RaveBooklistIn poignant, lyrical, even fable-like essays written primarily from the perspectives of Indigenous people, Brazilian journalist Zuker chronicles the destruction of the Amazon rainforest...The titular whale was an ocean-going animal found beached on the banks of a major tributary of the Amazon, hundreds of miles from the sea...Covered with mud and moss, it was initially thought to be a tree trunk...The subsequent attempts at rescue and the eventual death of the whale lead to a discussion of global trade, starting with the hunt for whale oil...By mixing in interviews with Venezuelan migrants escaping corruption back home and coverage of how the web of Brazilian \'modernization\' impacts all kinds and all strata of people, Zuker presents an in-depth depiction of massive environmental and social decimation conveying urgently needed information and insights.
