The Longest Whale Song

by Jacqueline Wilson, Nick Sharratt (Illustrator)

Ella's mother ends up in a coma after giving birth to her new baby brother and Ella is forced to make her peace with her new stepdad. At school, she loses a best friend and copes with a bully, but her new friend Joseph shares her enthusiasm for whales and becomes an unexpected source of support.

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade, Fiction, Contemporary, Young Adult, Animals, Novels

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Jacqueline Wilson was born in Bath in 1945, but spent most of her childhood in Kingston-on-Thames. She always wanted to be a writer and wrote her first ‘novel’ when she was nine, filling in countless Woolworths’ exercise books as she grew up. As a teenager she started work for a magazine publishing company and then went on to work as a journalist on Jackie magazine (which she was told was named after her!) before turning to writing novels full-time.

One of Jacqueline’s most successful and enduring creations has been the famous Tracy Beaker, who first appeared in 1991 in The Story of Tracy Beaker. This was also the first of her books to be illustrated by Nick Sharratt. Since then Jacqueline has been on countless awards shortlists and has gone on to win many awards. The Illustrated Mum won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award, the 1999 Children’s Book of the Year at the British Book Awards and was also shortlisted for the 1999 Whitbread Children’s Book Award.

Double Act won the prestigious Smarties Medal and the Children’s Book Award as well as being highly commended for the Carnegie Medal. The Story of Tracy Beaker won the 2002 Blue Peter People’s Choice Award.

Jacqueline is one of the nation’s favourite authors, and her books are loved and cherished by young readers not only in the UK but all over the world. She has sold millions of books and in the UK alone the total now stands at over 35 million!

In 2002 Jacqueline was awarded the OBE for services to literacy in schools and from 2005 to 2007 she was the Children’s Laureate. In 2008 she became Dame Jacqueline Wilson.

Reviews

[Ann Marron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a brilliant book. Narrated in the first person by Ella, it is the story of a snapshot of her life and how she struggles to cope when her mum falls ill. Ella is left with her stepdad, Jack, who she does not like and refuses to get on with. The issues of family life and bullying are dealt with in a simple yet very efficient manner by Wilson. The one fault I found is that I felt it ended too abruptly, which results in the reader feeling that the story is unfinished. It would have been nice to find out what happened to Ella and her family in the end. I would certainly recommend this book to 9-11 year olds.

[Marashi Narges]

خب واقعا زمان خودش پنج بود.چون یادمه اینو دخترعموم بهم عیدی داد و فک کنم اول دبیرستان اینطورا بودم..و تودلم میگفتم خب این خیلی کتاب کودکه که!ولی وقتی خوندمش واقعا دوستش داشتم و سادگیش برام دلنشین بود و واقعا فک میکنم توی هر سنی که باشم همیشه از کتاب کودک استقبال خواهم کرد:)))

[HAMiD · Rating 4 out of 5]

سرم را دوباره روی بالش می گذارم و سعی می کنم هم زمان با مامان نفس بکشم. مامان به کندی نفس می کشد و کار من سخت می شود. به نهنگ هایی فکر می کنم که شناکنان تا آن پایین ها می روند و برای هوا گرفتن دوباره بر می گردند بالا
در گوشش می گویم: "بیا بالا برای هواگیری مامان" اما چشم هایش بسته است و همین جور در خواب خودش شناور است

پری ی عزیزم سپاس از پیشنهادت
1397/04/31

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one amazing book. I love everything about it e.g features and the wonder of this story. This book is about a young girl called Ella whose mother falls into a coma following the birth of Samson and is in hospital. There's loads of facts as well as just a normal story. This has to be my favourite Jacqueline Wilson book so far. This book made me feel relaxed and calm but most of all this book really touched my heart. Ella is a wonderful character in this book. Although it has no pictures, this book doesn't need any photographs or anything like that because it is a wonderful book just how it is with or without photographs. This made my heart race so fast I thought it was gonna stop. Hope you enjoy this book just like I did. You have to read this fantastic book.

[Philippa Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

the result of a blind book purchase - thank you lincoln book club.

not sure becoming obsessed with whales is a typical reaction to your mum being in a coma but whatever floats your boat. not my favorite jacqueline wilson book.

[Elena Traduzioni Oceano Mare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird book. It actually talks about whales for a total of not even 2 pages. The rest of the story is something completely different, and the role of the whales in it could have been taken by cats, dogs, dolphins, or any other mammal who has a voice and makes sounds.
If the purpose was to get kids interested in whales I think the book does a very poor job because the whales are absolutely marginal to the story line, which involves a girl whose mom is in the hospital, and so all the emotions tied to the situation overshadow 100 % the whale topic.
Actually whales don't even show up in the story until after you are half way through the book.
The story line, for what it is, is not bad, it goes fast and it's entertaining, just very sad for a kid's book.
Maybe with a different title it would have made a lot more sense, but like this, whoever buys it thinking it's a story about whales will be for sure disappointed.

