Review: The Longest Whale Song by Jacqueline Wilson

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Ella’s mum is in a deep coma, having just had a new baby. That means Ella has to live with Jack, her hopeless stepfather, and cope with her tiny newborn brother, as well as worrying about Mum. The only thing that’s going right is her school project. It’s all about whales and how they sing out to each other to attract a mate – sometimes for hours. Maybe a whale song could reach Mum, wherever she is, and bring her back to Ella and baby Samson. Surely it’s worth a try?

MY TAKE:
I remember liking the Girls in Love show, so I thought I might like this book too.

In The Longest Whale Song, Ella's mom has gone into a coma after giving birth to her half-brother. Unfortunately, this means that it's just her, her stepfather Jack and her half-brother Samson. Things feel like they're starting to fall apart quickly for Ella. Will it ever be okay again?

I had mixed feelings about this book. Well, rather, I liked the plot, the story, and the realism of most of the characters and their reactions. The book certainly brought back memories of my own childbirth experience when I spiked a high fever immediately after the Cesarean Section and had to stay in the recovery room for a while. The ending, too, while as I predicted, didn't feel contrived and unsatisfying.

So what did I dislike about this book? Ella. There were times when she was okay but a lot of times, she just annoyed me. There were several times wherein she acted like such a spoiled brat. That's not cool at all. It's a good thing that it sort of works with the rest of the book, otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered reading the rest of it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Publisher UK for the e-copy.

THE GOOD:

1. The characters are realistic.
2. The bond between parent and child is well-fleshed out.
3. It's a relatively compelling read.

THE BAD:

1. Ella acts like a spoiled brat sometimes. 

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

Jack goes to find his camera, fusses around, choosing all kinds of angles, and eventually focuses, bending right over the baby. Samson focuses too. A sudden spurt of wee arches up and splashes all over Jack's chest.

READ IT IF:

1. Your child has a stepparent.
2. Your child is having difficulty dealing with her friends at school.
3. You have a new baby in the house. 

RATING:


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