Apparently, Juan possesses the extraordinary ability to inspire or cheer up whomever he comes in contact with. After finding Juan living on the outdoor balcony of Michell’s campus dorm, students quickly discover that Juan is an “excellent listener.” They even compete to see who gets to bring Juan his daily meals from the local fish market just so they can sit and talk with him.
That’s not the end of Juan’s abilities. He lands himself a job as the mascotof the school rugbyteam. He is a magnetic co-hostof Michell’s house parties. He also lets the dorm housekeeper confide inhim and listens to her deepest fears and worst problems. And when a shy boy needs to learn how to swim, there is no better teacher than a flightless bird who once called the sea home.
Eventually, however, the time comes for Michell to try and do the right thing—return Juan to the wild. The book is part travelogue, part memoir, and part wild adventure. It all comes together in an incredibly heartwarming tale that has taken the world by storm. Sometimes, as this story proves, there is so much that animals can teach us.
I was hoping against hope that the penguin would survive because as of that instant he had a name, and with his name came the beginning of a bond which would last a lifetime.
