“This powerful exploration of how we become human and how the soul endures is a song of beauty and sorrow, haunting and unforgettable.” —School Library Journal (starred review)
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
A Book Links Best Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Children’s Title for Reading and Sharing
Mila becomes famous around the world when she is rescued from an unpopulated island off the coast of Florida. Years ago, Mila went missing from a boat crash, and she has been raised by dolphins from the age of four.
Researchers teach Mila language and music. But she also learns about rules and expectations, about locked doors and broken promises, disappointment and betrayal.
The more Mila finds out about what it means to be human, the more she longs for her home in the ocean . . .
“As moving as a sonnet, as eloquently structured as a bell curve, this book poignantly explores the most profound of themes—what it means to be human . . . All together, a frequently dazzling novel.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Her mind and spirit shaped by the dolphins who raised her, a feral child views herself and her human captors from a decidedly unusual angle in this poignant story . . . A probing look at what makes us human, with an unforgettable protagonist.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Mila’s rich inner voice makes her a lovely, lyrical character.” —VOYA Magazine
