Blueback

My eleven year old grandson and I both enjoyed reading Blueback by Tim Winton recently. Tim Winton has written a number of books showing his love and respect for oceans and recently appeared in a documentary series on the ABC - Ningaloo: Australia's ocean wonder. A film has also recently been made based on the book, Blueback.

Abel and his mother live at Longboat Bay south of Perth. They both love the sea and frequently take a boat into the bay and then dive and explore the clear water. On these expeditions Abel meets a large Groper who he names Blueback and much of the book is about the relationship that develops between this fish and Abel. 

As he grows up Abel learns to love the the sea around Longboat bay and is reluctant to leave the area to attend school and later university. He becomes a marine biologist and travels the world but he eventually realises that his heart remains in Longboat Bay and its surrounding environment. The importance of respecting and maintaining the marine environment is an important theme in this book.