White Dolphin by Gill Lewis: review Gill Lewis, whose debut novel was the tender Sky Hawk, has excelled herself with White Dolphin, another moving and inspirational tale which is also a gripping action thriller. The story swirls with vivid emotions built around a strong central character called Kara. We meet Kara at a bad time in her life. Her mother is missing, presumed dead, and her father is struggling financially. Her only sanctuary is sailing the ocean in her father's boat, Moana, which is about to be sold. The delicate coral reef in the bay of their home town is threatened by commercial dredging - an industry driven by the father of a classmate called Jake, who bullies her. Jake warns Kara: "Soon, you and your dad will have nothing left." It's no wonder she says of her nemesis: "I hate Jake Evans. I hate him for everything he is. My eyes burn hot with tears. Kara, who is dyslexic, is adrift at school. She describes the head teacher, Mrs Cormack, as someone whose smile "is a thin, hard line." When Kara meets a new school classmate called Felix, they take an instant dislike to each other. But when discover a dolphin calf stranded on the beach they have to work work together to save it against all odds. White Dolphin is gracefully written and intense - you can almost feel the salty air brushing your face. The book has the same charming and tender involvement in the world of wildlife as Sky Hawk but, if anything, the drama is even more powerful, with dramatic rescue scenes and skulduggery. The action is great yet what marks it out as a special book is the way Lewis deals with the subject of friendship. Kara's relationship with Felix, who has cerebral palsy, is uplifting. White Dolphin also has important messages for children about right and wrong - both in your public and personal morality - and it's touching to see Kara accepting what is lost in life (her mother) and discovering what you can and must fight to preserve. And that includes our planet and common decency. Gill Lewis: White Dolphin (Oxford University Press, £8.99)