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The Woman, the Boy and the Whale

Winner of the Japan Booksellers’ Award

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The Woman, the Boy and the Whale

By: Sonoko Machida, Sam Bett - translator
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Brought to you by Penguin.

Your next read for fans of ALL THE LOVERS IN THE NIGHT and MY GLORY - the bestselling winner of the Japan Booksellers' Award: a deeply moving story of vulnerability and finding your voice as a woman fleeing hard times befriends a young boy who cannot speak.


HALF A MILLION COPIES SOLD
THE BESTSELLING WINNER OF THE JAPAN BOOKSELLERS' AWARD
MADE INTO AN AWARD-NOMINATED FILM

Emotional rescue is a two-way street


Kiko has run away from her Tokyo life to a rural village by the sea and rumours are flying among the locals about this mysterious newcomer. When she comes across an abandoned boy who is unable to speak, an unusual bond develops as she shares a tale of the lonely whale whose voice is too high-pitched for others to hear. As she unpicks the boy's story, and he unravels hers, a gripping and powerful history of strength, survival and finding your voice begins to unfold.

© Sonoko Machida 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Contemporary Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Small Town & Rural World Literature
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Critic reviews

A love letter to those who've always felt out of step with the world, THE WOMAN, THE BOY, AND THE WHALE tackles difficult themes with heartfelt tenderness and gentle irreverence. Sonoko Machida’s empathetic rendering of her characters reminds us that everyone, flawed as they may appear, deserves compassion.
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