[Batul · Rating 3 out of 5]

بد نبود. داستانش خوب بود و مناسب بچه های اوایل دوره نوجوانی، شاید از 9 تا 13 سال. خصوصا اگه مشکلات خانوادگی مثلا جدایی والدین یا بیماری اونها رو داشته باشن. البته خب شاید از نظر یه بچه تو اون سن حجمش زیاد به نظر بیاد ولی در واقع حجمش کمتره و به خاطر قطعی که افق انتخاب کرده برای کتابهای نوجوانش تعداد صفحه هاش زیاد شده. من سه چهار ساعته خوندمش. و اینکه خیلی برای افق زشته که این همه کتابشون غلط تایپی داره :-/

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 10 year old self: This is a great book! It's about a normal, young girls life, but when her mother comes down with a sickness, things are everything but normal. Through the journey, friends are lost and made, bullies make everything bad, a baby brother is delivered into the world, after school club takes place, and a whale project is made.

[Leila Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most beautiful book. I remember how my mum used to read it to me, and how we both cried throughout at how touching it was. When I was young it really spoke to me, and it was a book I read again and again, whenever I wanted to feel strong. I can’t recommend it enough.

[Mrs. Watermelon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this when I was 8/9 years old. It has stuck with me because it is such a heartwarming story.

[Reham Elkomy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
15/2/2025

[Emme · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was amazing

[Leah_reads08 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite Jacqueline Wilson book

[Masoome · Rating 3 out of 5]

این کتاب در صورتی رمان نوجوانه که بگیم کتاب "زندگی در پیش رو" هم رمان نوجوانه!!

این اولا!

دوم این که داستان کتاب درباره دختریه به اسم الا که مادرش(سو) موقع زایمان می ره توی کما (و هپی اند طوری، آخرش هم شفا می گیره!) و کل کتاب، راجع به دو هفته زندگی الا به همراه ناپدری و برادر نوزادشه.

کل کتاب درباره جلب ترحم های الا، دعوا و فحاشی هاش به ناپدریش، دعواش با دوست های صمیمی ش، گریه های خودش و ناپدریش، شلختگی و هیچ کاری نکردنش! و خشونتش بود.

+ چرا می گم مناسب نوجوان نیست؟
اول این که اگر یه موقع قرار باشه مادر یه نوجوان یه بچه ی دیگه به دنیا بیاره، احتمالا بعد از خوندن این کتاب اون بچه از نگرانی دق می کنه! چون چندین بار گفته شده که احتمالا از کما بیرون نمیاد و این چیزا...
دوم این که سو اول باردار می شه و بعد ازدواج می کنه و چندین بار تا آخر کتاب به این موضوع اشاره می شه.
سوم این که بارها و بارها خانوم ها و آقایون همدیگه رو بغل و بوس می کنن، مثلا دوست سو، ناپدری الا رو بغل می کنه و کلی موردهای این شکلی.
الا پدرش رو که خودش داره با یه خانوم دیگه زندگی می کنه، مجبور می کنه مادرش رو که شوهر داره ببوسه و اون هم این کار رو می کنه! الا فکر می کنه این بوسه می تونه مادرش رو نجات بده!!
دوست صمیمی الا یه دوست دیگه پیدا کرده و و الا هم می ره با دو تا پسر دوست می شه. اون ها برای هم یادداشت می نویسن و آخرش یادداشت هایشان می نویسن: بوس بوس!
یکی از موردای دیگه ش هم اینه که -روم به دیوار واقعا- دوست سو براش "لباس خواب نازک مشکی زیبا" می خره که توی بیمارستان بهش بپوشونن. توضیح می ده که این لباسیه که سو دوست داشته تو ماه عسلش بپوشه!! و همسر سو می گه فعلا بهش نمی پوشونیم چون وقتی خوشگل می شه می خوام کنار خودم باشه!

تازه موردهایی مثل این که برای معاینه و وقتی بچه رو میارن پیش سو اون رو برهنه می کنن و اینا هم زیاد داشت... کلا به نظرم خیلی غربی بود و حتی شاید نوجوان غربی هم چنین کتاب هایی نخونه -_-

الان که خوب فکر می کنم می بینم کتاب چیز زیادی بهم نداد. شاید دو تا ستاره هم بسش بود!

