But there are moments where Iris' announcements about her obsession get repetitive and a little boring. There is real poetry in the book, since it explores metaphors of being an outlier of the school - both the hearing, human school and the school of sea mammals. Kids will appreciate the topic of what it means to be misunderstood and seemingly alone. She relies on an interpreter, her family, or anyone around her to explain to her what she can't hear. But she feels left out of the world around her. Iris communicates in many ways - she speaks sign language, she fixes old radios until they can sing again, she makes sign-language poetry with her grandparents using the shape of her hands to determine the shape of the poem. Song for a Whale looks at the essence of belonging: the ability to be understood. This interesting exploration of communication between members of a community choppily achieves its a goal.

Interesting facts about whales and their habits enrich the plot as well.

Iris may be unforgiving with a girl who tries to sign with her and fails, but she shows the ability to forgive others (like her dad) even when they're unwilling or unable to learn her language. It also celebrates deaf abilities and the willingness to connect with the animal world while taking risks. It touches on the loss of a grandparent, feeling out of place because of a physical challenge, and breaking rules to reach a personal goal. Parents need to know that Lynne Kelly's Song for a Whale is the story of a 12-year-old deaf girl who's determined to communicate with a whale who's having difficulty communicating with his own species. People spend time in bars and get wild at a casino and at a bar singing karaoke.ĭid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide. 'Fascinating, brave, and tender.a triumph.Adults drink a bit - a man floats on a raft in a pool with a beer in hand. How will she play her song for him?įull of heart and poignancy, this affecting story by sign language interpreter Lynne Kelly shows how a little determination can make big waves.

Then she has an idea: she should invent a way to 'sing' to him! But he's three thousand miles away. When she learns about Blue 55, a real whale who is unable to speak to other whales, Iris understands how he must feel. If you've ever felt like no one was listening to you, then you know how hard that can be. But she's the only deaf person in her school, so people often treat her like she's not very smart. In the spirit of modern-day classics like Fish in a Tree and Counting by 7s comes the Schneider Family Book Award-winning story of a deaf girl's connection to a whale whose song can't be heard by his species, and the journey she takes to help him.įrom fixing the class computer to repairing old radios, twelve-year-old Iris is a tech genius.

Lynne kelly song for a whale