If you’re thinking about reading this one, I suspect you might be one of the over 170,000 people who bought a copy of Away with the Penguins, now looking forward to reading more. It’s by no means essential that you must have read it – this book will enchant you every bit as much as a standalone – but I do think I found it useful to understand a little about the relationships between the characters (I was already invested in them all) and everything that had gone before.

There are three main threads to the story. Veronica is invited by TV naturalist Sir Robert Saddlebow to travel to Australia and the Falklands to co-present a programme about the different penguin colonies – much like every reader, he’s been struck by her archaic way of speaking and her good clear voice (as well as her passion for penguins), and despite her advanced age she finds it impossible to refuse. The scientists at Locket Island in Antarctica, still working with the colony of Adélie penguins, are now dependent on her funding – and her newly-found grandson Patrick is now part of the team, a life apart from his former aimless existence in Bolton, having found romance with the lovely Terry. And the third thread sees Patrick leaving the island, heading to Canada in search of information about his long absent father – who is, of course, also Veronica’s son, adopted soon after his birth.

The story is told from the perspectives of Veronica, Patrick and Terry – one of the strengths of this book is the wonderful characterisation (if I loved Veronica first time round, I took her to my heart even more with this one), and their individual voices are clear and distinct and quite perfectly sustained. There is a new character who plays a major part in this story too – young Daisy, showing considerable bravery of her own, her interactions with the less than child-friendly Veronica an absolute joy at every encounter.

I won’t go into every twist and turn of the story – I think it’s important to discover it for yourself, stumble across its uplifting moments, enjoy the ever-present touches of humour, experience those moments that can’t help but bring a tear to your eye or move you to anger or despair. But the whole story is quite wonderfully told – I picked it up after lunch, and found it impossible to set aside until I’d read the final page, entirely transported to the locations and enjoying every moment of my involvement with the lives of its characters. The storylines are all brought together at the appropriately named Bolder Island in the Falklands – and I have to say that I loved every single moment.

There is a particularly strong environmental message to the book – well-timed in the aftermath of the recent COP26 conference – but it’s never laboured, and the simple demonstration of the consequences of human thoughtlessness makes it all the more powerful and personal. And if you’re one of those people who really likes to learn something while you’re reading, you’ll certainly find out a lot about penguins – again never “heavy”, but beautifully woven into the story. And, if you read the earlier book, I expect you’d like to know whether we get the chance to see how life’s been treating Pip – and I’m happy to say that the answer is “yes”.

I really loved this book – all its characters (including quite a few of the minor ones) are memorable and quite wonderfully drawn, the story was everything I wanted it to be. Other reviewers have said that this book is the sequel that Away with the Penguins deserved, and I can only wholeheartedly agree – in fact, I’d really be more than happy if the author decided to write a third. Highly recommended to all.

It was a sequel to away with the penguins which I would advised to read first. However you will still enjoy this without having read the first book.
There is a lovely entertaining and at times amusing story. It also comes with a very strong message about climate change as well as how much damage is being done to the environment. Plastic is an important message too with a particular incident in the book which really hits home about animals and penguins in particular.

I thought each individual was well characterised. I loved this book.

The first thing I will say is make sure you read "Away with the penguins" first. I didn't, I requested this book off Netgalley as I'd heard the hype from the first book so wanted to read this one and I clearly missed some important information that must have been mentioned in the first book.
Nonetheless this was still a really enjoyable and important book to read. If you love penguins or indeed any animal (but especially penguins) I am certain you will love this book. You may even find yourself googling different type of penguins in the middle of the night. I did.
This book does mention climate change and the damage plastic is doing on the environment. It sends an important message about this subject but in perhaps a more subtle method than some of the methods you see used on the news.
I really enjoyed this book.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Random House UK for the electronic copy.

I really enjoyed this book. I hadn't read the previous one but this reads well on its own. This is a "light read" but is environmentally educative, as well as amusing and at times emotional.

