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Willa and the Whale
Can a whale talk to a human? Willa thinks so...
After losing her mom, Willa is grieving and having a hard time living with her dad and his new family on an island off the coast of Washington State. Her dad tries to cheer her up by taking her whale watching, something Willa's mom used to do.
While all the passengers are on one side of the boat, Willa encounters a humpback whale on the opposite side. Willa feels so lonely that she starts to talk to the whale—and the whale talks back!
The whale, named Meg, quickly becomes a trusted friend and confidante Willa can speak to whenever she's by the ocean.
Meg offers sound advice Willa needs about dealing with a nemesis at school and trying to figure out why her friend Marc is keeping secrets about his family life.
Before the story ends, it will take all of Willa's courage and connections to tackle a problem that's as big as a blue whale!
After losing her mom, Willa is grieving and having a hard time living with her dad and his new family on an island off the coast of Washington State. Her dad tries to cheer her up by taking her whale watching, something Willa's mom used to do.
While all the passengers are on one side of the boat, Willa encounters a humpback whale on the opposite side. Willa feels so lonely that she starts to talk to the whale—and the whale talks back!
The whale, named Meg, quickly becomes a trusted friend and confidante Willa can speak to whenever she's by the ocean.
Meg offers sound advice Willa needs about dealing with a nemesis at school and trying to figure out why her friend Marc is keeping secrets about his family life.
Before the story ends, it will take all of Willa's courage and connections to tackle a problem that's as big as a blue whale!
256 pages, Hardcover
First published February 20, 2020
15 people are currently reading
2413 people want to read
About the author
Chad Morris
11 books287 followersChad Morris coauthored The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry, Virtually Me, Mustaches for Maddie, Squint, and Willa and the Whale, with his wife, Shelly Brown. He is also the author of the Cragbridge Hall series (The Inventor's Secret, The Avatar Battle, and The Impossible Race). He has won the Utah Book Award, the Buckeye Award, and the Nebraska Book Award, and the Silver Foreword INDIES award for Juvenile fiction. Chad also wrote one of the short stories in True Heroes: A Treasury of Modern-day Fairy Tales Written by Best-selling Authors. His story was based on JP Gibson, an amazing boy who faced cancer with courage, heart, and a basketball dream.
Chad grew up wanting to become a professional basketball player or a rock star. (Inspired by Animal from The Muppets, he has been banging on drums since he was eight years old.) Neither of those plans quite panned out. After high school, he left the Rocky Mountains to live in Brazil for a few years then returned home to write and perform sketch comedy while going to college. He graduated from BYU with a couple of degrees and became a teacher and a curriculum writer.
Chad grew up wanting to become a professional basketball player or a rock star. (Inspired by Animal from The Muppets, he has been banging on drums since he was eight years old.) Neither of those plans quite panned out. After high school, he left the Rocky Mountains to live in Brazil for a few years then returned home to write and perform sketch comedy while going to college. He graduated from BYU with a couple of degrees and became a teacher and a curriculum writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
October 7, 2019
I gave it five stars, but I co-wrote it, so it's a totally biased review. I still really like it though.
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October 17, 2022There’s a lot to love about this book: life-like characters, marine biology, and themes of friendship, overcoming grief, and accepting others as they are. I read this with my twins and we enjoyed it.
When Willa's mom dies while they are living in Japan, she returns to Washington State to live with her dad, her stepmom, and her really loud step-siblings. It's a big adjustment. She's also not sure where she stands with her former best friend (she's been gone for a few years). There's a girl at school who bugs the heck out of her. And she misses her mother terribly. Through conversations with a whale named Meg, Willa begins to cope with her grief and find understanding and direction with all her human connections. Definitely one to add to your to-read list if you enjoy heartfelt middle grade fiction.
When Willa's mom dies while they are living in Japan, she returns to Washington State to live with her dad, her stepmom, and her really loud step-siblings. It's a big adjustment. She's also not sure where she stands with her former best friend (she's been gone for a few years). There's a girl at school who bugs the heck out of her. And she misses her mother terribly. Through conversations with a whale named Meg, Willa begins to cope with her grief and find understanding and direction with all her human connections. Definitely one to add to your to-read list if you enjoy heartfelt middle grade fiction.
October 26, 2019
So, Willa meets a whale, while whale watching, and find she can talk to it when she goes down to the beach. Her mother, who was a marine biologist died recently, and she is now living with her father and his new family, and there is nothing of her old life, except the house she grew up in, which is now filled with people she doesn't know.