[Elaheh · Rating 5 out of 5]

همه‌ی کتاب‌هایی که تا حالا از جکلین ویلسون خوندم عالی بودن. موضوعاتی که انتخاب می‌کنه واقعا خوبن و نحوه‌ی پرداختنش داستان رو خیلی بهتر می‌کنه. اینکه شخصیت اول همه‌ی کتاب‌ها دخترهای نوجوان هستند خیلی برام جذابه. یادمه وقتی که خودم نوجوان بودم دوست داشتم کتابی پیدا کنم که قهرمانش شبیه من باشه و هیچ کتابی نبود که حتی قهرمانش همسن من باشه. یا پسر بودن یا بزرگسال بودن. ازینکه الان چنین کتاب‌هایی برای نوجوان‌ها هست خیلی خوشحالم.
کتاب به شدت جذابه. اول شخصه و احساسات یه نوجوون رو خیلی روون بیان می‌کنه. جا داره از مترجم هم تشکر کنم بابت ترجمه‌ی خوبش که باعث شده حس کتاب از بین نره.
همیشه از خوندن کتاب نوجوان لذت برده‌ام و هنوز هم همینطور هستم. به ویژه کتاب‌های جکلین ویلسون.
به ��ونایی که داستان نوجوان دوست دارند و البته به همه‌ی دخترهای نوجوان توصیه می‌شود :)

[Rebecca Stonehill · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I could do halves, I would give this book 4 and a half stars. The book is about a girl who's mum is having a baby and the labour doesn't work out that well so she has to go to hospital and ends up staying there for ages. The girl keeps sending her letters and once, she sends a letter all about whales and she wrote 'Did you know mum that the longest song ever sung (by a whale) went up to twenty-three hours!

(Review by Maya, age 8, Rebecca's daughter)

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best books I have read. This book describes the challanges of life and really entertains the reader. Once you start reading this, you can never stop. Throughout the story You'll be like, Whats going to happen next?

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently reading it and think it is amazing! I love how Jacqueline has set it out, I think its perfect and would reccomend it to anyone!!

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i cried at the end such a happy ending

[Bonnie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put the book down. Loved the ending!

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember how excited I was when I got this! In fact, that applied for all her books! : D It also inspired me to write a short story of my own.

[Hannah ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still remember a chubbier version of myself crying my heart out reading this book.

[TheBabyGarnet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is my first four star review because quite frankly enough, There was something to it that was stopping me giving a five star rating because the ending wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Ella and her stepdad jack were not good friends at all at the beginning. When Ella’s mum sue is in a coma after having her new born son Samson, they begin their friendship one hospital visit a time. Samson is still in the nursery in the hospital, even though sue is still in a coma, Jack and Ella have to take him back even when his mum isn’t there to care for him so Ella is doing a role she never thought she would be taking. Ella hated school, she always got bullied and no one likes her apart from her best friend, Sally. She only wanted to be friend’s with sally and nobody else. Her deadly enemy according to Ella is Martha. Martha made me think of Martha Stewart but I know she wasn’t referring to her. Ella didn’t want to go to after school club because Martha was there so she was begging jack not to take her at all. Then when Ella was stranded in the playground because jack was late to pick Ella up, she was forced by her teacher miss Anderson to go to after school club and jack said it was a good idea. When the next day of school came, Ella wasn’t excited to have to play with Martha. Ella had a whale book for her mum. Ella took the whale book to after school club. When Ella arrived, Ella tried to be fine with Martha when she had a fight with her. Ella makes Martha’s nose bleed and Martha makes a big scratch on Ella’s face. Mrs Matthew, (one of the teachers of the after school club) nearly suspended them from the club because of their behaviour.sue was listening to them via a iPod that aunt liz gave them to borrow. with the sounds of whales and as Ella put it “they were singing love songs”. Overall, the quality of the book was endless in my opinion. Ella was quite a brat at times but then over time I felt for her. I like jack though because of the jokes he makes and he tries to be nice to Ella even though she isn’t nice to him back. But I think jack was a brat at times too. Four star rating from me but it is still a lovely read and a brilliant book to make you think, is sue going to wake up?? So I’m pretty pleased with it and I think that this will be forever one of my favourite books from Jacqueline Wilson. Another great book from Jacqueline Wilson!

[Felicity Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is an AMAZING book personally I think it is one of her best books it had a lot of ups and downs but eventually it all started to go in the right direction overall an incredible and interesting story.

[Chloe Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so sad, and the ending was really very cute.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of best jaquline wilson books

[From Heaven With Love · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lmao I read this a few years ago and I remember DNFing it... I found it sO boring... And maybe... Uf u like boring stories, ull like it XD

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I read this just a tiny bit too old for the target audience? I don't know, all I know was eleven year old me was very meh about this book. Okay, but definitely not my favourite Wilson book

[Chloe Reads Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very powerful little book. I even had a little cry.

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was a delight. I don't think there was ever any doubt, considering I've read nearly every single thing Jacqueline Wilson has written. I don't think I'll ever stop.