Washed Ashore

A unique, moving thriller for teens of all ages--set by the sea and with a dark undercurrent underneath--and a perfect summer read that's A Long Walk to Water meets Eliot Schrefer.
On a wild Scottish island, a tragedy washes up on the storm-beaten shore: the bodies of a whale and a man. Fraser, desperate for adventure, and Hayley, visiting from Texas, become tangled in the mystery.But Fraser's younger brother Dunny is distraught by the discovery. He hasn't spoken in years, and lately he's been acting more strangely than ever.Together, the three meet a man living in the abandoned caves nearby. They start to wonder if he might lie at the center of something darker than they had previously thought. For the whispering sea conceals a terrible secret, and to discover the truth, one of them must learn to listen... Advance Praise for The Sound of Whales:"I was gripped . . . Thomson's ambitious plot, tight, poetic, prose and feel for history is a breath of island air." --The Times (UK)"There are so many great things that I enjoyed about this book . . . a very original debut read and one not to be missed. This is a book that should be read and will be loved by many." --Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books blog (UK)"Highly original without being overtly quirky." --Glasgow Herald (UK)"This magical and enlightening adventure story, set against the atmospheric backdrop of the Scottish coast, is a touching tale of friendship and hidden strengths . . . an extraordinary, must-read story." --Lancashire Evening Post (UK)"A suspenseful novel, full of secrets and betrayals, this book is a real page turner . . . The plot is gripping from page one and rolls on in the most compelling manner from there . . . {a} very satisfying read with wide appeal and enduring charm." --School Librarian Journal (UK) Kerr Thomson is a high school geography teacher. In his infrequent spare time he writes, cycles, and runs an occasional half-marathon. Washed Ashore was winner of the Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition in the United Kingdom and is his publishing debut. He lives in Scotland with his family. Advance Praise for The Sound of Whales:"I was gripped . . . Thomson's ambitious plot, tight, poetic, prose and feel for history is a breath of island air." --The Times (UK)"There are so many great things that I enjoyed about this book . . . a very original debut read and one not to be missed. This is a book that should be read and will be loved by many." --Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books blog (UK)"Highly original without being overtly quirky." --Glasgow Herald (UK)"This magical and enlightening adventure story, set against the atmospheric backdrop of the Scottish coast, is a touching tale of friendship and hidden strengths . . . an extraordinary, must-read story." --Lancashire Evening Post (UK)"A suspenseful novel, full of secrets and betrayals, this book is a real page turner . . . The plot is gripping from page one and rolls on in the most compelling manner from there . . . {a} very satisfying read with wide appeal and enduring charm." --School Librarian Journal (UK)