So, yes, it is hard, and yes, she has some good talks with her whale, Meg. They talk about life, and death, and friendships, and this seems to help her with healing, at least a little.
Beautifully written it includes the story, which happened last year, as told by Meg, of a mother whale who gave birth to a baby that died, but that she kept afloat, as they migrated up the coast, for nearly two weeks. As Meg explains "She wasn't ready to let go."
There is lots of sadness in this book, but, as is pointed out, that's ok. You can be sad about losing your mother, and you don't have to stop just because everyone else has stopped.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
So, yes, it is hard, and yes, she has some good talks with her whale, Meg. They talk about life, and death, and friendships, and this seems to help her with healing, at least a little.
Beautifully written it includes the story, which happened last year, as told by Meg, of a mother whale who gave birth to a baby that died, but that she kept afloat, as they migrated up the coast, for nearly two weeks. As Meg explains "She wasn't ready to let go."
There is lots of sadness in this book, but, as is pointed out, that's ok. You can be sad about losing your mother, and you don't have to stop just because everyone else has stopped.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
March 18, 2020
I love finding middle grade books that teach kids how to cope with life. This one by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown does just that in a clever and fun way.
Willa is just a normal 12 year old girl. But she’s lost her mom recently. Her dad takes her on a boat ride and Willa spots a whale. Not just any whale. This whale shows off for Willa and then starts talking to her. I loved the way this book felt magical. Who gets to talk to a whale from miles away? And Willa’s whale, Meg, gives the best advice using stories from her life.
Willa has other friends besides Meg. But she’s just moved back from Japan and things are…different. Her friend Marc is a bit secretive, and Willa doesn’t know why. And then there’s Lizzie. Willa thinks there is no way they will ever be friends.
But Willa learns a lot and grows throughout the plot of this book. A lot of that learning and growth comes from Meg. But some is from her friends and family. I loved the way they all were able to grow and learn together. There are so many valuable lessons in this book.
This book is a must read for all tweens and teenagers out there! And maybe their parents as well.
I was sent a copy of Willa and the Whale as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Willa is just a normal 12 year old girl. But she’s lost her mom recently. Her dad takes her on a boat ride and Willa spots a whale. Not just any whale. This whale shows off for Willa and then starts talking to her. I loved the way this book felt magical. Who gets to talk to a whale from miles away? And Willa’s whale, Meg, gives the best advice using stories from her life.
Willa has other friends besides Meg. But she’s just moved back from Japan and things are…different. Her friend Marc is a bit secretive, and Willa doesn’t know why. And then there’s Lizzie. Willa thinks there is no way they will ever be friends.
But Willa learns a lot and grows throughout the plot of this book. A lot of that learning and growth comes from Meg. But some is from her friends and family. I loved the way they all were able to grow and learn together. There are so many valuable lessons in this book.
This book is a must read for all tweens and teenagers out there! And maybe their parents as well.
I was sent a copy of Willa and the Whale as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
October 12, 2019
I LOVED this book. The tidbits of Marine biology were relevant, the characters were realistic, believable and I was completely hooked ;) Dealing with all consuming grief is sometimes a part of life and I'm so glad professional help is available and that message is woven into an amazingly poignant tale.
May 12, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this contemporary middle grade fiction by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown. Willa and the Whale is a remarkable story of a young girl grieving the death of her mother with the help of a humpback whale. Willa’s mother was a marine biologist and every chapter starts with a journal entry that shares interesting *really cool* facts about the ocean.
I love how Willa talks to Meg the whale to help her get through tough times. The story has several complex characters and Willa’s best friend, Marc, has his own secrets and hurts he is dealing with. Then there’s Lizzy, the annoying know-it-all who seems out to get Willa at her most vulnerable places. But the authors unveil wonderful facets of these characters we couldn’t see at first, just like we can’t see what’s in the ocean by looking at the surface.
This book is excellent for tapping into the complexities of life which will always include some form of grief, trials, and trouble. It’s a wonderful read with funny, heart-warming episodes and plenty of fun learning opportunities. There are a ton of things I want to look up and have my kids learn about. I’m going to encourage my children to read this book as well and I’m pretty certain they’ll love it just as much as I did.
I love how Willa talks to Meg the whale to help her get through tough times. The story has several complex characters and Willa’s best friend, Marc, has his own secrets and hurts he is dealing with. Then there’s Lizzy, the annoying know-it-all who seems out to get Willa at her most vulnerable places. But the authors unveil wonderful facets of these characters we couldn’t see at first, just like we can’t see what’s in the ocean by looking at the surface.
