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Song for a whale

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By: Lynne Kelly
New York : Delacorte Press, 2019. Fiction, pp. 303

This is a magical story about twelve year old Iris who is deaf.  However being unable to hear doesn't define her as a person but it does set her apart. At school and at home she is the only deaf person, with the exception of her grandmother, which makes life very lonely for Iris. If you have ever felt like nobody is listening to you then you can sympathize with Iris.

One day in science class her teacher shows a movie about a real whale named Blue 55 who is unable to speak. His voice was different from the other whales which meant they couldn't understand him. Iris is drawn to Blue 55 because she understands how he must feel not being able to communicate. She decides to make a song for him so he will know someone is listening. The challenge comes in finding a way to play the song for him to hear, seeing how he is thousands of miles away. As she begins her journey to reach Blue 55 Iris must overcome many obstacles that stand in her way.

The author Lynne Kelly, a deaf interpreter, expertly weaves information throughout the story about deaf culture as well as information about whales, sound, and oceanography.  Enjoy this journey with Iris as she discovers her voice.

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