Review: The Penguin Lessons

The novel is based on Michell’s own experiences in Argentina, where he moved as an enthusiastic, 23-year-old teacher, fulfilling his wanderlust back in the 1970s. Working as a teacher in St. Georges School (an English-speaking private school in Buenos Aires), the novel begins during his holidays in neighbouring country Uruguay, where he makes an unexpected friend.

Whilst ambling along a Montevidean beach, the author stumbled across a man-made, catastrophic scene of casualty: an oil slick. Hundreds of powerless penguins lay motionless and dead on the sand, all covered in a thick layer of tar. However, on closer look, one penguin was still fighting, battling to move its heavily slicked wings and to stay alive. Michell rushed over, clueless as to what he would do to help, but firm in the belief that he had to give it a try. Taking the penguin back to his apartment, he washed and fed the bird before returning him to the beach the following day.

Nonetheless, the penguin would not leave his side, lovingly clinging to his leg like a young toddler. The novel thus follows Michell’s daring smuggling of the bird back to Argentina and the penguin’s new life within the grounds of St. Georges boarding school.

It is a book filled with beautiful subtleties and one that paints a wonderful picture of an adorable and very human young animal. The effect of the penguin on the lives of everyone it met (the children, the staff and especially Michell himself) is palpable and it is evident that the author has never forgotten his friend, even after the best part of 40 years. Moving and inspiring stories of Juan Salvador (the penguin) effortlessly helping the kids to express themselves and grow up reveal just how poignant his role was in all of their lives.

This is feel-good, lovely reading and I would implore anyone to read this without a smile on their face or, at times, tears in their eyes.