This book is excellent for tapping into the complexities of life which will always include some form of grief, trials, and trouble. It’s a wonderful read with funny, heart-warming episodes and plenty of fun learning opportunities. There are a ton of things I want to look up and have my kids learn about. I’m going to encourage my children to read this book as well and I’m pretty certain they’ll love it just as much as I did.
November 3, 2019
“When something that sad happens, we don’t usually move on very quickly. But sometimes it would be nice if we could.” A year after losing her mom, Willa is still grieving and having a hard time adjusting to her new life with her dad and his new family. Willa begins having conversations with a humpback whale who helps her navigate through life’s challenges. I loved how there were interesting marine biology facts throughout this story. Not only would this make a great movie, it is also the perfect book for middle school students who are trying to figure out their place in the world. A great story about courage, trust, and friendship.
March 10, 2020
When Willa really needs someone to talk to, she finds an unexpected friend, a humpback whale named Meg! Willa was with her dad on a whale watching outing — something she used to do with her marine biologist mom. Not only is Willa grieving her mother, she recently moved back to Washington state from Japan, and her Dad’s new family is big and loud. Plus, she’s not sure where she stands with her old friend Marc.
Willa and the Whale is terrific middle grade realistic fiction, but with a bit of magical realism thrown in (talking whale and all). Using a combination of traditional narrative paired with journal entries from Willa (and later from Willa’s mother), readers get to know and care about Willa. Since Willa is an enthusiast, the journal entries are brimming with personality and filled with facts about ocean life. Kids will learn a lot about whales and other forms of aquatic life while watching Willa’s larger story unfold.
Willa’s story presents many serious life issues in a relatable, sensitive way. Willa navigates a lot of hard stuff: Among other challenges, she’s dealing with death and grief, she’s rekindling a friendship and learning how to be a good friend to someone who is going through his own challenges, she’s got a complicated dynamic with a classmate, and she’s adjusting to life with her Dad and their newly blended family. Listed all together, that sounds like a whole lot of heavy. But authors Chad Morris and Shelly Brown manage to give everything a realistic yet gentle and positive treatment. The result is as comfortable and reassuring as Willa’s burgeoning relationship with Meg the whale.
The cast of characters is engaging and well-drawn, pacing is even, and the plot is fairly uncomplicated but in a good way. In addition to finding Willa’s whale friend compelling, readers will become immersed in the every day details of Willa’s life. As they learn about Willa and watch her wade through a lot of life, they’ll gain empathy and important insight into themselves, too. Some readers might even be inspired to start their own journals.
4 of 5 Hearts. Compelling realistic fiction with a magical twist!
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I would like to thank Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing me with an Advance Reader’s Edition of Willa and the Whale. I was not required to post a review. This is my honest opinion.
Willa and the Whale is terrific middle grade realistic fiction, but with a bit of magical realism thrown in (talking whale and all). Using a combination of traditional narrative paired with journal entries from Willa (and later from Willa’s mother), readers get to know and care about Willa. Since Willa is an enthusiast, the journal entries are brimming with personality and filled with facts about ocean life. Kids will learn a lot about whales and other forms of aquatic life while watching Willa’s larger story unfold.
Willa’s story presents many serious life issues in a relatable, sensitive way. Willa navigates a lot of hard stuff: Among other challenges, she’s dealing with death and grief, she’s rekindling a friendship and learning how to be a good friend to someone who is going through his own challenges, she’s got a complicated dynamic with a classmate, and she’s adjusting to life with her Dad and their newly blended family. Listed all together, that sounds like a whole lot of heavy. But authors Chad Morris and Shelly Brown manage to give everything a realistic yet gentle and positive treatment. The result is as comfortable and reassuring as Willa’s burgeoning relationship with Meg the whale.
The cast of characters is engaging and well-drawn, pacing is even, and the plot is fairly uncomplicated but in a good way. In addition to finding Willa’s whale friend compelling, readers will become immersed in the every day details of Willa’s life. As they learn about Willa and watch her wade through a lot of life, they’ll gain empathy and important insight into themselves, too. Some readers might even be inspired to start their own journals.
4 of 5 Hearts. Compelling realistic fiction with a magical twist!
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I would like to thank Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing me with an Advance Reader’s Edition of Willa and the Whale. I was not required to post a review. This is my honest opinion.
