Lyrical prose captures the majestic power of a humpback whale as she travels from the Arctic to the Pacific coast and juxtaposes it with her helplessness when she's ensnared by abandoned fishing nets. Spotted by a fisherman who radioed the situation to the local marine mammal center, the whale was cut free by a group of volunteer divers and whale experts. Instead of vanishing into the ocean, the humpback whale gently circled the rescuers and nudged each of them in turn before continuing on her journey. Celebrating the connection between humans and the natural world, this book highlights our responsibility to protect the earth and its many inhabitants. A giant whale trapped in nets and ropes. Can she be helped? A humpback whale migrating south along the California coast becomes tangled in a fishing trawler's ropes and nets. As she struggles to free herself, the ropes twist more tightly around her body, digging into her skin. The whale fights until she is too tired to continue. What happens next will astound and inspire. Based on true events, this is a story of interspecies cooperation and the importance of human responsibility to protect the earth and its many inhabitants. Wendell Minor's breathtaking paintings illustrate the majesty of the gentle humpback whale in her blue-green undersea world and the amazing efforts of humans-creatures a mere fraction of her size-who risked their lives to save her. Back matter includes the story behind the story, further information about humpback whales, and facts about whale rescue efforts