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lillygabriella's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
This book was really good and also sad. I really wish we had found out more about Shay. Since it was told entirely from Mila's perspective, the lack of information makes sense, but I don't have to like it any more than Mila liked being locked in. It was very creatively told from her point of view with the language becoming more advanced as she became more adept at English. I enjoyed the realism of parts of it. I didn't find the researchers particularly clever or well informed in the areas of developmental psychology and what children need to thrive. If they really wanted Mila to be a bridge between Dolphin language and English, they should have had the research center set up on an island near her dolphin family, where they could record the interactions, and get Mila's explanation in the evening. I do recommend reading it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Self harm, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
akelanorine's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bbqxaxiu's review against another edition
I remember this book so vividly from my childhood it's fucking wild
squigglesbug's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
3.5***
This book is suitable for middle-school children, though it deals with some very interesting issues. Mila is a young girl found living alone on an atoll off the coast of Florida. Apparently, she had survived a boat capsizing when just a toddler and was saved by (and “raised by”) a pod a dolphins. Now, she is a feral child, and a group of doctors, psychologists and sociologists are certain they know what is best for her.
I’ve read a number of Hesse’s books and I particularly like the novels written in verse. This has a bit of that feel to it, with fragments of thought put down by Mila as she learns the English language and tries to make sense of what she is experiencing given the context of the dolphin society she has grown up knowing. There were times when I felt incredibly sad for her (and her dolphin mother). Times when I applauded her “progress” and delighted in the discoveries she made.
Then ending is rather ambiguous, and I’ve read the last three or four chapters over and over again, trying to come to a definitive conclusion.
This book is suitable for middle-school children, though it deals with some very interesting issues. Mila is a young girl found living alone on an atoll off the coast of Florida. Apparently, she had survived a boat capsizing when just a toddler and was saved by (and “raised by”) a pod a dolphins. Now, she is a feral child, and a group of doctors, psychologists and sociologists are certain they know what is best for her.
I’ve read a number of Hesse’s books and I particularly like the novels written in verse. This has a bit of that feel to it, with fragments of thought put down by Mila as she learns the English language and tries to make sense of what she is experiencing given the context of the dolphin society she has grown up knowing. There were times when I felt incredibly sad for her (and her dolphin mother). Times when I applauded her “progress” and delighted in the discoveries she made.
Then ending is rather ambiguous, and I’ve read the last three or four chapters over and over again, trying to come to a definitive conclusion.
kailey_luminouslibro's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
4.0
Mila is a wild girl, growing up on a deserted island with a family of dolphins. When she is rescued, she is placed with a doctor who studies the way that humans learn language. The doctor hopes to learn the girl's dolphin language, and uses music to capture the sounds dolphins make. Mila begins to connect with her caregivers and their families; even the janitor cannot help connecting with this unique girl. At first, Mila is interested to learn English and learn how humans interact and live. But soon, she begins to miss her dolphin family and the simplicity of her life on the island. Her spirit starts to despair and turn inward, searching for the music she used to know.
This was definitely an interesting book with a unique voice. Mila's narration starts out very simple and grows more complex as she learns to communicate as a human. The very simplicity of her words brings forward a stark honesty in the story. Nothing is hidden behind fancy words. Everything is sincere and true for Mila, and those around her are forced to face the truth as well. The writing is genius is its extreme simplicity.
I like that Mila's situation brings up a lot of philosophical questions about how human societies live and what we value and how we treat each other. It was interesting to see how the other humans try to explain these things to Mila, but they end up looking foolish when she cuts right to the truth with her clear logic.
heuristicbiscuit's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
marleah_a's review against another edition
3.0
"Mila creates headlines around the world when she is rescued from an unpopulated island off the coast of Florida. Now a teenager, she has been raised by dolphins from the age of four."
Yes, this is a young adult book. Yes, you can probably read it in an hour. Yes, the print for the beginning and end of the book is huge, like 36 or 48 point. BUT this was a really thought-provoking read. I belong to a book club, and one of the members was looking for an interesting yet quick and easy read to follow a more research-based book, so she picked this one. I read it here and there over the course of a couple of days. It tells how Mila lived with the dolphins (the most intriguing part of the book for me) and how she was "rescued," only to be taken in by a group of scientists who cared for her but didn't seem to see "Mila the girl." Throughout the entire story, Mila longs to be back with her dolphin family and knows that she can never truly be a human. She speaks using music more than words, and although she is a quick learner, she feels that a part of her is missing.
Yes, this is a young adult book. Yes, you can probably read it in an hour. Yes, the print for the beginning and end of the book is huge, like 36 or 48 point. BUT this was a really thought-provoking read. I belong to a book club, and one of the members was looking for an interesting yet quick and easy read to follow a more research-based book, so she picked this one. I read it here and there over the course of a couple of days. It tells how Mila lived with the dolphins (the most intriguing part of the book for me) and how she was "rescued," only to be taken in by a group of scientists who cared for her but didn't seem to see "Mila the girl." Throughout the entire story, Mila longs to be back with her dolphin family and knows that she can never truly be a human. She speaks using music more than words, and although she is a quick learner, she feels that a part of her is missing.