April 27, 2020
Willa's only a month out from her mother's death. Now living with her father, stepmother, and step siblings, Willa struggles to deal with her grief. Willa's deep love of the ocean and the creatures that live in it came from her mother, a marine biologist. On a whale watching tour with her father, Willa meets Meg, a female humpback whale who speaks with her. Willa returns to the beach over and over to talk to Meg as she wrestles with her new circumstances. She misses her mother, her friendship with Marc doesn't seem to be going well, her nemesis, Lizzy seems to be beating her at everything, and her new step family makes her uncomfortable. But with Meg's help and her own and her mother's journals, Willa slowly comes to terms with her new life. But when a blue whale washes up on the beach, and things turn sideways with Marc, Willia wonders if things will ever improve.
I found this to be a tender story of grief and trying to put your life back together after things take a horrible turn. Except for the talking to the whale, Willa's reactions come across as believable and authentic. The relationship with the whale took a little getting used to but once I accepted it, it worked as a way for Willa's love of the ocean and her struggle with grief to work itself out. I empathized with the struggles Willa has trying to rebuild her friendship with Marc while adjusting to her new step family. Both Willa and her stepmother and step siblings come off as sympathetic characters. I especially enjoyed the realistic aspects of this story, including all the details about the ocean and its creatures. The talking whale I could have done without, but many young readers will actually love the idea of being able to communicate with an animal. A sweet story about dealing with life's challenges with the help of those around you.
I found this to be a tender story of grief and trying to put your life back together after things take a horrible turn. Except for the talking to the whale, Willa's reactions come across as believable and authentic. The relationship with the whale took a little getting used to but once I accepted it, it worked as a way for Willa's love of the ocean and her struggle with grief to work itself out. I empathized with the struggles Willa has trying to rebuild her friendship with Marc while adjusting to her new step family. Both Willa and her stepmother and step siblings come off as sympathetic characters. I especially enjoyed the realistic aspects of this story, including all the details about the ocean and its creatures. The talking whale I could have done without, but many young readers will actually love the idea of being able to communicate with an animal. A sweet story about dealing with life's challenges with the help of those around you.
March 4, 2020
I really loved this story of a thirteen-year-old girl and her journey through grief after the death of her mom. Willa had been living with her Marine Biologist mother in Japan after her parent's divorce. Her mom passes away and she heads back to the US to live with her dad, his new wife, and several step-siblings. Willa is suffering as she tries to adjust to life with this new family living in her old house. Willa doesn't know if her old best friend still wants to be her friend. Her life is filled with doubts and sorrow. Willa finds a friend and mentor in a humpback whale that she met while on a whale watching tour with her dad. Honestly, I loved this aspect of the novel. Willa found someone she could share all of her troubles with and Meg, the whale, was able to help her find the answers she was looking for.
This novel highlights so much middle school angst, tweens and teens will be able to really relate to Willa, her bestie Marc, and her snotty rival, Lizzy. The uncertainties of fitting in and being good enough are shown many times in the book. I liked to see how each one of the teens grew and became better people. Willa's development as a person was the greatest, as she with Meg's help learned to let the anger go, forgive others, and finally learn to start healing from the loss of her mom. Funny enough, Meg the "talking" whale was my favorite character. I loved her humor and sound advice she gave to Willa. I truly enjoyed the moments that Willa and Meg chatted with one another.
I recommend this book to tweens, teens, and adults. This book would be a great family read-aloud.
This novel highlights so much middle school angst, tweens and teens will be able to really relate to Willa, her bestie Marc, and her snotty rival, Lizzy. The uncertainties of fitting in and being good enough are shown many times in the book. I liked to see how each one of the teens grew and became better people. Willa's development as a person was the greatest, as she with Meg's help learned to let the anger go, forgive others, and finally learn to start healing from the loss of her mom. Funny enough, Meg the "talking" whale was my favorite character. I loved her humor and sound advice she gave to Willa. I truly enjoyed the moments that Willa and Meg chatted with one another.
I recommend this book to tweens, teens, and adults. This book would be a great family read-aloud.
May 16, 2023
Willa is reaching her breaking point by the first anniversary of her mother's death. Moving back to her childhood home with her father and his new family has been awkward. Trying to find her place amongst classmates she's lost connection with isn't easy. Missing her favorite person in the whole world is unbearable. Willa is overwhelmed.
And then she meets a whale—one who talks to her. Meg becomes Willa's friend, giving her someone to swap stories with, talk through her troubles, and check in with when she feels alone. Which might just be enough to help Willa stop sinking.