Eighty-seven year old Veronica McCreedy is very wealthy and slightly eccentric, living in a Jacobean mansion in Scotland on the Ayrshire coast. A few years earlier she'd made the journey to Antarctica to a field station, home to hundreds of penguins; against all protocols she'd intervened to save a tiny fur bundle she named Pip. She funds that field centre which is run by Terry (female) and where Patrick, her grandson is working. Just as she thought her days of adventure had ended she receives an invitation from Robert Saddlebow to co-present a wildlife documentary - she to present the various penguin species and their habitats and he to present on the other wildlife, between Australia and the Falklands. She jumps at the chance and, together with Daisy who, recovering from cancer, had been chosen to accompany them on the Falklands leg of the journey. Meanwhile things between Terry and Patrick aren't working out and Patrick travels to Canada to find out about his father - Veronica has never known what happened to her son. If Patrick leaves the field centre, will Veronica continue to fund it?

I loved all the main characters and how they interacted. The stories surrounding the penguins and their habitats are fascinating. A heart-warming story.

We first met 87 year old Veronica in in How the Penguins Saved Veronica  or as it is titled elsewhere Away With the Penguins. And now she is out on a new adventure to a different place this time and different penguins.

Veronica is a bit of a curmudgeon with a tough outward exterior, but really she has a soft centre. This time she is off to help present a documentary about penguins. We also meet up with Terry and her grandson Patrick who at the start of the story are back in Antartica. However soon Patrick is off delving into family history and trying to make sense of it and to come to terms with it.

In the same way as Patrick learns more, Veronica also has her way of seeing the past challenged. Meanwhile work with the penguins goes on as does filming. On the Falklands leg of the journey Daisy a young girl who has been through some severe cancer treatment is living out her dream of meeting up with penguins. Veronica and herself have a very special relationship.

The story is strongly environmental. There are so many kinds of penguin, and we along with Veronica fall for the breeds we are introduced to. In a way that twines a human interest story and an environmental one, we see the consequences of our thoughtless actions in a very concrete way.  And if you are like me you will be googling to see what each type of penguin looks like.

Call of the Penguins is another delightful read by Hazel Prior. While it does help to have read the previous book, it is not necessary, and a reader could easily pick up this one.  I really enjoyed reading about Veronica and her team's further exploits, and was sorry to close the book on them.

I enjoyed reading about what happened next for Veronica. She’s such an engaging character, so determined and so sure of herself and yet she is very shaken by some revelations in the book. She makes me laugh at times with her certainty that her recall cannot be faulted and that she is always right!

The story is told again through the perspectives of three of the characters. There’s Veronica, of course, her grandson Patrick, and Terry, one of the scientists at the penguin research station in Antarctica. I thought this worked really well and that the author created very distinct voices for all her characters. Special mention has to be made of young Daisy, such a sweet little girl who has the wisdom and bravery that the other characters sometimes lacked.

The stories of the three main characters play out in very different locations to begin with, before coming together in the Falkland Islands on the aptly named Bolder Island. There are some difficult issues covered in the book, with the characters facing many challenges but there is always a lightness, quite often provided by the penguins.

There’s a strong emphasis on the environment and the inter-connectedness of actions throughout the world, with climate change having an impact even on the penguins in the Antarctic. It seemed very appropriate that I was reading this book while the world leaders were attending COP26 in Glasgow, debating what they could do to limit further damage caused by climate change.

Call of the Penguins is full of quirky and memorable characters and is another engaging and uplifting story from Hazel Prior. I am hoping that there will be further adventures with Veronica, the penguins and all the other characters I have come to know so well.

I enjoyed this every bit as much as the original. A really cosy read, despite the cold environment. The characters (including the penguins) are the stars, the story is a great accompaniment, but just reading about the day to day activities and laughing at the incongruity of Veronica with her lipstick and handbag and the wonderful life she injects into things is a joy. Relationships flourish - and falter - and we find out some more of Veronica's past. It's interesting to see how others see us is different to how we see ourselves - Veronica is envious of Robert's adventurous life - but he thinks she's had the exciting life with love and a child. Just delightful. #netgalley #callofthepenguins

I’m sure I’ve said before that I have a soft spot for older female protagonists who take themselves on crazy adventures. That’s exactly who Veronica McCreedy is and after falling in love with the first book in this series, Away With The Penguins, I was looking forward to see what she’d get up to next.

