Blue Back / Original Title: Blueback

[Machine Translation] Abel lives with his mother, Dora, in a remote cove in Australia. Although they live a hard life with only the blessings of nature to rely on, the sea-loving father and son spend their days together. Abel's days become even brighter when he meets a blueback, a giant blue fish that lives in the cove. Abel eventually goes to school in the city and becomes a marine biologist, always remembering the sea and the blueback in his hometown. Meanwhile, the cove that her mother Dora alone protects is plagued by various disasters. Fishermen uproot the reefs. A resort project. A tanker runs aground. Eventually, Dora makes a big decision to save the ocean, and her aspirations are passed on to her son, Abel. This is a story of wonder and hope for readers of all ages, from children to adults, by an Australian nature lover. Winner of the Bolinda Audiobook Award, the Wilderness Society Environmental Award, and the WAYRBA Hoffman Prize for Children's Literature.

オーストラリアの人里離れた入江で母親のドラと暮らす少年エイベル。自然のめぐみだけが頼りのきびしい生活ながら、海の大好きな親子はみちたりた日々をおくっていた。入江にすむ巨大な青い魚ブルーバックと出会ってから、エイベルの日々はいっそう輝きを増す。やがてエイベルは都会の学校へ進学、故郷の海とブルーバックのすがたをいつも心にいだきながら、海洋生物学者となる。一方、母ドラがひとりで守る入江には、さまざまな災厄がふりかかる。暗礁を根こそぎにする漁師の出現。リゾート化計画。タンカーの座礁。やがてドラは海を救うために大きな決断をし、その志は息子のエイベルにひきつがれていく。オーストラリアの自然をこよなく愛する作者が、子どもから大人まですべての年齢層の読者に贈る、「海の不思議」と希望の物語。ボリンダ・オーディオブック賞、ウィルダネス・ソサエティ環境賞、WAYRBAホフマン児童文学賞受賞作。