When the orcas arrived in Genoa

On December 1, 2019, a group of orcas was spotted in the port of Genoa. An exceptional event, so much so that Alaska, fourteen years old and with a great passion for cetaceans, decides to leave Milan to see them in person. Thus begins a small, great adventure which is at the center of “ Let me go ” (Piemme, 2023, pp. 208, also e-book), by Claudia Fachinetti .

Alaska is, in fact, a very particular journey. Not only because it brings her closer to the dream of becoming a researcher, but also because she feels it will help her find her mother, who gave her a love for orcas and who is now in a coma and fighting for her life. In Genoa the girl experiences unforgettable days, full of emotions, hope and fear for those animals so majestic but at the same time so fragile, swimming lost in an unknown sea. Where do they come from? I'm in danger? Can anything be done to help them? Alaska tries to find the answers together with Diego, a young researcher who will teach her a lot about orcas but above all about the importance of letting go.

We ask Claudia Fachinetti to tell us how the story she tells in her book was born:

«The novel starts from the true story of a family of orcas that arrived in Genoa four years ago, on 1 December 2019, and remained there for several weeks, intriguing, exciting and moving an entire city and beyond. That period for the researchers who studied them was a race against time to discover their secret, their origin, the reason for their presence, and to help them find their way home. A secret which was then partly revealed, highlighting the incredible abilities of these animals and the deep bonds they form between themselves, in particular with their children."

What animals are killer whales? Killers like they are often shown at the cinema?

«They are the largest dolphins in the world but unlike their "smaller cousins" they have always been seen with awe, both for their large size (an orca reaches 9 meters) and for their complex and impressive techniques of hunt to catch seals, sea lions, penguins and whales. Real strategies handed down from generation to generation, a bit like wolves do, strategies which however make these cetaceans appear ruthless and cruel. In reality they are just very efficient and intelligent predators. Although films like Killer Whale have tried to portray orcas as dangerous to humans, they are not at all dangerous. There are no cases of attacks on humans in nature."

Can we define the book as a coming-of-age story?

"Absolutely yes. The protagonist Alaska has a great pain to face and accept, she must get back into the game, look inside herself and understand if what she believed to be her dream really is or is she 'stealing' it from someone else. Thanks to the empathy felt by the girl for the orcas, she will understand that, in order to truly understand who she wants to be, she will have to let go of this burden and face the difficulties, live them and go through them."

In the book there is also space for science…

«I wanted this to be a book for everyone, for those who already love science and want to delve deeper into various topics - here you will also find some information boxes - and for a while fear it or find it boring and need stories and emotions. The end result is still the same: knowing and loving orcas. Orcas are extremely social animals and, despite living in all the seas of the world, each pod, i.e. family group, adapts to the environment in which it lives with different hunting techniques, habits and languages."

Where did the title "Let me go" come from?

«It arises from the fact that for everyone, and in particular for young people, accepting pain, bereavement or an obstacle is the most difficult part. If we don't like something initially we deny it and reject it but this doesn't help us. Only by letting go of this brake, this refusal, can we truly face difficulties and overcome them. And this is necessary to grow and move forward in one's life."