At the age of 87, Veronica has discovered a love of penguins. On returning home to the west coast of Scotland from the icy wilderness of Antarctica, she receives an invitation of a lifetime. She has been asked to co-present a wildlife documentary on the other side of the world with a focus on her beloved penguins. But surrounding dramas threaten to close in on Veronica just as her moment to shine arrives.

I think my biggest takeaway from these books is the incredible healing power of penguins. I’ve always found them very loveable birds who are fun to watch but I spent so much time with them across the two books that the intense love for them that seeps through the pages couldn’t not rub off on me. Every character in the book appreciates penguins for the amazing animals that they are and Prior’s writing is wonderfully infectious.

It’s also fantastically educational on what penguins face every day due to human existence. Call Of The Penguins includes the reality of plastic pollution and the devastating effects it can have on penguins and other animals. I feel like this is an issue that we are all aware of but that we choose to ignore or believe that as individuals, we can’t possibly make a difference. However, I finished the book feeling empowered to do exactly that. Changing the narrative on the severity of environmental issues is vital to bringing about real, impactful difference.

On the surface, Veronica would like to be thought of as a no-nonsense, standoffish old lady but her caring heart shines through a lot in this book. She is meddlesome but she uses this trait for good and I was fully behind her interference. Veronica is a character that frustrates me sometimes because she is infuriatingly stubborn but most of the time, I find her very admirable and great fun to be around.

Patrick is Veronica’s grandson. Although he has had a tough start to life and lots of difficulties in finding his way, he now seems to be on a positive path. Prior is fantastic at writing characters who feel very real. They are warm, well-meaning and in most cases, inherently flawed but not in an irredeemable way. Veronica’s housekeeper and assistant Eileen fits this description perfectly as does Sir Richard Saddlebow, Veronica’s co-host and Terry, an Antarctic researcher and penguin blogger. These people are very real and I really felt that I got to know them all individually.

There are some really lovely descriptions of landscape and setting that put me firmly in an area of natural beauty. Seeing these little details in the scenery painted a very rich, three-dimensional view in my mind which made it very easy to imagine myself there alongside the characters, as they took it all in. I definitely had a strong craving to travel to these desolate but beautiful places, just as Attenborough documentaries do.

Call Of The Penguins is a heartwarming, heartbreaking rollercoaster of a book that shines a light on some incredibly important topics. Following on wonderfully from where Away With The Penguins leaves off, it’s a life-affirming read that reminds us that age shouldn’t be a barrier for adventure. Everyone has the power to make the world a better place for every species on the planet and in fact, we all should be doing all we can to achieve that.

'Penguins,' I remind her, 'are not only a source of endless entertainment; they are an example to us all.’


Hazel Prior has done it again. Call of the Penguins is another absolute gem of a book. Full of wit, warmth and wisdom, she reunites us with our unlikely heroine in this delightful sequel to one of my favourite books of last year.


Jumping straight in, the story picks up with Veronica McCreedy back at her house in Scotland by the sea. Her adventures in Antarctica with her beloved penguins are never far from her mind. So when she is offered the chance to venture to Australia and the Falklands to present a wildlife documentary on her favourite bird, she jumps at the chance. It seems the octogenarian's adventures are not over yet.


My love of this book and it’s protagonist are no secret, so I was thrilled when I learned that Hazel Prior had written a follow up and immediately ordered the book. I couldn’t wait to be back with Veronica, although I admit to a little trepidation that I might not love this book as I did the first one. I need not have worried. Call of the Penguins is filled with the same heartwarming and heart-rending emotions of the first book as the author dives deeper into the lives of these now-familiar characters. 


"I am fizzing with excitement like a bottle of vintage champagne.”