~the marine biologist's daughter
~a watchful whale
~tide pools and Tornadoes
~debate team rivals
~step-sibling shenanigans
Willa and the Whaleis a story that intuitively explores a variety of topics and allows the reader to view the evidence and draw their own conclusion. Topics of mental health and managing grief are blended seamlessly with the wonders of marine biology and forming a fresh start.
Personal note: I read via audiobook and the performance is excellent. However, those with sensory issues may find some of the more emotionally charged lines (often read in a high pitched, mid-sob tone), slightly challenging as an audio experience.
And then she meets a whale—one who talks to her. Meg becomes Willa's friend, giving her someone to swap stories with, talk through her troubles, and check in with when she feels alone. Which might just be enough to help Willa stop sinking.
~the marine biologist's daughter
~a watchful whale
~tide pools and Tornadoes
~debate team rivals
~step-sibling shenanigans
Willa and the Whaleis a story that intuitively explores a variety of topics and allows the reader to view the evidence and draw their own conclusion. Topics of mental health and managing grief are blended seamlessly with the wonders of marine biology and forming a fresh start.
Personal note: I read via audiobook and the performance is excellent. However, those with sensory issues may find some of the more emotionally charged lines (often read in a high pitched, mid-sob tone), slightly challenging as an audio experience.
January 21, 2025
4.7 a cute book about a girl who lost her mother and had to move far away to live with her dad and his new wife. She was sad and lonely. She made friends with a whale that taught her life lessons.
After losing her mom, Willa is grieving and having a hard time living with her dad and his new family on an island off the coast of Washington State. Her dad tries to cheer her up by taking her whale watching, something Willa's mom used to do.
While all the passengers are on one side of the boat, Willa encounters a humpback whale on the opposite side. Willa feels so lonely that she starts to talk to the whale and the whale talks back!
The whale, named Meg, quickly becomes a trusted friend and confidante Willa can speak to whenever she's by the ocean.
Meg offers sound advice Willa needs about dealing with a nemesis at school and trying to figure out why her friend Marc is keeping secrets about his family life.
Before the story ends, it will take all of Willa's courage and connections to tackle a problem that's as big as a blue whale!
After losing her mom, Willa is grieving and having a hard time living with her dad and his new family on an island off the coast of Washington State. Her dad tries to cheer her up by taking her whale watching, something Willa's mom used to do.
While all the passengers are on one side of the boat, Willa encounters a humpback whale on the opposite side. Willa feels so lonely that she starts to talk to the whale and the whale talks back!
The whale, named Meg, quickly becomes a trusted friend and confidante Willa can speak to whenever she's by the ocean.
Meg offers sound advice Willa needs about dealing with a nemesis at school and trying to figure out why her friend Marc is keeping secrets about his family life.
Before the story ends, it will take all of Willa's courage and connections to tackle a problem that's as big as a blue whale!
June 15, 2020
Willa has seen a lot of pain in her young life. She survived her parent's divorce, she survived having to choose between them and pick who to live with and now she must survive the death of her mother. Living with her dad and new stepfamily isn't bad it just isn't like life with mom in Japan. Her passion for ocean creatures rivals that of her mom and Willa is close to the ocean again. When she befriends and begins to talk to a humpback whale, Willa learns what she must do to get back to her life, rekindle friendships and be brave. A wealth of ocean facts and a clever middle grade fantasy friendship will help kids who may be going through similar issues find a kinship in Willa. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
February 5, 2020
What a great way to show how different people deal with different emotions. Grief is an interesting animal and sometimes it does takes animals to help people through it. In Willa's case, it was Meg, a blue whale. I loved the relationship that Willa had with Meg. I love how Meg was able to help Willa through her grief and issues everyone seems to have at school. And I love how Meg really steps up and solves a whale sized problem with the help of loved ones around her. I would recommend this book to any and everyone, especially those who could use a different view point in how to deal with and how those around them may be dealing with different emotions.
May 19, 2024
This book wrecked me in the most amazing way.
I cried like a baby and my heart is so full.
The authors tackled difficult subjects with compassion and respect, while letting the 12 year old voice of Willa remain real and raw. Prejudices were challenged, mental health made a priority, and grief explored with great care. Even if you don't have a deep love for the ocean and her creatures, I'm sure this book will touch you. As it is, I cried almost as much for Blue as for Willa. I love this book and its beautiful compassion.
I cried like a baby and my heart is so full.
