The Song of the Whales

The Song of the Whales was originally written in Hebrew by Uri Orlev and translated into English by Hillel Halkin.  I read this book as it was one of our nominated books for the Virginia Reader's Choice Committee (and therefore any opinions expressed are my own and not of the committee).

Here is the summary from Goodreads:
 Michael’s grandfather has a secret—a secret that’s almost too strange to share . . .

When Michael moves to Israel, he leaves loneliness behind and steps into the light of his grandfather’s magic. Like a sorcerer’s apprentice, Michael learns how to blur the lines between dreams and reality when his grandfather hands down the most precious of gifts—a gift that allows Michael passage into his grandfather’s dreams.

Written with a quiet simplicity that wins the reader over at once Uri Orlev writes in a style so sure and yet so unassuming that it is certain to linger in reader’s minds long after turning the last page.

If I can be honest with you, I really don't know what to say about this book.  I didn't dislike it, but I also didn't think it was that fabulous.  I can see how others might like it, but I don't think it was for me.
The characters had depth, even though it was a short book.  The story was interesting and not as confusing as I thought it would be (though there were parts that I had to reread), and I did get a little misty-eyed when Michael (or Mikha'el's) grandfather started getting sick, but I really just didn't get into it.  So I really don't know what it was, I just wasn't "hooked".

I think what I liked the most was the cover....its just so calm looking....

I'll gladly have it in my classroom and talk about it with my students if they ask my about it, but I'm not sure if I'd do more than that.