Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly

This week in assembly, the school have been learning all about Deaf Awareness Week. This week's book recommendation is inspired by this celebration- more recommendations for books which with deafness as a theme or with main characters who are deaf can be found here .

Twelve-year-old Iris and her family have moved to Texas and Iris misses her friends and her old home on the coast. She is also now the only Deaf girl at school and finds things tough without a way of communicating to make friends.

Then, in science class,  their teacher tells them about a whale whose unique 55-hertz frequency means he cannot communicate with other whales. Iris is fascinated. Using her passion for old radio equipment, she is determined to try to help the lonely whale.

Inspired by a real whale who hit the headlines in 2015, this is an absolutely delightful story. While Iris’ decision to travel to Alaska without her parents’ permission is decidedly reckless, she thankfully has a partner in crime in the form of her enigmatic grandmother!

An uplifting story about friendship, family and the importance of real communication. Suitable for age 7+