Think I enjoyed this one more than the first book. The addition of characters such as Daisy and Sir Robert gave new dimensions to Veronica. Loved this book. ( )

It was wonderful to follow up on Veronica McCreedy in this sequel to 'How the Penguins Saved Veronica' by Hazel Prior.

Eighty-seven year old Veronica is invited by Sir Robert Saddlebow, whose docuseries on wildlife encouraged her interest in penguins, to be co-presenter in a documentary featuring seabirds. As 'penguin ambassador' she is to present segments featuring penguins in Australia and the Falklands. Nine-year-old Daisy, who was staying with Veronica while recuperating from her chemotherapy treatments and is on the road to recovery, is granted her wish to travel to see the penguins and joins her in the Falklands accompanied by her mother Beth, to present a small feature for the 'I Wish' initiative. Both Patrick and Terry eventually join her there too.

Patrick , Veronica's grandson, having broken up with Terry and having quit his work with Terry and her team in Antarctica is on a quest to find out as much as possible about his late father - a quest Veronica supports, wanting to know more about her long lost son who was who had been forcibly taken away from her as an infant and given up for adoption. Patrick's search takes him to Canada and back. His exploration into his father's life is an emotional journey that results in moments of pause and reflection on his life choices and forces him to rethink his priorities.

The narrative is shared between Veronica, Terry and Patrick. This is a novel about friendship, family and belongingness , adventure and openness to new ideas and experiences and of course, penguins! It was so much fun getting to follow up on Pip and Sooty and meeting Petra and Tony the Macaroni. The vivid descriptions of nature and sea life are breathtaking and the author draws our attention to the issues pertaining to environmental consciousness and how the negligence and carelessness of humans in disposing of non-biodegradable pollutants especially plastic in water endangers wildlife and disturbs the ecological balance .

Entertaining, heartwarming and thought provoking with an interesting cast of characters (human and penguin!), Call of the Penguins is a lovely story that should not be missed. As Veronica says , "I have found that one's happiness very much depends on where one chooses to put one's focus. I would do well to follow my own advice and at all times remember the penguins." ( )

I loved Away With the Penguins, the first story to feature Veronica McCreedy and her adventures with penguins, so I was really looking forward to reading the sequel, Call of the Penguins, in which Veronica has even more adventures with penguins.

This time she's not going to Antarctica but to the Falkland Islands to make a television programme with Sir Robert Saddlebow, the fictional equivalent of Sir David Attenborough. She takes Daisy with her, the young daughter of her grandson's friend, and it's quite a trip for both of them. Throw into the mix Patrick, Veronica's grandson, and his girlfriend, Terry, who live and work together on Locket Island, the scene of Veronica's original encounter with penguins, plus Eileen, Veronica's long-suffering housekeeper, and all the cast are back together. It's by no means an easy time for any of them but this is ultimately feel-good fiction and it was an absolute delight to read.

Hazel Prior gets the balance of humour just right against serious issues of illness, family discoveries and environmental issues. I laughed out loud many times at Veronica's sharp tongue and her very precise way of speaking and thinking. The settings of Veronica's home in Scotland and the fictional islands in Antarctica and the Falklands are portrayed beautifully and of course, once again, the penguin stars of the story are absolutely charming.

I loved the relationship between Daisy and Veronica, the youngest and oldest characters, and the joy they brought to each other. I also really enjoyed the subplot regarding Patrick and his quest for the truth about his origins and his childhood. All in all, Call of the Penguins gave me a lot of pleasure to read. I've now read all three books by this author and I'm very much looking forward to reading more in the future. ( )

“‘Penguins,’ I remind her, ‘are not only a source of endless entertainment; they are an example to us all. They are well worth seeking out.’”

Call of the Penguins is another wonderful tale of family, second chances, and penguins as we rejoin eccentric octogenarian Veronica McCreedy, whose adventures in Antarctica delighted Hazel Prior’s readers in Away With the Penguins (aka How the Penguins Saved Veronica).

Eighty seven year old Veronica expects she’s had her last adventure now she is back home in Scotland after her time on Locket Island, until she is contacted by wildlife documentary presenter Sir Robert Saddlebow who invites her to join him as a co-host on a show he is filming in Australia and the Falkland Islands. Veronica is thrilled for the opportunity to be back among penguins, and the trip goes smoothly until she receives devastating news from her grandson.

Patrick, having abandoned both his job and his girlfriend at the Locket Island research station in a fit of pique and paranoia, is in Canada at the behest of his grandmother hoping to learn more about the man they both loved and lost. Patrick is shocked when he discovers the reason his father left both him and his mother, forcing him to reconsider his past, and his future.

It’s a joy to be among the penguins again in Call of the Penguins. While we are updated on the Adelie colony, and the growth of Pip, on Locket Island through Terry’s perspective, Prior introduces us to new breeds including Little Penguins, the Gentu and the Macaroni, however it’s a Rockhopper, given the name Petra, on Boulder Island in the Falklands, that steals the show.

Yet there is plenty of angst to be found among the pages of this sequel. Prior gives us rich, authentic characters that lead the reader on quite an emotional roller coaster. Patrick and Terry’s breakup leaves the future of the Locket Island project in doubt, and Terry is faced with a difficult decision. Patrick is tempted to return to his old ways as he is confronted by a secret about his father, which in turn upsets his grandmother. Veronica lashes out when she learns said secret, jeopardising her friendship with Sir Robert, and nine year old Daisy, who has joined Veronica in the Falklands thanks to a charity foundation that fulfils wishes by ill children.

Unsurprisingly, Call of the Penguins also imparts clear messages about the varied threats to the health of our natural environment. In particular Prior explores the effects of plastic pollution in our oceans and the risks it poses to the well-being of penguin populations.

Despite the many serious issues raised in this novel, Call of the Penguins is ultimately a celebration of connection, resilience and hope. Told with warmth, humour and sensitivity, this is a lovely uplifting read. ( )