The authors tackled difficult subjects with compassion and respect, while letting the 12 year old voice of Willa remain real and raw. Prejudices were challenged, mental health made a priority, and grief explored with great care. Even if you don't have a deep love for the ocean and her creatures, I'm sure this book will touch you. As it is, I cried almost as much for Blue as for Willa. I love this book and its beautiful compassion.
July 29, 2022
This is such a sweet middle grade story. I loved the deeper lessons about grief and loss and friendship. I loved how so many of the lessons were taught through lessons about marine biology. I learned some new things about ocean life.
January 20, 2021
What a sweet book. I love how Willa is able to start working past the grief of her mom passing away. I didn't care for the new stepmother, but I always seem to find a problem character. I loved Meg, she was great with Willa and brought a new prospective to a lot of situations in a way the Willa wouldn't have thought about.
October 15, 2022
Cute little story about how to deal with and overcome difficult things.
March 18, 2020
Me and my 8 yr old read this together, and we LOVED it!! We love the ocean in our house and marine life and so the cover spoke to our hearts!
Last year we travelled to the San Juan Islands for our vacation and went on a Whale watch from Friday Harbor. It was such a highlight, and we loved all the Islands dotted around the Sound.
Willa has suffered such a tragedy, and on top of that is trying to come to terms with a new step family. Your heart will ache for her throughout the story, and even though the grief is as strong and real by the last page, there is also growth and an element of peace.
Lots of interesting sub-plots throughout this healing journey that keep you hooked as a reader. This is by far our best bedtime read in a long time. Recommend!
Last year we travelled to the San Juan Islands for our vacation and went on a Whale watch from Friday Harbor. It was such a highlight, and we loved all the Islands dotted around the Sound.
Willa has suffered such a tragedy, and on top of that is trying to come to terms with a new step family. Your heart will ache for her throughout the story, and even though the grief is as strong and real by the last page, there is also growth and an element of peace.
Lots of interesting sub-plots throughout this healing journey that keep you hooked as a reader. This is by far our best bedtime read in a long time. Recommend!
March 21, 2021
I've enjoyed all of the books Morris and Brown have written together and while this, their newest, is my least favorite of the bunch, I still liked it overall. While the book doesn't have a focused plot, there's enough going on to keep the story interesting. It's a quick read that moves along at a steady clip, although the beginning drags a bit. There's lots of interesting ocean/marine life trivia (heavily) sprinkled throughout the tale, which will appeal to young naturalists and sea lovers. Willa's a sympathetic character, although she's also self-centered and victim-y in her grief. By the end of the book, she starts to turn outward—to care about the humans around her and not just the animals—but her selfishness makes her hard to like at times. The whole talking-to-whales thing didn't feel very convincing to me, so that bugged. All in all, though, this is a warm, heart-felt book that is empowering and uplifting. I didn't absolutely love it, but I did like it overall. I'd give WILLA AND THE WHALE 3 1/2 stars if I could; since I can't, I'm rounding up.
December 20, 2024
*3.5 stars
August 29, 2020
I received an electronic ARC from Shadow Mountain Publishing through Edelweiss+.
Whales connected with healing from grief is certainly a current theme in middle grade books. In this one, Willa has lost her mom and had to move back from Japan to the United States to live with her dad and stepmother and four siblings. It's a major adjustment and she's not moving through her grief or the emotional turmoil she feels. She and her dad go on a whale watch in an attempt to find a way to connect and heal; her mom had been a marine biologist who studied ocean life. A humpback whale breaches close to the boat and suddenly Willa can talk with her. Willa hears Meg and talks to her. Meg helps Willa heal and work through her emotions and thoughts for all of her life concerns. She reconnects with her former best friend and they find a new relationship.
Throughout the novel, Morris continues to reveal more about his characters and opens their lives to readers. Some of it is predictable but he doesn't spell out everything. He leaves it to readers to decide whether she really is communicating or that's her way of coping.
The book moves slowly for the first third. After that, actions and characters come to life to share their story.
Whales connected with healing from grief is certainly a current theme in middle grade books. In this one, Willa has lost her mom and had to move back from Japan to the United States to live with her dad and stepmother and four siblings. It's a major adjustment and she's not moving through her grief or the emotional turmoil she feels. She and her dad go on a whale watch in an attempt to find a way to connect and heal; her mom had been a marine biologist who studied ocean life. A humpback whale breaches close to the boat and suddenly Willa can talk with her. Willa hears Meg and talks to her. Meg helps Willa heal and work through her emotions and thoughts for all of her life concerns. She reconnects with her former best friend and they find a new relationship.
