Monday, October 14, 2019

Bibliophile's Corner

Song for a Whale
by Lynne Kelly

Flap Copy Description:
From fixing the class computer to repairing old radios, twelve-year-old Iris is a tech genius. But she's the only deaf person in her school, so people often treat her like she's not very smart. If you've ever felt like no one was listening to you, then you know how hard that can be.

When she learns about Blue 55, a real whale who is unable to speak to other whales, Iris understands how he must feel. Then she has an idea: she should invent a way to "sing" to him! But he's three thousand miles away. How will she play her song for him?

Full of heart and poignancy, this affecting story by sign language interpreter Lynne Kelly shows how a little determination can make big waves.


My Thoughts:
It's always a pleasant surprise to come across a middle grade novel that is entertaining, informative, and heartwarming; Lynne Kelly's Song for a Whale definitely fits that description! One of my favorite elements of the story is the protagonist, Iris. While Iris is deaf, and the deaf community is a significant part of the plot, Song for a Whale is really for anyone who has ever felt like they're not being understood. In addition to that, the research the author obviously put in to portray the life of Blue 55, and whales in general, is so apparent. I highly recommend Song for a Whale to readers aged eight & up!

Click here to learn about the author, Lynne Kelly.