A girl raised by dolphins must choose between two worlds in this critically acclaimed novel about what it means to be a human being. Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, SLJ Best Book of the Year, ALA Best Book for Young Adults.
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
"As moving as a sonnet, as eloquently structured as a bell curve," said PW in a starred review of this first-person novel by the Newbery Medalist about a girl who is raised by dolphins and studied by scientists. Ages 9-12.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8-This audio version of the book by Karen Hesse (Scholastic, 1969) is spellbinding. Mila has been raised by dolphins. When the Coast Guard discovers her, she is taken to a research facility and has to adjust to living with humans. She slowly acquires language and develops a love for music. Her love for music gives her insight into the human world yet allows her to remain connected to her dolphin world. Mila is very observant of her human caretakers and asks thought-provoking questions as to why humans behave as we do. The narration by Michele McHall and the original musical score enhance the story. McHall portrays the young Mila with a youthful voice; as Mila matures so does her voice. The musical score evokes the sounds of the sea and the dolphins. Mila will linger in the minds of listeners even when the tape is over. This extraordinary tale will enchant listeners and be popular in middle school and public libraries.
Ginny Harrell, William McGarrah Elementary School, Morrow, GA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.
Ginny Harrell, William McGarrah Elementary School, Morrow, GA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By Renee Howell
Format:Paperback
In the poignant story The Music of Dolphins a young girl named Mila survives a plane crash and lives with dolphins for about nine years. Then the coast guard finds her and takes her to a facility for study. Although she enjoys experiencing life as a human, she cannot deny her longing to return to the sea and her dolphin family. Eventually, she must return.
In this book, Hesse uses the first person point of view as a tool to show Mila's degree of human socialization. At the beginning of the book, the sentences and chapters are short; there are no paragraphs. These characteristics illustrate Mila's limited ability to vocalize because she has not acquired the language skills necessary to organize her dolphin-like thoughts. As she learns English, Mila uses elementary, disjointed speech. In addition to using simplistic words to convey this message, Hesse uses font size to further illustrate her point. The large font size in the first part of the book symbolizes Mila's degree of socialization. Also in the first few chapters, Mila uses observations with few expressions of feelings. For example, she says, "I like good" (8); "I like Sandy happy" (9); "I like to see the picture of dolphin" (11). These examples also illustrate her rudimentary language skills.
As the book continues, the sentences get longer, and paragraphs begin to form. By Chapter 23, Mila speaks in paragraphs. This shows how much Mila has learned. Also it denotes that she has reached a level that is more socially acceptable. Hesse now decreases the font size to what one would consider average. She also employs more complex expressions of feelings and ideas to indicate Mila's increased knowledge and language. For example, she says, "I love to use my hands. To play games, to make music . . . I like every little thing I am learning with my fingers and my toes" (83).
The turning point of the story is Chapter 29. Until this point, Mila has been content to live in a house with Doctor Beck and the others and learn human things like, playing games, sleeping in a bed, and wearing clothes. In this chapter, Mila decides she no longer wants to be human. She would rather return to the sea and the dolphins. At first, she just tries to be good and follow the rules, hoping that one day they'll let her leave. In Chapter 36, Mila has a talk with Justin in which he tells her that no matter how good she is Dr. Beck will not release her. She realizes then that she doesn't have to let Dr. Beck control her and that she can stand up for herself. After this point, Mila begins her journey back to her former life. Hesse reverses the changes made in font size, sentence length, paragraph length, and word complexity. This reversal symbolizes Mila's reversal to dolphin life.
Hesse uses font size and other structural methods effectively. She has transformed these overlooked aspects of writing into tools that convey her intended message with clarity and skill. I have never read a book with this type of strategy, and I found it to be quite rewarding. It speaks in a way that plain words cannot.
17 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"The Music of Dolphins" has been a fairly popular book with 5th and 6th grade girls in our elementary school library, so I decided to listen to the audio-book on cassette read by the actress Michele McHall.
Just as Karen Hesse starts the book with large print and simple language, McHall reads the first part of the book in a slow, halting and almost annoying high-pitched voice. My teenaged son--who normallly loves to listen to books on tape--was so annoyed by this, he quit listening within the first few chapters.
However, just as the font in the book gets smaller and the language gets smoother, McHall's version of Mila's voice becomes easier to listen to as Mila ajdusts to being removed from her dolphin family and living with scientists who teach her English and music, while they study her in hopes of learning dolphin language.
