Dolphin Song [Paperback]

Lauren St. John (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 19, 2009 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Martine is just getting used to her new life on the game reserve with her grandmother and the white giraffe, Jemmy, when she must go away. Her class is going on a trip?an ocean voyage to watch the sardine run, a spectacular natural phenomenon off the coast of South Africa. But the exciting adventure takes a dramatic turn when Martine and several of her classmates are thrown overboard into shark-infested waters! They are saved by a pod of dolphins and end up marooned on a deserted island. Now the castaways must learn to work together, not only to survive but to help the dolphins who are now in peril.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–7—Continuing the story begun in The White Giraffe (Dial, 2007), St. John throws 11-year-old Martine into another dangerous situation in which she must depend on her relationship with animals to survive. The child, recently orphaned and sent to live with her grandmother on a game reserve in South Africa, has had trouble adapting to her new school. She reluctantly embarks on a class trip to study nature at sea, and, before long, she and six of her classmates are tossed overboard during a storm. Rescued by dolphins, they survive shark-infested waters and are stranded on a deserted island. Five of the kids tormented Martine and her lone friend, Ben, in the first book, and they are no kinder here. But Ben, while mostly silent, has a lot of survival skills, and Martine has her powers of prophecy and healing, and the two of them prove to be self-sufficient and even content with their situation. As Ben teaches Martine how to find food, water, and shelter, he also guides her toward compassion as their desperate classmates begin to accept them. Not every plot point holds water, but this is an action-packed story with a strong environmental message and an admirable heroine. It brings the cultures of native and colonial South Africa together in the form of a young girl who is discovering that she is part of both. Talk this one up to your adventure buffs and animal lovers.—Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library System, FL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Fans of St. John’s The White Giraffe (2007) need to fasten their seatbelts for this rip-roaring sequel. Martine’s class sails the South African coast to view the Sardine Run. When a cyclone strikes, dolphins shepherd the shipwrecked kids to a mysterious deserted island. And that’s only the beginning. Can Martine’s secret, magical healing powers help rescue beached dolphins, ward off the evil threatening the island, and speed her longed-for reunion with her giraffe companion, Jemmy? The strong connections between humans and wildlife celebrated in Martine’s first adventure will continue to engage readers here. Grades 5-8. --Anne O'Malley --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (February 19, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142413755
• ISBN-13: 978-0142413753
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #97,142 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Africa
  • #60 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Marine Life > Fiction

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful story for animal lovers of all ages, December 16, 2008

By 

M. Tanenbaum (Claremont, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dolphin Song (Hardcover)

In this sequel to The White Giraffe, eleven year old Martine is just adjusting to life with her grandmother and her beloved white giraffe, Gemma, when she leaves on a school field trip to study ocean life off the coast of Mozambique. She and five classmates are thrown overboard by a storm at sea and saved by a pod of dolphins, who carry them on their backs to a deserted island. The kids, who have to learn to get along in order to survive, discover the island seems to be booby-trapped underwater, and dolphins are mysteriously beaching themselves. The children must solve a mystery to save the dolphins and themselves.
This is another beautiful story from this author, perfect for tween girls and animal lovers of all ages. Martine's unique gift with animals is very moving, and the author, who lived in Africa, does a wonderful job describing the African setting.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Audiobook version review - Loved it!, October 15, 2008

By 

Jessica Teel (Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dolphin Song (Audio CD)

Dolphin Song is a conservation minded adventure story featuring Martine - an orphaned girl who lives on a game reserve in South Africa. Martine, whose best friend is a white giraffe named Jemmy, enjoys spending as much time with animals as her classmates. Martine is afraid however of sharks and frets with worry when her class plans a trip on a boat to visit the sardine migration off the coast. A ship wreck plunges Martine and her classmates into the sea and a living nightmare, but the children are magically rescued and brought to shore by a group of dolphins. The story then focuses on the disparate group's survival attempts as castaways on an island.

Dolphin Song narrator Adjoa Andoh's English accent adds to the exotic flare of this adventure tale. She voices children and adults with equal ease and believability. She manages to propel fear and suspense into the novel once the children are cast at sea. Animal lovers will also enjoy the tale's tidbits of information on animal behavior.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great conservation minded story!, July 26, 2008

By 

Jennifer Kline (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dolphin Song (Audio CD)

Dolphin song is a really exciting story for young adults. I listened to the book with my daughter -we both loved it! We both didn't want to ever turn off the audiobook, because we got very involved in the action. The writing is top notch. Adults will enjoy the story just as much as children - its not dumbed down for kids, but is still really appropriate for them. My daughter said it was one of her favorites this year. She really loves animals, and the book will appeal to kids who love animals. The heroine - Martine, is best friends with a rare white giraffe, and finds herself in a dramatic tale of survival while on a boat tour off the coast of South Africa. You don't want to put the book down. If you want a smart thriller for kids, this book is perfect for you!