Friday's Harbor: A Novel
As Hammond picks up the tale from her novel Hannah’s Dream (2008), Ivy Levy has more money than she knows what to do with, which is why she is more than happy to underwrite a new project at the Max L. Biedelman Zoo. Gaining a new lease on life after the international acclaim for the successful rehabilitation of its orphaned elephant, Hannah, the zoo has expanded to include the installation of a state-of-the-art aquatic habitat. Now, it’s looking for the right resident. Enter Friday, a mistreated, malnourished, and, quite possibly, dying killer whale who has been languishing as a sea-park tourist attraction in Colombia. Ivy musters her usual supporters: nephew Truman, the zoo’s administrator, and his veterinarian girlfriend, Neva. And there’s a new cast of players, including marine expert Gabriel and Libertine—an animal psychic communicator—who transport Friday from Bogota to Seattle. Under their care, Friday thrives, but that’s not good enough for a group of zealous activists. Killer whales are hardly cuddly, but Hammond’s sublime sensitivity and infectious empathy make these remarkable giants of the sea lovable. --Carol Haggas