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! Gr 4-6-Twelve-year-old Iris has a passion for electronics and repairing antique radios. She's a strong student, too, except when she is hampered by the frustrations of being the only Deaf student in her classes. One day, Iris's science class watches a video about a whale named Blue 55, a hybrid blue/fin whale with an extremely unique voice; the sounds he makes are around 55 hertz, unlike most other whales, which communicate at much lower frequencies. Moved by Blue 55's very familiar struggle to communicate, Iris becomes determined to compose a song for Blue 55 at his frequency, and to play it for him in person. This mission involves a journey from her Houston home to Appleton, AK, that, miraculously, her widowed Grandma agrees to secretly arrange. Readers will need to suspend some disbelief in order to buy Iris's adventure as realistic fiction, but the nuances of her personality make her a compelling protagonist. Iris's depth of empathy, the joy she feels working with radios, and the skillful way she navigates two different worlds of communication create an authenticity that will resonate with Deaf and hearing readers alike. The paralyzing effects of grief are also addressed through Grandma. Gradual healing is depicted in a natural, healthy way, as Grandma turns away from isolation and begins using her talents, doing things that make her happy, and spending time with a loved one (Iris). VERDICT An uplifting tale that's a solid addition to most collections; especially recommended for libraries needing stronger representation of Deaf protagonists, which will be most.-Sara White, Seminole County Public Library, Casselberry, FLα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Schneider Family Book Award  Winner A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year "At its luminous heart, Song for a Whale is a tale about longing for connection and finding it in the most magical and unexpected of places. Fascinating, brave and tender, this is a story like no other about a song like no other. A triumph ." —Katherine Applegate, Newbery Award-winning author of The One and Only Ivan “ Song for a Whale  is beautifully written and is 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 "A quick-moving, suspenseful plot takes her from junkyards to a cruise ship as she [Iris] gains the confidence to stand up for herself and take control of her life. Written by a sign-language interpreter, this story incorporates important elements of Deaf culture and the expansiveness and richness of ASL ...this remains a satisfying, energetic read. Iris' adventures will engross readers ." — Kirkus Reviews "The strength of the book is its strong portrayal of Iris as a deaf girl in a hearing world and an intelligent 12-year-old in headlong, single-minded pursuit of her goal." — Booklist "Subtly and poignantly drawing a parallel between the girl and whale, Kelly ( Chained ), who has worked as a sign language interpreter, relays Iris’s venture with credibility and urgency . This finely crafted novel affectingly illuminates issues of loneliness, belonging, and the power of communication. " — Publishers Weekly "Iris’s depth of empathy, the joy she feels working with radios, and the skillful way she navigates two different worlds of communication create an authenticity that will resonate with Deaf and hearing readers alike ...  An uplifting tale that’s a solid addition to most collections; especially recommended for libraries needing stronger representation of Deaf protagonists." — SLJ Lynne Kelly is the award-winning and USA TODAY bestselling author of Song for a Whale ,