Song for a Whale
The award-winning and USA Today bestselling 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.
"Fascinating, brave, and tender...a triumph." --Katherine Applegate, Newbery Award-winning author of The One and Only Ivan
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.
And make sure to read Lynne Kelly's next book and instant classic, The Secret Language of Birds!
Available Formats
State Awards
California
2020, Horrace Mann Upstander Book Award, Winner
Georgia
2020-2021, Georgia Children’s Book Award, Nominee
Illinois
2022-2023, Bluestem Book Award, Nominee
Massachusetts
2020-2021, Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, Nominee
Minnesota
2023, Maud Hart Lovelace Award, Nominee
Missouri
2021-2022, MASL Readers’ Award, Nominee
New Mexico
2021-2022, Land Of Enchantment- Lizard, Nominee
Oklahoma
2021, OLA Sequoyah Book Award Masterlist, Nominee
Pennsylvania
2020-2021, Keystone To Reading Book Award, Winner
South Carolina
2021-2022, South Carolina Book Awards, Nominee
Texas
2020, Spirit Of Texas, Selection
Vermont
2020-2021, Golden Dome Book Award, Nominee