I talk with my hands without even noticing. I unconsciously use them to help me express myself on a regular basis. Others have described my hands as “huge” or “big” … actually, they are just really long and narrow and it’s impossible to find gloves that fit. As Jonas in The Giver might say, people have not used precise words to describe my hands. On occasion, some have subtly (and not so subtly) made fun when I “talk with my hands” – I’ve even been told they are a distraction. Don’t feel bad – it’s never bothered me. I like my hands.
When I was an early adolescent, a deaf family friend from church (who I really admired) agreed to give me ASL lessons. I loved going to her house to spend time with her. I appreciated learning from her lived-experiences, from how she took phone calls to seeing notification lights installed in her home and how she lovingly cared for her infant daughter. My experiences with her impacted me so greatly that I researched transferring after my freshman year of college because I wanted to change my major from elementary education to pursue deaf education. However, the 2,000 mile distance to what was considered my school of choice ultimately deterred me from chasing that dream. Honestly, there’s a little place in my heart that still feels unfulfilled and learning ASL is still a dream of mine.
When I initially selected Song for a Whale as my next middle grade read, I actually had no idea what the book was about. Sometimes I really enjoy picking a book by the cover and diving in without reading the publisher summary, just for a complete and total surprise. I did see a quote on the bottom front cover by Katherine Applegate that read, “A triumph” … and for that moment in time, that was enough for me.
Author Lynne Kelly is a sign language interpreter and beautifully crafted the story of Iris, a twelve-year-old girl who is a whiz at repairing radios and basically a “tech genius”. Iris deeply understands how sound waves work and if you want to want to experience the reading surprise that I did, stop reading here and go get yourself a copy of this book. Those that still want to know more can keep reading.
Iris is the only deaf student at her school and often feels isolated. Making friends is difficult when no one understands you. She is also often misunderstood, which gets her into trouble. When Iris hears about Blue 55, a whale who sings at a different frequency than other whales and does not allow him to communicate with his own species, she devises a plan to help him make connections using his own song.
Layered into this story is Iris’s strong bond with her deaf maternal grandparents. Through this relationship, Lynne Kelly gives us additional glimpses into Deaf culture – including insights into ASL poetry, dialect, and so much more. I truly believe you can begin to build compassion and empathy when you learn to walk in another individual’s shoes, and this book provides many incredible opportunities to do just that. There’s so much more to this story, but I don’t believe in giving away all the spoilers … and at some point, you really must read the book for yourself.