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atamano's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Death and Grief
shirarweiss's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Death, and Grief
sarah984's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
3.0
A sweet little middle grade novel about a Deaf girl and her grandmother on an adventure. I liked Iris's interest in radios and sound, and the way she learns a bit about the lives of the adults around her, but the stuff anthropomorphizing the whale comes across pretty maudlin and silly (not by the girl, there are a bunch of whale pov chapters and they felt unnecessary) and near the end she does an extremely dangerous thing (jumping into freezing water) I didn't really like. Overall fine but I wish it had had another round of editing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Ableism and Death
divine529's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I absolutely loved this.
This follows our main protagonist Iris, who is deaf and her journey to find a whale named Blue 55, a hybrid whale who is portrayed as lonely because he can't communicate with people around him, after she writes a song for him to reach out to let him know he's not alone.
The themes of this book are brilliant and I really enjoyed how the author presented the story overall. Iris as a character could be frustrating at times, but all of her actions were understandable.
All in all, a great book and one I think many people should read.
This follows our main protagonist Iris, who is deaf and her journey to find a whale named Blue 55, a hybrid whale who is portrayed as lonely because he can't communicate with people around him, after she writes a song for him to reach out to let him know he's not alone.
The themes of this book are brilliant and I really enjoyed how the author presented the story overall. Iris as a character could be frustrating at times, but all of her actions were understandable.
All in all, a great book and one I think many people should read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, and Grief
booked_on_phonics's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Dementia, and Grief
tremayna's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Ableism
One authority figure briefly demonstrates ablist attitude toward a child.newtons's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Death and Dementia
ezwolf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Dementia
charlottesomewhere's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
This is such a gorgeous story about feeling different, finding connection and dealing with grief told through the view of Iris, who is deaf, and her relationship with a very unusual whale.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Grief
mandkips's review
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Ableism