SuitabookIsabel of the whales
Hester Velmans
- Reading
- Read alongside discussion of belonging and responsibility. Pause after the ocean encounter to explore Isabel’s feelings, then revisit whether her mission changes how she sees herself.
- Themes
- Feeling ordinary and special: Isabel describes herself as a ‘plain old’ girl while believing she is destined to accomplish something special. The book?s stance on this remains unclear.
- Crossing between communities: Isabel lives among a whale pod, learns its ways and is expected to teach the whales about the human world. The book?s stance on this remains unclear.
- Worth knowing
- The opening adventure includes Isabel being sent into the ocean and unexpectedly encountering speaking whales. A child may appreciate knowing that peril and startling transformation are part of the premise.