Lynne Cox

Lynne Cox is the main character and narrator of this true story. At the time of her experience, she was a seventeen year old who was training as a long distance swimmer. Since she told the reader in her book that she had already completed a goal of swimming the English Channel when she was fifteen, it is apparent that Cox was very dedicated to her sport and that she had much experience swimming in the open waters. On this particular March morning, this experience paid off, as she was able to spend more than four hours in the water. She not only completed a three-hour workout but also stayed with a baby whale who had been separated from its mother.

Through her work with the whale, it is obvious that even as a teen Cox was a highly motivated person who believed in the power of...