Throughout the novel, Morris continues to reveal more about his characters and opens their lives to readers. Some of it is predictable but he doesn't spell out everything. He leaves it to readers to decide whether she really is communicating or that's her way of coping.
The book moves slowly for the first third. After that, actions and characters come to life to share their story.
August 30, 2020
Willa moves to a new town with her father after her mother dies. Willa loves the sea and discovers she can talk to a whale named Meg. Willa befriends the whale to help her deal with the death of her mother. Very touching story of friendship. 🐳
January 13, 2020
As a fan of middle grade books, and anything to do with whales in general, I have to admit that when I requested Willa and the Whale to read it was purely a cover-love request, but I'm pleased to say that this was a surprisingly poignant read.
Thirteen-year old Willa has spent the last few years living with her marine biologist mother in Japan, but when her mother dies unexpectedly, she returns to the United States to live with her father and step-family in her old hometown. Willa, like her mother, has a passion for marine life, and on a whale-watching trip, meets Meg, a humpback whale who can inexplicably communicate with her. In Meg, Willa finds a confidant, as well as a source of wisdom and comfort as she deals with the deep loss she feels, but doesn't know how to cope with.
Willa and the Whale is unexpectedly powerful in the whale it depicts a young teen dealing with her grief. Feeling isolated from the new family she doesn't know yet, Willa struggles to connect and communicate with everyone, including her dad. She clings to things she knows - an old friend, Marc, and her passion for marine biology and learning. At times, this frustrates her as she finds herself in competition for top of her class with another girl, fighting for a position on the local swim team and trying to manage her feelings on her own.
While the magical realism element of the whale being able to communicate with Willa over large distances is a little out there, as we begin to get to know Willa it becomes just part of the story and the tales that Meg shares with Willa help to ease some of the grief the young teen feels and to put everything into perspective.
It was nice to see Willa's growth over the course of the novel, as she moves from seeing her new family as being separate from her, to being a group of people she might like to get to know better. It takes a tragic event in the last third of the book to get her to this point, but from that, she begins to realise that it's okay to need other people and to lean on them for support.
This will be a very important book for middle graders who struggle with grief and loss.
Thirteen-year old Willa has spent the last few years living with her marine biologist mother in Japan, but when her mother dies unexpectedly, she returns to the United States to live with her father and step-family in her old hometown. Willa, like her mother, has a passion for marine life, and on a whale-watching trip, meets Meg, a humpback whale who can inexplicably communicate with her. In Meg, Willa finds a confidant, as well as a source of wisdom and comfort as she deals with the deep loss she feels, but doesn't know how to cope with.
Willa and the Whale is unexpectedly powerful in the whale it depicts a young teen dealing with her grief. Feeling isolated from the new family she doesn't know yet, Willa struggles to connect and communicate with everyone, including her dad. She clings to things she knows - an old friend, Marc, and her passion for marine biology and learning. At times, this frustrates her as she finds herself in competition for top of her class with another girl, fighting for a position on the local swim team and trying to manage her feelings on her own.
While the magical realism element of the whale being able to communicate with Willa over large distances is a little out there, as we begin to get to know Willa it becomes just part of the story and the tales that Meg shares with Willa help to ease some of the grief the young teen feels and to put everything into perspective.
It was nice to see Willa's growth over the course of the novel, as she moves from seeing her new family as being separate from her, to being a group of people she might like to get to know better. It takes a tragic event in the last third of the book to get her to this point, but from that, she begins to realise that it's okay to need other people and to lean on them for support.
This will be a very important book for middle graders who struggle with grief and loss.
September 9, 2022
A big thank-you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for giving me a copy of this book for an unbiased review.
2/5 - It was okay
The good - This book takes on a LOT and I am tempted to rate it higher based simply on how many difficult subjects it tackles with sensitivity and many fascinating marine facts. Willa is a young girl who is absolutely fascinated by marine life and is coping with the loss of her mother following her parents' divorce. She's an extremely believable protagonist with big feelings and the book handles these beautifully - everything from grief to pre-teen embarrassment over making and keeping friends to anger at being forced into a blended family. Some more surprising topics came up throughout the narrative, but I don't want to give anything away - suffice to say that I think the story integrates real life and how real children might deal with it very, very well.
