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smit1286's review against another edition
4.0
Parts of this story were fantastically unrealistic, but the message was good and it gave my 3rd grader a little glimpse into the history of WW2.
lmn9812's review against another edition
4.0
A very sweet, classic-feeling MG book with a unique premise & great execution to boot.
booksrockcal's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A sweet story about a 6th grader in occupied Paris who befriends a whale that is lost in the Seine, just as D Day launches and Paris is being starved by the occupying Nazis. It’s an improbable story but one that teaches about hope, promises, friendship, and love. Not my usual type of story but I enjoyed it very much
krwriter8's review against another edition
5.0
A lower middle grade story about the power of friendship and love during WWII. I enjoyed the historical tidbits sprinkled throughout and Chantal's friendship with the whale was heartwarming. The parts about the war were grim without being too scary or graphic for an MG reader. Overall, a solid MG historical.
I received an ARC at ALA midwinter.
I received an ARC at ALA midwinter.
tiffani_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this story, and while it may not be on the believable side of historical fiction it is a story that kids would enjoy.
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
This is an interesting take on a WWII tale of a young French girl, Chantal, who spots and establishes a bond with a whale that's strayed from its pod and swum up the Seine River of Paris.
To many starving French under German Nazi occupation, it looks like an enormous meal! Fortunately (or unfortunately), it comes to the attention of the Nazis and eventually it -- and Chantal -- are given Nazi "protection."
Chantal knows, in her core, the river is nowhere big enough for the whale to survive. It's eating all the fishermen's catches already, and it will only get bigger.
But stranded from its pod, it won't leave her, either. There's only one thing left to do: lead it to the ocean, to freedom. Freedom, however, is one thing Chantal doesn't have, not on land, anyway.
Unless she's willing to take an enormous plunge.
I won't spoil how it ends. Enjoy!
And in case you're wondering, I couldn't find (in a cursory Google search) any evidence a whale of any kind has ever been sighted in the Seine, but the idea of one has been an artists' muse for more than just these two authors.
The idea of a whale swimming in the Seine has periodically captured artists' imaginations over the years, and they've erected a couple of interesting sculptures of whales along the Seine.
In 2015, a blue whale full-size replica was installed during a climate change conference along the Seine, as a reminder of endangered species all over the globe that needed protection. The article, "A Whale Sculpture in Paris Aims to Save Some Species," Dec. 8, 2015, is behind the NYT's paywall, but I couldn't find another version online. If you're a library patron, like I am, you may be able to access the NYT for free via the news database, Ebsco, but you'll need your library card to login (and you'll only be able to do so if your library subscribes).
And in 2017, an artist's installation of a sculpture of a beached sperm whale, complete with decaying-whale smell, along the Seine sparked quite a bit of publicity.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
To many starving French under German Nazi occupation, it looks like an enormous meal! Fortunately (or unfortunately), it comes to the attention of the Nazis and eventually it -- and Chantal -- are given Nazi "protection."
Chantal knows, in her core, the river is nowhere big enough for the whale to survive. It's eating all the fishermen's catches already, and it will only get bigger.
But stranded from its pod, it won't leave her, either. There's only one thing left to do: lead it to the ocean, to freedom. Freedom, however, is one thing Chantal doesn't have, not on land, anyway.
Unless she's willing to take an enormous plunge.
I won't spoil how it ends. Enjoy!
And in case you're wondering, I couldn't find (in a cursory Google search) any evidence a whale of any kind has ever been sighted in the Seine, but the idea of one has been an artists' muse for more than just these two authors.
The idea of a whale swimming in the Seine has periodically captured artists' imaginations over the years, and they've erected a couple of interesting sculptures of whales along the Seine.
In 2015, a blue whale full-size replica was installed during a climate change conference along the Seine, as a reminder of endangered species all over the globe that needed protection. The article, "A Whale Sculpture in Paris Aims to Save Some Species," Dec. 8, 2015, is behind the NYT's paywall, but I couldn't find another version online. If you're a library patron, like I am, you may be able to access the NYT for free via the news database, Ebsco, but you'll need your library card to login (and you'll only be able to do so if your library subscribes).
And in 2017, an artist's installation of a sculpture of a beached sperm whale, complete with decaying-whale smell, along the Seine sparked quite a bit of publicity.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
em_and_em's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book, a world war 2 story involving a whale and a girl who plays the ukulele for the whale, what more do you need? I would read this again.
imperfectcj's review
2.0
I wasn't willing to suspend enough disbelief to enjoy this middle-grade novel. Too many inaccuracies about whales and salmon, internal inconsistencies, and outlandish scenarios and coincidences. Cute cover, though, and good (if heavy-handed) lessons about judging people by their role/appearance.
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