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Song for a Whale

Audiobook
1 of 3 copies available
1 of 3 copies available
In the spirit of modern-day classics like Fish in a Tree and Counting by 7s comes the 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.
*This audiobook edition includes an author’s note and a section on deafness and sign language, both read by the author Lynne Kelly
"Fascinating, brave, and tender...a triumph." —Katherine Applegate, Newbery Award-winning author of The One and Only Ivan
"Beautifully written and such an important story for kids with big struggles in their lives. I fell into Iris's world from the first chapter. Lynne Kelly does an amazing job telling the story from Iris's perspective." —Millicent Simmonds, actress, Wonderstruck and A Quiet Place
"Quick-moving, suspenseful...this remains a satisfying, energetic read. Iris' adventures will engross readers." —Kirkus Reviews
"This finely crafted novel affectingly illuminates issues of loneliness, belonging, and the power of communication." —Publishers Weekly
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    • AudioFile Magazine
      Iris, a 12-year-old deaf girl, prefers American Sign Language to speech, but listeners can still hear her every thought and sign. This is thanks to Abigail Revasch, who expressively narrates Iris's ASL conversations and mental musings. Iris struggles as a deaf girl in a mainstream school, often feeling isolated. When she learns of Blue 55, an unusual whale that sings at a frequency unrecognizable to other whales, Iris empathizes with his plight and devises a way to use technology to help him. Revasch captures Iris's frustration and anger as she furiously signs her displeasure to her parents, who refuse to let her participate in the Blue 55 tracking expedition, which takes place three thousand miles from her home. Other times, Revasch conveys the linguistic beauty of ASL in this insightful glimpse of deaf culture. L.T. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:800
  • Text Difficulty:3-4

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