The Coast Guard is shocked when they rescue a child from the waters off Florida. Her long, wild hair and the barnacles attached to her skin initially lead them to think that they have discovered a mermaid. However, they are even more amazed to discover that this is a young girl that has been raised by dolphins after losing her family at sea. They name her Mila. Eager to learn more about this child, as well as the marine environment she was raised in, scientists take her to Boston University to be studied. Here Mila learns about her human body and mind, including the joys of using her hands, the ability to communicate with words, and most of all, the gift of playing music. But soon Mila learns that there is a darker side to humans, a manipulative nature that often frustrates her. She is torn between her new life with these confusing creatures and her longing to return to her uncomplicated dolphin family. "As moving as a sonnet, as eloquently structured as a bell curve, this book poignantly explores what it means to be human."- Publishers Weekly, starred review
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"This book is about a teenage girl lost on an island but is now raised by a family of dolphins. They traet her like there her own ,but Mila was not always Mila also not raised by dolphines.It all started with when was was a little girl, her and her family was on a plain .The plain chreashed and only Mila laeft.Now she is stuck on the island , one day an helicopter was flying across the island.Coming for Mila rescue,they had her leaning music,and how to speeck.When she got there she was not the only child there was lots of kids for her to play with.She talk on and on about what happends to her every day, hoping she chould go back to the ocsen."
— Tcj112 (5 out of 5 stars)
" This book is very easy to read and follow. "
— Jen, 2/6/2014" This book is about a girl that is lost at sea. She lives with the dolphins and they take care of her. But, when the humans come to rescue her, does she want to be taken away to learn new things? "
— Josie, 1/27/2014" this pore girl was raised by dolphins since she was 4 years old and was taken away from her "pod of dolphins" by humans!!! "
— CoralStar, 1/26/2014" A strange tale of a young girl raised by dolphins and "imprisioned" so she may be studied after she is resued from a deserted island. She longs to return to the sea while she is being taught how to live a a human. A great read for young to tween age children and then discuss the events, compare and contrast on what the readers think. "
— Debbie, 1/21/2014" A Great book. It stimulates my imagination. But not so much enjoyable. I cannot decide what is good for Mila. "
— Rika, 1/9/2014" At the age of 4 yr a girl alone survives a plane crash off an island near Miami. She isn't rescued but is raised by dolphins, until the age of 12 or so when she is found and taken from the world she knows. A doctor and her team teach Mila english and introduce her to a world she doesn't know while trying to learn her holphin clicks and noises. While Mila makes progess, her ultimate goal is to return to her dolphin mother and the ocean she loves. "
— Vicki, 1/7/2014" I don't like there mammals but it was a really good story "
— Kenzie, 12/29/2013" Whenever a girl comes into the library and needs something "good" to read I tend to go to this book a lot. Love the premise of the story...young girl being saved and raised by dolphins, saved by mankind, and then treated as an oddity. Very fast read! "
— Staci, 12/29/2013" Great book for 8ish year olds "
— Kim, 12/25/2013" This was way below my reading level. It was a quick read and enjoyable. The plot was interesting. "
— Rosie, 12/19/2013" I really enjoyed reading this book, and i have learned no one can be truly and completely changed. Also you cant take something wild, and try to tame it. And finally you cant make someone do something they dont want to do. I would recommend this book for anyone! "
— Isabelle703, 12/15/2013" I read this to my young elemntary class and some kids that went to the summer reading camp at the local library I worked at during the summer. They all loved it and wished they didn't have to wait until the next day to find out what happened next. "
— Trisha, 12/1/2013" I really enjoyed the book and the style it was written in. "
— lola, 10/24/2013" Music of the dolphins is a good book to read! I think it is awesome! I really enjoyed reading it, because it was really exciting and fun to hear about Mila's story and how she reacted even though she is a human! "
— Cindy, 9/24/2013" The language of this book is amazingly beautiful. "
— Terry, 9/18/2013" Good. But kinda sad "
— Orla, 9/3/2013" I read this like 2 summers ago and it was really confusing. But I think it would be better now. "
— Alissa, 9/1/2013" I loved this when I was little!! "
— Sadie, 8/22/2013" Music of the Dolphins was recommended to me from a friend and when I asked her how it was like she said it was different. When I finished reading it, I knew what she meant; it was a really unique story, it kind of surprised me at first because I never had read anything so original. "
— Marina, 6/18/2013" Haley asked me to read this. Good story for young and old. "
— Jwolfe5, 6/13/2013" this book was especcially interesting becuause as Mila learns to talk better, the writing in the book makes more sense and she strats to use bigger words. "
— Samantha, 4/25/2013" it was a really good book, it was very touching and interesting. "
— Fashiongirlgoldberg, 11/23/2012" This book is very descriptive and very original. It is about a girl who lives with dolphins in the water. In the style of Island Of The Blue Dolphins. "
— Mollie, 9/6/2012" Great read. Great story. "
— Rusty, 5/6/2012" very good for animal lovers and futre human behaviorists "
— Maddie, 3/28/2012" we are only people, but we can be taught, to learn above our expectations, and learn and become, the things around us we just need to open our minds and belive we can do it. "
— Rachel, 11/20/2011" This book was great, fast read but a great one. About a girl who gets braught up by dolphins when people find her and try to teach her to be human inside her she thinks like a dolphins. At the end all she wants to do is go home back to her dolphin family. "
— Ashlynn, 9/26/2011" This is easily on the list of my favorite books I have ever read. It is definitely, in my opinion, one of the best-written. It is unbelievably beautiful. I cried so hard, especially at the description of her time living with dolphins :') "
— Alexandra, 9/20/2011" People who did not like this book probably did not read it using a child's eyes. Well, I did! And I enjoyed it so. "
— Nojood, 7/26/2011" this was a beautiful and has a complicated main character. "
— LaLaLand13, 6/26/2011" This was my first favorite book. Sadly this assessment of the book was mostly based on the fact that it is about a girl that lives with dolphins. It's a sound book and everything just not particularly moving. "
— Amelia, 5/23/2011" Pretty good ! Easy read .. "
— Emily, 5/16/2011" Music of the dolphins is a good book to read! I think it is awesome! I really enjoyed reading it, because it was really exciting and fun to hear about Mila's story and how she reacted even though she is a human! "
— Cindy, 2/2/2011" This book is OK... if you are 3 "
— Katie, 2/1/2011" I think they should make a movie for this! "
— Maria, 1/26/2011" I loved this book...it was beautifully haunting. <br/> Mila touches you as she describes trying to <br/> become "human" while at the same time not <br/> lose her "dolphin" self. You can almost <br/> hear her music!!! "
— Linda, 1/26/2011" A really beautiful gem of a story that's still one of my favorites. The story and the themes are wonderful and still make me cry sometimes. I love this book. "
— Jess, 1/17/2011" This book was really interesting. "
— Chaeyeon, 1/16/2011" It's been a long time I read this but I still can remember that it's cool "
— Yeonju, 1/16/2011" This is an amazing book! "
— Roshni, 1/1/2011Karen Hesse is the author of some fifteen books for children, and was recently awarded a prestigious MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” for her contribution to literature for children and young adults. Her many novels have garnered considerable success, including the Sydney Taylor Award, the IRA/YA Award, 5 Notable Books for Children, 4 Best Books for Young Adults, and the Newberry Medal. Hesse has spent many years promoting her books to the school market, and is well-known in classrooms throughout the country. She and her husband, Randy, live in Brattleboro, Vermont.