Three Blue Hearts, Lynne Kelly
Three Blue Hearts, Lynne Kelly
List: $18.00 | Sale: $12.60
Club: $9.00

Three Blue Hearts

Author: Lynne Kelly

Narrator: Jamie K. Brown

Unabridged: 5 hr 50 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/07/2025


Synopsis

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the bestselling author of Song for a Whale comes a deeply moving story about a boy, an octopus, and the extraordinary bond that changes their lives forever.

Max can’t seem to escape the big, looming shadow of his politician dad. But for the next few months, Max and his mom are going away to a quiet Texas beach town where Max can be someone else. Someone who doesn’t make dumb mistakes that embarrass his father—someone who knows how to be strong.

He stumbles on his fresh start right away, when he finds an injured octopus washed up onshore after a storm. With the help of a local wildlife center and a couple of new friends, Max rescues the octopus—who they name Ursula—and vows to take care of her until she’s ready to return to the sea.

But as their bond deepens and Max makes unexpected discoveries that turn his summer upside down, Max’s true strength will be put to the test. Can he keep his promise after all?

About The Author

Lynne Kelly is the award-winning and USA TODAY bestselling author of Song for a Whale, The Secret Language of Birds, and Three Blue Hearts. She lives with her dogs Abigail and Eloise near Houston, where she works as a sign language interpreter and writes books for kids.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Amanda (BookLoverAmanda) on October 18, 2025

Three Blue Hearts by Lynne Kelly 4 Stars Blog Post: [URL not allowed] This is a beautiful, heartfelt story about courage, empathy, and helping animals. I loved Song for a Whale and this was another great middle grade book by Lynne. Max is our main character, a young 12 year old bo......more

Goodreads review by Skye on October 07, 2025

This is a really great book with amazing intriguing chapters!!! Every part of this book is brilliant!!!! I recommend this to all ages!!......more

Goodreads review by Kelly on March 20, 2025

Thank you, to Netgalley for an eARC of this delightful book. Three Blue Hearts tells the story of Max, a young boy who is struggling to find his identity under the looming shadow of his prominent City Councilman father, and his seemingly endless blunders. When Max's mom is given the opportunity to d......more

Goodreads review by Eileen on October 12, 2025

This is my second book by this author, and I loved it just as much as the first one! I listened to this story which was wonderfully narrated by Jamie K. Brown and was hooked from the start. Max, aka Little Max, is getting ready to spend the summer at the beach with his mom, a scientist who studies s......more

Goodreads review by Melanie on August 26, 2025

What a great book for readers in grades 4-7 who love animals and a story that tugs at their heartstrings! Max is tired of living in his father’s very large shadow and never living up to his expectations, but a summer trip to LaFitte island while his mother completes a research project on hurricanes a......more


Quotes

"Kelly tells a gentle, sweet-hearted tale of a tween managing personal responsibility and finding his own voice." —Publishers Weekly

"An excellent fit for kids who like stories centering animals and friendship, this will appeal to fans of Pennypacker’s Pax and Kelly’s previous work, Song for a Whale." —The Bulletin

"Full of heart, a dash of science, and plenty of octopus antics, this story is a tender, bittersweet reminder that growth can come from the most unexpected of places. This quiet, heartfelt story will stay with readers long after the tide goes out." —Kirkus Reviews

"Boasting a combination of family dynamics, new friendships, animal husbandry, challenging choices, and coming of age, this will resonate with readers who enjoy diving into realistic fiction with a side of animal love." —Booklist

"Animal lovers should keep tissues handy....This heartfelt story showcases one boy’s coming of age, and the joys and sorrows of rescuing an animal." —School Library Journal