Oy vey, the feels! The poor heroine just can't catch a break. I'm sure it's meant to be a very realistic story, but poor Ella gets the worst of everything a child could go through: when her mom falls into a coma after giving birth, Ella is forced to start getting along with her stepdad; at school she deals with one bully, and also the loss of her best friend - and when she starts to gain a new best friend, she has qualms because it's a boy! I know I would have loved to have read this when I was the right age (5th grade ish) because at that point I loved a good sad story, but boy this was rough! I'm glad Ella grew so much through the story and by the end she's an incredibly strong young woman! This is the 4th book I’ve read by this British author, recently introduced to US readers. It is a contemporary novel, suitable for middle grade readers, unlike the Hetty Feather series, set in the past. The story begins with Ella, the main character, and her mother practicing breathing for the coming birth of Ella’s new step-sibling. This young girl has had lots of adjustments in recent months, new stepfather (father is rarely around), new house (but she gets to stay in her old school), and now a coming baby sister or brother. Ella is telling her own story, and isn’t pleased with much of her new life. Over the weeks in which Ella’s story occurs, more tragedy happens, things a young girl should not need to worry about, and worry she does. Friendships at school become difficult; teachers are kind and helpful, but not always, yet through all Ella’s school and home life, one thread of a school project holds her tightly like a hug, and that is the connection to whales. Jacqueline Wilson has written a book I wasn’t sure I would enjoy, but the way characters grow as their lives become more challenging made me want to read on to discover what was next because I had begun to care about these people. And isn’t that what a good book does, stick to you until you can’t stop till the end? There will be some young readers challenged by some of the British terminology, like “fringe” for “bangs”, “crisps” for “potato chips” and the reference to “tea” for our “dinner”, easily fixed by a little research. The relationship between the stepfather and Ella is wonderfully complex. These are not perfect people and each have their little quirks, but as the story moves, so does the relationship, challenging both to discover that there is a fine part to being together after all. I’ve tried to give away little about this story because I want the readers to discover and enjoy the book all by themselves.
What do You think about The Longest Whale Song (2010)?
This book was amazing, and touching. I love how Ella's love for her Mum paid of.
—EmIly
