Reviews

Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly

atamano's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional informative medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.25

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ria_ray's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 rounding up. I honestly forgot I was reading this book because did not like the start. It didnt reel me in but I gave it another chance and I liked the ending.

kokechii's review against another edition

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4.0

The moment I read the title for the first time, I thought immediately about the Loneliest whale in the world. And I was right, this is inspired by it. If you know the story, you know how it can tug on your heartstrings. But this book... Iris is a beautiful soul contained in a body made of bravery, and she will be stuck with me for a while.

shirarweiss's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I adored this book. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever read. I’m so grateful to my third grade student for suggesting it. I fell in love with Iris and this book totally captured the intense longing and passion of being a kid.
As I get older, I find it frustrating when in middle grade and YA novels there is just a total lack of logistics to what kids can do/consequences for this actions. I loved that this book did not just let that happen, but took Iris on a journey of understanding how her actions affect others, while also giving her that big adventure that let’s her find that out for herself.
This book brilliantly intertwines Deafness and radios and whales and grief and family seamlessly into one beautiful, complex story. I want to read it again and again.
I’m so happy Iris got her happy ending.
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sundance78's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

ashlee_green's review against another edition

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hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

francescaranck's review against another edition

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4.0

Super cute book, and I thought it was especially relatable considering my recent learning of ASL and about the Deaf Community. Would recommend it to my younger friends.

brogan7's review against another edition

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A book should end before it defies all plausibility.  If it doesn't, the reader's only respect is to stop reading.

I liked the information and education about Deaf culture in the book, and the information about whales and this mysterious, "othered" whale, Blue 55 (loosely based on the real 52 Blue).  However, in my estimation the book went awry as soon as Iris, the MC, decided to go meet Blue 55 in person.  There was no compelling reason for her to do so and I kept waiting for the book to come back to its better senses...which it never did, and culminated on p.264 with the most improbable dénouement... neither my son nor I could bear to read another word.

momreads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was well written and I learned a little about whales and also how a deaf girl might feel when she is surrounded by people that can't speak her language and she doesn't know them.  Having a deaf girl who fixes radios was interesting.

ammarahw's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0