The could-be-better - I personally did not find the writing style very engaging. A pet peeve of mine in YA and youth lit has always been overenthusiastic hashtagging. Yes, we did these kinds of things when we were younger. But it completely takes me out of any story that I'm reading. Overall, the writing felt a bit repetitive - the same conversation or theme would be played out over several pages until I found myself skimming to see if the topic had changed. This slowed down the pace of the story for me and broke my engagement. Of course, this book is geared to a younger audience but I still think it didn't have to be so repetitive. And most importantly, the title to me felt like a bit of a misnomer. Willa's friendship with Meg, the whale, is a part of the story but it certainly isn't THE story - in fact, Meg felt like a side character and I wanted more of her and more actual interactions between Willa and Meg.
Overall, I would still recommend this book to middle-school aged children, especially those with an interest in marine biology.
2/5 - It was okay
The good - This book takes on a LOT and I am tempted to rate it higher based simply on how many difficult subjects it tackles with sensitivity and many fascinating marine facts. Willa is a young girl who is absolutely fascinated by marine life and is coping with the loss of her mother following her parents' divorce. She's an extremely believable protagonist with big feelings and the book handles these beautifully - everything from grief to pre-teen embarrassment over making and keeping friends to anger at being forced into a blended family. Some more surprising topics came up throughout the narrative, but I don't want to give anything away - suffice to say that I think the story integrates real life and how real children might deal with it very, very well.
The could-be-better - I personally did not find the writing style very engaging. A pet peeve of mine in YA and youth lit has always been overenthusiastic hashtagging. Yes, we did these kinds of things when we were younger. But it completely takes me out of any story that I'm reading. Overall, the writing felt a bit repetitive - the same conversation or theme would be played out over several pages until I found myself skimming to see if the topic had changed. This slowed down the pace of the story for me and broke my engagement. Of course, this book is geared to a younger audience but I still think it didn't have to be so repetitive. And most importantly, the title to me felt like a bit of a misnomer. Willa's friendship with Meg, the whale, is a part of the story but it certainly isn't THE story - in fact, Meg felt like a side character and I wanted more of her and more actual interactions between Willa and Meg.
Overall, I would still recommend this book to middle-school aged children, especially those with an interest in marine biology.
October 27, 2019
This book was a sweet, poignant story dealing with coping, sadness, and loss. I think that it delicately handled how a person who lost a parent might have been feeling without making those feeling seem wrong or like they just needed to get over it to be happy. At no point in the story did anyone tell Willa that she shouldn't feel sad anymore; instead, they helped her overcome the sadness so that it didn't feel so unbearable. The interactions between Willa and her family and friends felt genuine and enjoyable to read. Willa herself never felt whiny or overbearing, but felt like someone I could easily connect to. This is a great story to normalize and humanize sadness and feeling overwhelmed by negative things, but also allowed for the reader to experience humor, joy, and the sense of overcoming something difficult. It was a truly enjoyable read
January 5, 2020
A-MAZ-ZING! This was an ARC book that I was lucky enough to receive and could not be more happy that it passed through my hands. Its going into my top 5 reads of young adult novels for 2019. I loved the character of Willa and the relationship that was built between her and other characters. I found myself stopping when out of reading time and just holding the book in my hand to be able to think and ponder about the writing and the messages it put forth. My 10 year old daughter read this book as well and when she returned it she said, "Thank you for sharing it with me." Followed with a hug. I cannot wait for this book to come out in 2020 so that we can buy it and add it to our shelves. The writing was crisp and clear and easily pulled you in and didn't want to let you go. Lovely, just lovely. #bookposse
October 8, 2019
Willa and the Whale is a WINNER! This beautiful story tackles some tough topics in a gentle, warm tone that made my heart feel good. There is friendship from unlikely sources, real life struggles that are often avoided, and the humor that the Brown-Morris duo does so well. The parallels between the ocean life and Willa's own situations are incredibly woven, not to mention the facts and research that begin each chapter. It made me realize that we all need a "POD"- our people- that have our backs, and love and cheer for us no matter what we are going through. #thosehashtagsthough #humorkeepsitreal #howdotheykeepwritingamazingstories?
October 25, 2019
Earc from netgalley.
I liked this one okay, whales seem to be a new trend in middle grade, but this one did not make me super interested. but it is a good story overall, especially for readers interested in the ocean/marine life.
I liked this one okay, whales seem to be a new trend in middle grade, but this one did not make me super interested. but it is a good story overall, especially for readers interested in the ocean/marine life.
June 8, 2021
This book was totally awesome. I love how Willa can talk to whales, or at least Meg, and how she interacts with them. Sea creatures are amazing, so I think I liked this book even more because it was about them.
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