Whale Talk Paperback – June 30, 2009

When I began reading Whale Talk, I thought I would be reading a story about a teenager struggling to put together a swim team at his very athletically-driven high school (as suggested by the synopsis). What I ended up reading, however, was a story about perseverance, acceptance, tolerance, love, and sacrifice.Crutcher's protagonist, T.J. Jones, is a rare gem of a character. Having survived an early childhood of neglect and being the target of racism in his mostly white school, T.J. has plenty of reasons to be angry. However, he remains stoic in the face of adversity, refusing to rise to the racial taunts of his enemies. In fact, what makes him such a wonderful character is that his indignation and sense of justice are not reserved for himself but for others who fall outside the scope of the "in" crowd. His effort to put together a swim team is driven by an injustice he witnesses towards another classmate. In a school driven by athletics, he walks a precarious slope with the individuals on his team who fit plenty of categories--mentally challenged, handicapped, mute, overweight--except athletic. Still, T.J.'s drive and determination help whip this group of misfits into a competitive swim team in no time flat.Of course, from the arc of the swim team come many other compelling story lines--abuse, death, racism, and forgiveness. Crutcher seamlessly weaves these threads into the story by putting T.J. front and center. By witnessing and even participating in other characters' difficulties--the racial abuse inflicted upon a five-year-old girl of mixed race, the tragedy of his father's past, the sexual abuse suffered by one of his teammates--T.J. is better able to put his own life into perspective with guidance from his loving adoptive parents and his therapist.Although the last 20 pages or so stray into melodrama, this book is powerful on so many levels. Images--the deer, the Brillo pad--will stay with the reader long after the book has been closed. At the core of its message is the idea that no one really knows what difficulties others are facing, a poignant message given the times we live in.

Whale Talk is a book that takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotions. The books warms the heart, infuriates, teaches, and opens the eyes of any reader that picks this book up.The Tao Jones is a mixed race character who is adopted from a drug-addicted mother. Tao is taken in by a truck driving dad and lawyer mother who are just about the coolest parents on earth, but they aren't without their own baggage.Whale Talk is a masterfully woven tale that traces Tao through his struggles in a racist society that is also a little elitist. Tao, like most of Crutcher's protagonists, is a great athlete with a strange sense of humor. Tao enjoys getting even with those who single out he, or any other character in the high school that is different, by using the predators' ignorance against them.All in all, this is an honest portrayal of a complex mix of race, family secrets and small town routines held up by the Good Ol' Boy system along with serious developmental pshychological issues.This book will make you laugh, it will make you cry, but most importantly, it will make you examine your inner-most being in ways that will surprise you.Chris Crutcher is the undisputed King of YA Literature, which he proves with his most powerful YA novel to date.

Oh my god, ok, so, this book needs to gain a lot more traction. It is such an amazing story with a protagonist and supporting characters that you will cheer for all the way through. It is so gut-wrenchingly good at talking about abuse that I kept reading parts over and over again just to hear them for myself; words I wish someone would have told me as a teen.

WHALE TALK WAS VERY, VERY GOOD. I LIKED IT A LOT. IT HAD A LOT OF SWEAR WORDS IN IT, WHICH MADE ME WHAT TO READ IT MORE. THE PEOPLE IN THIS BOOK SWEAR A LOT LIKE I DO. THIS BOOK IS ABOUT SWIMMING AND SPORTS IF YOU LIKE SPORTS AND LIFE AND LITERATURE, THAN YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A TEAHER I HAD EVER ASSIGNED ME A BOOK WITH THIS AMOUNT OF SWEAR WOODS WHICH WAS ODD. THIS BOOK WAS A LITLLE HARD FOR ME TO READ BY MYSELF. THIS BOOK WAS A 220 PAGE BOOK, I LIKE LONG BOOKS WITH THAT MANY PAGES. YOU SHOULD ALSO TRY TO READ THESE OTHER CHRIS CRUTCHER BOOKS LIKE IRONMAN, STOTAN,AND CHINESE HANDCUFFS. CHRIS CRUTCHER SOUNDS LIKE A VERY GOOD AUTHOR.ERIC, 16 YEARS OLD MISS WATER IS MY TEAHER(Written by a student of mine to fulfill a class project. JW)

Shortest review: Read this book. It's pretty amazing. Short review: If you're a teen or the parent of one, if you enjoy underdog or sports stories, if you've been through high school, or if you've ever experienced bigotry, read this book. It's pretty amazing. Longer Review: Yes, Crutcher packs a lot of issues into this book (racism, abandonment, child abuse, physical limitations are only a few), but each one is handled with sensitivity and humor. A rare combination, even rarer when done successfully. There's drama and comedy and suspense and action and emotion. The protagonist is flawed but incredibly sympathetic and appealing; secondary characters are finely drawn. We might never meet a T.J., but this creation of Crutcher's is a pretty amazing read.

Great book. Especially pertinent for this time when we seem to see issues of tolerance all over the place. I am 56 and loved it, and I think jr high and high schoolers would enjoy it. Some bad language, but nothing kids haven’t heard... and they know they have to decide whether that will be part of who they want to be or not.

My daughter had this book for a summer reading assignment. I am such an avid reader that I always read the assignments given to make sure that I understand what she is talking about when she is writing her report. I must say I enjoyed reading this book and think that all teens should be required to read it as it focuses on the differences of people and how people from all walks of life can get along and some can become great friends.

なんてハッピーな気持ちになれる表紙なんだろう。このカバーを外すと、別の絵が現れる。「７人ののけ者。７人のヒーローだ。」というオビの文句。もうこれだけで、どんな本か気になっている自分がいた。金原さんの訳本は、あとがきから読むことにしている。そのハイテンションぶりに、「おいおい、そんなにホメまくって大丈夫なのか？」と不安になったくらいだが、そんな杞憂はすっかりぶっ飛んでしまった。ほんとうに誰にでも「とにかく読め！」と突き付けたくなるエネルギーに溢れている。とどのつまり、自分の力で「いま」を必死に生きている人間の姿が、ひとの心を揺さぶるのだと思う。わたしはすっかりクラッチャーにはまり、ＨＰまでチェックしてしまったくらいだ。さあ、あなたもこの本を読んで、クジラの仲間入りをしよう。

いろいろ言えないような本ってある良すぎて、という言葉も気持ちから外れてしまうような大事な本、という言葉もどこか違うとにかく、いいとしか表現したくない中高生にぜひ、ぜひ、読んでもらいたい

娘が欲しがったので、取り寄せて買ったものの、結局娘より先に読んでしまった。とにかく、読み始めると止まらなくなってしまった本。主人公はとても才能に恵まれた、魅力的な高校生。しっかりとした自分の意志と、的確な行動力を持っている。人種差別、幼児虐待、ドメスティックバイオレンス、ドラッグ…と、「えっ、アメリカってこんななの？」とびっくりしてしまう程、ごく普通の中流家庭の生活のなかに、恐しいエピソードが散りばめられている。日本にも無いとは言えないけれど、こんなに日常的に…？と驚かずにはいられない。そんな中で、主人公は素晴らしい両親のもと、自分なりの正義をユーモアにあふれたセンスを持って、貫いている。実は、この本を読む前に、他の方々のレビューを読んでいたので、最後に何か衝撃的なことが起こるらしい…、と途中からいろいろ心配しながら、読んでいたのだが、やっぱりショックを受けてしまった。徹夜で読んでいて明け方近くだったので、切なさもひとしおだったが、同時に圧倒的な感動を覚え、とにかくすごくおもしろいから…、と大勢の人に読んで欲しくなって、思わずレビューを書いてしまった。