54 pages • 1 hour read
Karen HesseThe Music Of Dolphins
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1996A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Music of Dolphins by Karen Hesse follows Mila, a teenager raised by dolphins after surviving a plane crash, who is captured and taken to a Boston research facility. There, she learns to speak English, discovers a love for music, and makes new friends but struggles with the realization that the researchers do not have her best interests at heart. Mila ultimately seeks to return to her true home, the ocean. This book contains depictions of child abuse.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Music Of Dolphins by Karen Hesse is praised for its lyrical prose and emotional depth. Reviewers commend the unique narrative voice and compelling exploration of identity and belonging. Critics note some predictability in the plot and a wish for deeper secondary character development. Overall, it’s celebrated for its heartwarming story and introspective themes.
Who Should Read The Music Of Dolphins?
Fans of poetic, emotionally resonant narratives like those found in Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell and Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan will enjoy The Music of Dolphins by Karen Hesse. Middle grade readers who appreciate lyrical prose and stories about human connection with nature will be captivated.
RecommendedReading Age
10-14yearsLexile Level
560LBook Details
Animals
Fantasy
Realistic Fiction
Action / Adventure
Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Natural World: Animals