Both the book and the audio-book have an atmosphere that grows on you, and it's easy to get caught up in Mila's confusion, hopes, concern for another feral child, and stirrings of love. In the end, you're left to ponder the question of what it means to be a human. I think that's why this book is so deceptively simple, when it's really dealing with some pretty profound questions.
Although I'm troubled with Karen Hesse's conclusion that a girl raised by dolphins is more "human" than the humans who care for her and study her, it does force you to stop and think about what the good qualities in human beings should be like.
I think my son would agree that this is a "girl's book," but it's certainly one that deserves to be read, discussed and pondered.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Renaingr
Format:Paperback
I am writing this as a reply to the review entitled "OMG THIS BOOK WAS HORRIBLE."
This novel is not about it being a "true" story, which it isn't, but about the development of language and social communication and interaction.
An example case relative to Mila's predicament would be the case of Isabelle, who was discovered when she was 6 years old in a dark room, where her family kept her secluded from the world. She hadn't properly developed speech, nor did she have social experience.
The point is that as the book progresses, the author writes from Mila's perspective as she develops her language skills.
This novel is not about it being a "true" story, which it isn't, but about the development of language and social communication and interaction.
An example case relative to Mila's predicament would be the case of Isabelle, who was discovered when she was 6 years old in a dark room, where her family kept her secluded from the world. She hadn't properly developed speech, nor did she have social experience.
The point is that as the book progresses, the author writes from Mila's perspective as she develops her language skills.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gift
My daughter wanted this book to have on her own. She had to read this book for an English assignment. I thought the book was weird but she wanted it.
Published 8 days ago by Yvonne
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nostalgia
I've read this book probably ten times or more since I had it when I was very young and I never quite understood why I liked it so much. I guess I relate to the main character. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Cathy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fairly quick...
The reason I gave this 4 stars is because although I bought it "new", the book had noticeable scratches and wear on it, as well as a sticker.
Published 12 months ago by Cally
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Music of Dolphins
After Mila has lived on an unpopulated island for nine years, she is finally rescued and taken to people that will help her. Read more
Published 15 months ago by jvdm
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Dolphin Girl
Mila is found in an unpopulated island as a teenager. She's been raised by dolphins since a plane crash at the age of four. Read more
Published 15 months ago by |Karma|
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Music of Dolphins
I've had this book for a very long time. And I've probably read it about once a year. Even though its a children's book, it is very thought provoking. Read more
Published 20 months ago by M. Reynard
5.0 out of 5 stars
My daughter who hates to read loved it!!!
This book was a required summer reading for my daughter who hates to read. In an attempt to avoid procrastinating until the week before school starts to have the required reading... Read more
Published 23 months ago by T. Merrill
5.0 out of 5 stars
emotional and educational
I had read the music of the dolphins when i was just a young teen and recently i began to search for this book so i could revist the lingering memories i could never seem to... Read more
Published on February 21, 2011 by just another somebody
4.0 out of 5 stars
What does it mean to be "human?"
You have no memory of humanity. You've lived with dolphins your entire existence, according to your memory. You know you are different, but so is a dolphin missing a flipper. Read more
Published on September 6, 2010 by R Schmidt
1.0 out of 5 stars
Don't bother...
My son had to read this book at school (5th grade). He is an avid reader, and he reads all kind of books: Tolkien, Alan Garner, O'Henry, the list can go on an on. Read more
Published on December 9, 2009 by Natalia
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 11
books:
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58
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- Somewhere In The Darkness by Walter Dean Myers in Front Matter
- Afternoon of the Elves by Janet Taylor Lisle in Front Matter
- The Van Gogh Cafe by Cynthia Rylant in Front Matter
- Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse in Back Matter
- Phoenix Rising by Karen Hesse in Back Matter
See all 11 books this book cites
- Teen Library Events: A Month-by-Month Guide (Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides for Young Adult Librarians Series) by Kirsten Edwards on page 15, page 120, and Back Matter
- Teaching Story Writing: Quick and Easy Literature-Based Lessons and Activities That Help Students Write Super Stories by Joan Novelli on page 9, page 12, and page 15
- The Van Gogh Cafe (Apple Signature Edition) by Cynthia Rylant in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- More Literature Circles: Cooperative Learning for Grades 3-8 by Mimi Neamen on page 35, and page 45
- Out Of The Dust by Karen Hesse in Front Matter, and Back Matter
See all 58 books citing this book
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