Book Review

Dear Junior readers,

The Junior Observer from next week launches "Junior Readers' Club" to which we invite all you Junior Readers to join up! The Junior Readers' Club will have activities and competitions to encourage you to read and read and read more, for fun and to learn. Do join in!

One activity will be introducing books for you to read. We will introduce a book from Vijitha Yapa Bookshop and tell you about it in a "book review". You are also invited to write in and tell us about a book you have read and liked. Write up to 150 words and email your entries to [email protected] or post them to Lake House, 35, D.R. Wijewardane Mawatha, Colombo - 10.

NOTE: Vijitha Yapa Bookshop will give prizes for a write up about a book available in their bookshops. The best book review will receive a book as the first prize, and the second and third prizes will be gift vouchers from Vijitha Yapa Bookshop.

Hear the dolphins sing

Reviewed by Ryhanna Salie

The novel Dolphin Song by Lauren St. John is set in South Africa. It is about a school trip to Dugong Island. It explores the themes of friendship, the plight of an orphaned child, forgiveness, destiny and the relationship between humans and animals. The protagonist of the novel is an orphaned girl Martine Allen. She has a gift with animals where she is able to talk to them and communicate by other means.

The novel begins with the death of Martine's parents and her life with her grandmother Gwyn Thomas. She later makes friends with Grace, and she shares the secret of her special gift with animals with Grace. Martine's best friend is her pet giraffe Jemmy who she can talk to. Her school friends Claudius, Lucy, Nathan and Ben are also introduced.

Martine's gift with animals comes in handy when Claudius is kidnapped and she becomes a heroine for saving him with the help of the loveable dolphins.

The novel takes the reader on an adventure to the heart of Africa. It paints a moving picture of a girl who learns to survive.