The River Whale

by Sita Brahmachari

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens

Paperback

Published February 25, 2021

About the author

Sita was born in Derby in 1966, to an Indian doctor from Kolkata and an English nurse from the Lake District. She has a BA in English Literature and an MA in Arts Education. Her many projects and writing commissions have been produced in theatres, universities, schools and community groups throughout Britain and America. ARTICHOKE HEARTS is her first novel for young people. Sita lives and works in North London with her husband, three children and a temperamental cat.

Reviews

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Beautifully written, moving, heartwarming, and to create such a story with characters you really feel for and root for in such a short amount of words is phenomenal

[Denise Forrest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost the first half of the story was a description of Immy’s dream. This was beautifully written and gave the story a somewhat magical feel, but I was keen to just get on with the story.

The story then goes on to describe the rescue of a whale stuck in the Thames. I would have preferred the author to have included more detail in this part of the story and to have placed less emphasis on the dream sequence.

I liked the characters and believe they have featured in another story by the same author. I would be keen to read more about them, but not sure I like the author’s style enough to read a full length novel.

[Kell · Rating 3 out of 5]

52 Book Challenge 2021
#33 Featuring adoption

This is one of the World Book Day releases, and as such, is a very quick read aimed, I would say, at middle-school aged children.

The story of Immy, who wants to be a marine biologist, and is about to take her diving exam, is told partly in prose, and partly in poetry, and it is very lyrical as a result. Although the tale is quite simple (one of overcoming obstacles, both physical and emotional, and finding connections with family), it is beautifully told, and leaves one with a sense of peace when the final page is turned.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

So lovely to reacquaint yourself with familiar characters in World Book Day books! I loved Sita Brahmachari’s When Secrets Set Sail so I was very happy to read this follow up adventure featuring Immy & Cosmo. The mixture of poetry & prose works well and there’s a strong ecological message to the story.

[BookBairn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book feels like it is missing a lot of back story which means either you need to read the previous novel to fully understand it or it didn’t work as a very short verse novel without the room to develop the characters. I plan to read the first novel and I think it would change my rating on this book. But for now I can only give it two stars based on the beautiful language.

[Esther · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this at all. It was too short, too much poems, made no sense and had weird characters. So don't recommend. I guess there kind of was a plot. I'm putting this in the reading challenge but I'm going to make it bigger cause that's cheating.

[_taysversion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was soo good!! At first I had no clue what I was reading because it wasn't talking with full sentences but then I figured out it was a dream. If you enjoy middle-grade short books then I would definitely recommend you read this!!!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant story and quick to read this book.
A great addition to the world book day series.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book!

[Rachel Hinds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely little book which carries you through a vibrant dream and exciting adventure.

[Shahrun · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is part poetry, part traditional story, blended with illustrations which makes for an interesting reading experience.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing- it did not work as a verse novel for me.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the balance of poetry and prose, the themes and the adventure! 5/5

[Helene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only started really understanding it around half way through...

[Heidi Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely short read for World Book Day 2021

[Jas Shearsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant book with a wonderful concept. A couple of mistakes missed by whoever edited it though!

[Mudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!
I loved the story, the poetry, the imagery and the message within.
This little book really is a work of art

[Darki Android · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for how short it is.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cool book of overcoming your own fears, magic, finding your place in both families and the world. Diving goodness and whales caught by the rubbish of people. We need to take better care of our environments for the nature that lives there!

[Alyce Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The River Whale is the most interesting of the World Book Day 2021 stories. With luxurious illustrations of ocean life sprawling across each page, Sita Brahmachari's short story immerses you in the world that she's created, but it's definitely not going to be to everyone's taste. The blend of verse and prose made it feel disjointed - something which I personally enjoyed, because of the blend between dreams and reality in this story - but I wouldn't have liked it when I was younger, so I think it's missing the mark a little bit as a World Book Day release.

Read for our World Book Day 2021 reading vlog.

[LandmineCat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this for £1 off a world book day promo shelf. Half short story, half long poem, all enjoyable. 3.5 stars

[EdenB15 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didnt enjoy this but was free