87-year-old Veronica McCreedy is the same intrepid, bold, sharp, feisty and determined woman from book one, only with less of the cantankerous protective layer she used to surround herself with. Instead, she is now surrounded by people she loves. And her memories of the penguins. And just like Veronica, the other characters in the book are a colourful, intriguing and richly drawn bunch. I had a particular soft spot for Daisy, a nine-year-old battling cancer.  Gutsy, ebullient and utterly compelling, Daisy reminded me a lot of Veronica. It was impossible not to love her, especially during her cute and comical interactions with the penguins. 


This is a story about family, self-discovery, self-reflection, unlocking hidden secrets and penguins. Lots of cute penguins. It is clear that not only does Ms. Prior adore these wobbly creatures, but also has a wide range of knowledge about them. This book is filled with even more penguin trivia, this time taking us to the southern hemisphere and featuring a variety of species. It even gave me a new favourite: the Little penguin. 


Once again the book also contains commentary on climate change, plastics and our responsibilities to change our habits in order to create a world that is safe for the birds and animals we love. Reading it certainly made me stop and think about my own part in this and left me with a desire to change some of my shopping habits. But it never preachy, instead expertly woven into the story so all you feel is the passion of the characters for this vital cause. I love how she educates while entertaining the reader and I’ve learned so much reading these books. 


Utterly addictive, joyous and uplifting, Veronica’s story reminds us all that it is never too late to have an adventure or to make the most of life. It is the perfect book to cosy up with under a blanket on a cold day and totally lose yourself in. After all, that’s what I did. So grab a blanket, hot chocolate and some biscuits, and go read this book.

Veronica McCreedy – eighty-seven years old with a grandson, Patrick, she’d discovered only eighteen months prior, and a nine-year-old girl, Daisy, currently in her care. Daisy was recovering from chemotherapy and her recuperation for a while with Veronica in The Ballahays, in Scotland with Eileen who was a friend of Veronica, was agreed upon by Daisy’s parents Beth and Gavin. Veronica had previously been on Locket Island, rescued an orphaned penguin Pip, and now was preparing to venture out into the wilderness again with different penguins. Sir Robert had agreed to have Daisy along and participate in the “My Wish” program. They headed first to Australia then to Bolder Island in the Falklands.

Meanwhile Patrick had been working on Locket Island with Terry, Mike and Dietrich when he left in a hurry, angry and determined not to set foot on the place again. Terry and Patrick were a couple, which was made awkward by Terry being the boss of the group. She found it difficult to be both a partner and boss, and when Patrick stormed off, she tried to tell herself it was for the best. Patrick headed for Canada to search for the truth about his father, Veronica’s son and as he did so, he found out more things than he’d probably wished for.

Back on Bolder Island, Daisy had befriended a penguin and named her Petra. The filming and documentaries delighted the viewers while Sir Robert was happy with the way things were progressing. But what would happen with Patrick and Terry? The call of the penguins was strong across all their habitats. Would the documentaries be viewed favourably?

Call of the Penguins is a follow on from How the Penguins Saved Veronica and it’s another delightful, entertaining and informative tale by Hazel Prior which I thoroughly enjoyed. Petra and her friend Tony the Macaroni were cute, as was Pip, and Daisy was a treasure. Veronica is a crusty old dear, with plenty of money left by her late husband, and she does love to help people (not interfere; never interfere) Learning the “googly thing” (taught to her by 9-year-old Daisy!) and sending and receiving emails was quite an achievement! Recommended.

With thanks to Ruth Richardson, Penguin Random House UK via NetGalley for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Away With The Penguins and I also love this. Lucky Veronica, I would live to have this adventure as I too adore penguins.
Such a beautiful feel-good book with feisty and cantankerous Veronica.
I sped through this so fast, I just loved it.

Heartwarming and inspiring, Call of the Penguins follows on from the equally lovely Away with the Penguins, focusing in greater depth on more of the characters and bringing in additional locations.

With her newfound love for friends and family, 87 year old Veronica now has Daisy, the equally penguin obsessed daughter of her grandson Patrick's best friend, staying with her in Scotland as the 9 year old recovers from her chemotherapy treatment.

Patrick and Veronica are keen to learn more about their father/son, prompting a trip to Canada. Meanwhile, having become famous through Terry's blog, Veronica is asked to co-host a wildlife documentary as an ambassador for penguins.

