The Music of Dolphins facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Karen Hesse |
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| Cover artist | Greg Harlin |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children novel |
| Publisher | Scholastic Press |
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Publication date
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1996 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 181 |
| ISBN | 0-590-89797-7 |
The Music of Dolphins is a children's book written by Karen Hesse. It tells the story of a girl named Mila. She was raised by a group of dolphins near the Florida Keys and the Caribbean. Mila's name comes from the Spanish word milagro, which means "miracle."
The book shows Mila learning the English language. When she is with the dolphins, the writing looks different. This shows her thoughts before she can speak English. As Mila learns English, the words become simpler. Then, as her feelings grow, the writing gets more complex. If she misses the dolphins, it goes back to simple English. Most of the book is told by Mila herself. Sometimes, you'll see newspaper articles or other writings from a different point of view.
Even though this story is fiction, it's based on real experiences. It uses ideas from people who have worked with children raised outside of human society.
Mila's Amazing Journey: A Summary
Mila, a girl raised by dolphins, is found and brought to a science center. She learns very quickly. There, she meets Shay, another child who was also raised away from humans. Mila thinks they are alike because they are both different. Shay is a very quiet girl.
As time passes, Mila starts to love music. She also develops feelings for Justin, Doctor Beck's son. Mila wonders why she learns so fast, but Shay does not. Later, Shay moves to another home with other children. Sandy, one of Mila's caregivers, explains something important. Most children raised like Mila stop learning at some point. But Mila keeps growing and learning.
Soon, Mila feels her new knowledge slipping away. She starts to feel more like a dolphin again. She asks to go back to the ocean. After much discussion, her caregivers agree. Mila returns to the ocean and finds her dolphin family once more.
Meet the Characters
Here are the main characters you'll meet in The Music of Dolphins:
Mila: The Dolphin Girl
Mila is the main character. She was raised by dolphins. Scientists find her on a small island called a cay. They take her to a research center. Doctor Beck helps Mila learn to speak English and live like a human. Mila later learns her real name might be Olivia. She also finds out her father, who is Cuban, is still alive.
Doctor Beck: Mila's Helper
Doctor Beck is the main doctor caring for Mila. She helps Mila learn to speak and understand human life.
Shay: Mila's Quiet Friend
Shay is a young girl who becomes Mila's friend. Shay was kept alone in Idaho before coming to the center. Later, she moves from the research center to a foster home.
Justin: Doctor Beck's Son
Justin is Doctor Beck's son. At first, he feels a bit jealous of Mila. He thinks his mom gives Mila too much attention. Later, he tells Mila that his mom's interest is more scientific than like a family. However, Justin and Mila grow close and fall in love.
Sandy: The Understanding Friend
Sandy is a friend of Doctor Beck. She sometimes helps care for Mila. Mila feels that Sandy understands her the most.
Mr. Aradondo: The Janitor
Mr. Aradondo works as a janitor at the facility. He seems a bit scared of Mila at first. But he shows he cares when Mila gets a high fever. He reminds Mila of her grandfather.
Doctor Troy and Doctor Peach: The Teachers
These doctors are friends of Doctor Beck. They also help Mila and Shay learn about music and the English language.
The Dolphins: Mila's First Family
These are the dolphins who raised Mila. Her dolphin mother has a spotted tail. She has wise eyes. She had lost her own baby dolphin just before finding Mila.
How the Book Shows Mila's Journey
Karen Hesse uses different writing styles in the book. This helps show Mila's thoughts and feelings. It also gives the reader extra information.
Changing Fonts for Mila's Voice
The way the words look changes as Mila learns English.
- When Mila knows no language, a smaller, italic font is used. This shows her thoughts before she can speak English.
- As Mila starts to learn English, the font changes. It becomes larger and looks more blocky. This shows that she is new to the language.
- The font keeps changing as Mila learns more. It gets smaller when her understanding of language becomes more complex.
- Near the end of the book, Mila starts to forget what she learned. The font style helps you see this happen. The very end of the story uses the small, flowing italic font again. This suggests Mila has let go of human language. She is ready to return to the dolphins.
Different Ways of Telling the Story
The book also includes different types of writing. This helps give you more information.
- At the start, there's a newspaper article. It describes how the coast guard found Mila. This helps you understand how Mila ended up at the research center.
- Much of the beginning of the book is spoken conversations. This shows how Mila is discovering language. It also shows her learning how to be human.
- Later, the book includes journal entries written by Mila. These journals show that Mila's understanding of language has grown. They also give you more of Mila's thoughts.
