In parenthesis are the specific aspects students could explore when synthesizing across the texts. The following are great books to pair with Song for a Whale. The list below outlines topics that will enrich your students’ understanding of the novel.

Project – If learning about oceans or sea life in Science class, assign the novel as part of a project assignment.

Choice Read – Use the novel as part of a study about inclusivity and/or deaf culture and characters.

Cross-Curricular Study – Teach the novel in conjunction with a Science unit about ocean life, whales, acoustic biology, or radios.

It will encourage students to consider new points of view, empathize with others, and venture out and try new things. Its message about inclusion adds to the case that the book merits space on every library and classroom shelf. Overall, Song for a Whale provides an important perspective about how people can be heard. The connection between Iris and Blue 55 is captivating, but the chapters told from Blue 55’s perspective take away from his mysterious existence more than it adds to the narrative. Iris is smart, capable, and tenacious but certainly not perfect, which makes her character perfectly relatable. Author Lynne Kelly provides an intimate perspective into how Iris’s deafness affects her.

Song for a Whale is a touching adventure that will surely garner fans amongst middle grades readers. Her interest in Blue 55 takes her on a surprising adventure to communicate with the whale, leading to her own growth, new friendships, and a new perspective on her world. Then, Iris learns about Blue 55, a whale that sings songs in a different frequency from other whales. While she loves to fix radios, she struggles to find her place and make friends in a world where she only knows a handful of people like her. Iris is tech-savvy and curious, deaf and lonely.

A song for a whale