passionate and tender-hearted’ HELEN JUKES

WINNER OF THE RSL GILES ST AUBYN AWARD

ONE OF SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE‘S TEN BEST BOOKS ABOUT TRAVEL OF 2022