Whale Talk by Chris Cutcher

Title: Whale Talk

Author: Chris Crutcher

Publish Date: April 2001

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Pages: 224pp

ISBN: 0688180191

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Sports

Age Range: 12 and up

Price: $15.95$17.99

Amazon: $8.99

Annotation: T.J. Jones is an adopted, multiracial, high school boy who is highly intelligent and athletically gifted.  Hating the way organized athletics works, T.J. refuses to participate, until he decides to form a swimming team of his own with the less than popular students. 

Summary: T. J. Jones is an adopted boy of a multicultural background (black, Japanese, and white).  Athletics come natural for T.J., yet he chooses not to participate on the organized teams at school—he hates being told what to do. One day, he decides he wants to form a swimming team with all the outcast in school but there is one problem, the school does not have a pool and T.J. wants everyone to earn a letter.

Evaluation: Chris Crutcher combines sports and personal development flawlessly.  This is my second Chris Crutcher book and once again I am impressed with his writing and storytelling.  It takes a lot for me to be hooked into a storyline that I am not usually drawn too. Chris Crutcher always hooks me.  The real life issues are relatable for just about anyone who went to (or is going through) high school.  The dialog is spot on, which means foul language but hey, that’s the way it is. Overall an inspirational story that shows no matter what your circumstances are you can overcome them.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness:

• Fitting in.
• Multicultural backgrounds.
• Being bullied.
• Overcoming fear.

Reason this book was chosen: This book was on a required reading list but I must say I probably would have end up reading it anyhow because Crutcher is a talented writer and one that I would recommend to pretty much all young adults. Even if you don’t like sports (which Crutcher seems to be a big fan of) you can still find the joy and meaning in his books.

Similar Titles:

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman

Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going

Author Website: Click HERE 

Awards:
ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 2005 
ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2002

ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award, 2002

Washington State Book Award, 2002

Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award, 2002