comment on style / language

The language of Song For a Whale is very accessible, being that it is written from the perspective of a 12-year-old and is written for audiences in that age range. Kelly rarely describes settings in great depth unless they have direct narrative or symbolic resonance. The first-person perspective allows for an in-depth exploration of main character Iris's psychology, but the fact that she is only 12 years old means that things are seen from an adolescent's perspective at the same time. As such, even though Iris is emotionally mature for her age, much of the language still reflects the fact that she is only a child.