One of my recent birthday gifts from my friend Pat was the book Grayson by Lynne Cox. It is the story of an event that happened to the award winning author of Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer approximately 30 years previously when she was 17. The story details a routine morning swim off the coast of California that turned into an exciting and potentially dangerous adventure when the author discovered that she was being followed back to shore by a baby gray whale. The whale had been separated from its mother and the bulk of the story revolves around Lynne Cox’s attempt to stay with the whale and help it be reunited with its mother.

This is a short little book that can easily be read in one sitting and it is a joy to pick up and hold in your hand. It is a perfectly sized hardback with a fantastic dust jacket featuring raised title and spine lettering…something I always find cool. Pat no doubt bought me this because we both share a fascination with the sea and the creatures therein. Is this a perfect book? No, but it was well worth the read.

Overall the book is delightful, it only wanted a good editor to go from above average to outstanding. The problem of the book lies in the overall way that Lynne Cox writes. This is a story written from the perspective of a 17 year old by a woman who is now 30 years older and during some moments that fact is readily apparent. Publisher’s Weekly says, ‘At times Cox’s prose is uneven, alternating from emotional to factual, but her pure joy at connecting with Grayson (her name for the baby whale) overrides any technical inconsistencies.’ I also found this quote from Kirkus very true: The tale is burdened with overwrought musings on the meaning of the time spent with Grayson: ‘The waiting is as important as the doing; it’s the time you spend training and the rest in between; it’s the painting the subject and the space in between.” Nonetheless, an inspirational, almost spiritual read, perfect for gift-giving’.

I enjoyed the story and found the descriptions of the sea and the many creatures she encounters in her time in the water very entertaining. Having been in the ocean a few times I had no trouble imagining myself being there. It was the constant quest for meaning and the occasionally silly metaphors that sometimes pulled me out of the story. I really could not figure out as I was reading if the story was meant for children or adults. In many ways it is meant for both but some of the ‘technical inconsistencies’ came from the author not quite finding a solid foundation for her 17 year old voice. I would have rather she saved the deeper meanings of her journey for one place in the book rather than spreading them throughout the tale. It made it hard for me to believe that a 17 year old could have been that self-aware and introspective while swimming for hours in the sea, frantic to accomplish her goal.

Despite those negative comments, however, I do believe the book deserves the praise that it is getting. Why? Because the sense of hope and wonder and amazement with the experience is palpable throughout the story and the ending, though predictable, still brought joyful feelings and tears to my eyes. The teenage sense of awe is something that Lynne Cox got right and that is what carries the book and makes it a tale worth reading. If you love whales, are fascinated with the sea, or are in need for an easy to read, inspirational tale for the holiday season I recommend picking up Grayson. If you can get past the platitudes, it is a good story to read to the family as well.

I have done a little reordering of my From the Stacks Challenge books and since this was newly added to the stack of ‘to-read’ books I am counting it as the first completion for that challenge.