Song for a Whale

Written by Lynne Kelly

A deaf girl seeks to connect with a whale whose song goes unheard.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 14,951 ratings

304 pages· 56,953 words· Est. 8 hour read

$8.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Twelve-year-old Iris, a tech genius and the only deaf student at her school, discovers Blue 55, a whale whose song is silent to his kind. Determined to bridge their shared isolation, Iris devises a plan to communicate with him across three thousand miles. Can her invention reach the lonely whale and make a difference? This poignant tale explores the power of connection and the courage to be heard.

From the publisher

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. 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. Fascinating, brave, and tender…a triumph. –Katherine Applegate, Newbery Award-winning author of The One and Only Ivan