Emotional and uplifting with lots of interesting information about the various species of penguins and their varied habitats, as well as the environmental dangers they face.

I was really intrigued by the title of this book and mystified that an author had written about penguins. What a beautiful book, and will have to read the previous one now

Back with 87 year old Veronica and 9 year old Daisy.

Daisy wants an adventure to find penguins whilst she's staying with Veronica.

Veronica is given that opportunity for another penguin adventure with Sir Robert.

A lot of personal discovery and challenge faced by Patrick, Veronica and Terri.

It's great to be back with the penguins 🐧

87 year old Veronica McCreedy has recently discovered a late-life love for family and friendship, adventure and wildlife.
More specifically, a love for penguins!
And so when she's invited to co-present a wildlife documentary, far away in the southern hemisphere, she jumps at the chance.
Perhaps it’s never too late….to shine?

This is one of those rare books that has that perfect mix of a beautifully written story and location with equally strong well rounded characters to connect with..For me the narrative was totally absorbing and the uplifting plot warmed my heart with emotion. It also portrays an important message about looking after nature and thinking about packaging.l found the Penguins informative and delightful.
A book ld highly recommend

Thank you to Netgalley, Hazel Prior and Random House for the opportunity to read this book. I adored Away With The Penguins and loved this even more. Heartwarming book with a dazzling array of characters that I will genuinely miss. I read this book yesterday on a blustery day off from work and genuinely couldn't put it down.

Call of the Penguins continues the adventures of 87-year-old Veronica McCreedy who travelled to Antarctica as a penguin ambassador in book 1, Away With the Penguins. In this story, Veronica is again enlisted by TV presenter Sir Robert Saddlebow for his latest penguin documentary. However, this time, instead of Locket Island, she visits Southern Australia and the Falkland Islands.

The author uses the plight of penguins to highlight the importance of family and the desperate need for us to do something about humans’ use of plastics and littering. Readers gain more insight into the characters introduced in book 1 as well as the different breeds of penguins which inhabit the new research stations.

Veronica’s cantankerous nature still made me smile and the authors ability to teach me more about penguins made me happy. I loved the fine balance between adventure, mystery, learning and love; however, I did feel the ending came across as a little too much like a lecture. It coincided well with the Glasgow Climate Change Conference.
Prior has a natural talent in writing an absorbing book while enlightening readers on prevalent world issues as well as educating them about the beloved penguins. Prior will be sure to put a smile on your face as she recounts Veronica’s adventures.

You don’t need to read book 1 to enjoy this story, but it will add to your enjoyment.

“Love is a slippery fish. Many of us catch it but few manage to keep hold of it.”

“We are not really at home in this world, this mass of human limitations, where we are forever pretending to be something that naturally we are not: where we strain toward an ideal and are always falling short.”

November 11, 2021

I was gifted this advance copy by Hazel Prior, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Love love loved this!! The whole cast of characters are wonderful, I wish I could start it all over again!! It was one of those feel good books that made me smile so much!! Thanks so much for the opportunity to read it early!!

If you enjoyed Away with the Penguins, you’ll love this. If you haven’t read Away with the Penguins - read it immediately.
This much anticipated sequel is delightful and poignant and every bit as charming as the first one. Veronica is a wonderful character, and the supporting characters are just as charming. Daisy is an adorable and inspiring little girl, and her relationship with Veronica is delightful.

The stars of the book are of course, the penguins. The detail and love for the penguins jumps off the page.

This is just a great book. It will make you laugh, cry and wonder in amazement.

I really enjoyed reading Away with the Penguins and I was delighted to receive an early preview copy of this book, the sequel from Netgalley and the Publisher. This book can be read as a standalone novel, but the first one is so amazing that I highly recommend that you read it if you haven't already done so.
This book features the same characters as before, with Veronica taking the lead as the main character once again. There are also some new characters, nine year old Daisy and Sir Robert in particular.
This book is very on trend and topical, as Climate Change is a big theme in the book. Plastic pollution and the effect on the Oceans and wildlife also feature heavily.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it is well written and heartwarming. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.