Whale Talk

by Chris Crutcher

There's bad news and good news about the Cutter High School swim team. The bad news is that they don't have a pool. The good news is that only one of them can swim anyway. A group of misfits brought together by T. J. Jones (the J is redundant), the Cutter All Night Mermen struggle to find their places in a school that has no place for them. T.J. is convinced that a varsity letter jacket exclusive, revered, the symbol (as far as T.J. is concerned) of all that is screwed up at Cutter High will also be an effective tool. He's right. He's also wrong. Still, it's always the quest that counts. And the bus on which the Mermen travel to swim meets soon becomes the space where they gradually allow themselves to talk, to fit, to grow. Together they'll fight for dignity in a world where tragedy and comedy dance side by side, where a moment's inattention can bring lifelong heartache, and where true acceptance is the only prescription for what ails us.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Sports, Realistic Fiction, Teen, Contemporary, Banned Books

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 10, 2001

About the author

Chris Crutcher's writing is controversial, and has been frequently challenged and even banned by individuals who want to censor his books by removing them from libraries and classrooms. Running Loose and Athletic Shorts were on the ALA's top 100 list of most frequently challenged books for 1990-2000. His books generally feature teens coping with serious problems, including abusive parents, racial and religious prejudice, mental and physical disability, and poverty; these themes are viewed as too mature for children. Other cited reasons for censorship include strong language and depictions of homosexuality. Despite this controversy, Crutcher's writing has received many awards.

Reviews

[karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is the last of the "banned books" lot. i liked it more than i thought i would, and i think i liked it more than this three-star indicates, but i am somehow unable to give it a four. because this star-rating system is just too scientific and important, right?

i almost didn't read this one. i read what it was about - an all-boy swim team called the mermen who are social misfits but who bond together on their long bus trips where they share their secrets and learn to trust one another and learn the meaning of - no, stop right there. not interested.i already read the outsiders... i decided, since we only had to read two of the titles, that this would be the one of the six i would not read. but then it just became like the other shoe, the one untried door in the hallway. so i read the damn thing.

and it is actually pretty good.

it is about all the above things, but it is also about the main character - a racial potpourri, living in whitetown usa, where everything in the town, not just the microcosm of the high school, revolves around high school athletics. and letter jackets. and this other poor sad kid, made brain-slow through abuse, wearing his dead older brother's letter jacket, and the thugs who terrorize him because of it, because it reflects poorly on the Institution of the Letter Jacket to have a 'tard in one. so, t.j. (his given name is "the tao jones" (yes, his first name is actually "the") because of his adoptive hippie mom and biker dad - it is very quirky, but for some reason this only annoys me a squitch). so but t.j. gets pissed and decides to start a swim team, because he is already this amazing athlete who refuses to play organized sports, but excels in every pick-up and neighborhood sport he plays. to the school-at-large, he is already an outsider because of race and refusal to join the sporting ranks, and he decides it would be funny to gather as many other outsiders and picked-on kids as possible and start this bad news bears type of swim team, and rig it so everyone gets letter jackets. wheeee!

so it ends up being the breakfast club but in speedos: fat kid, one legged angry kid, genius kid, unnoticed kid, bodybuilding kid, etc. and as a teen inspirational thing, it works really well - it has all the elements, and it does its job nicely.

but then: subplots! backstories! it becomes more complicated, and very heavily focused on t.j. and his rage issues and his adoptive father's seeecrets. still all good, but not a local-losers-made good story, entirely. it does have all the stand by me round the campfire stuff, but it is sweet, really. and not just because my brain is currently bludgeoned with information-retrieval information from my studying (yes, this review is procrastination)

i thought the split between the two stories was very good, pacing and distribution-wise. i was equally interested in both storylines, and i thought the ending was good and unexpected, and theatrical, yes, but effective at least.

marie, you should totally read it.

come to my blog!

[Robin Seeker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting story, but way too much happening in it. There is more than one book included in this one book. While it intrigued me and kept me reading, I felt like the author was tackling too much within the pages of this one book. I couldn't decide what the major theme was because there were so many from which to choose. Very strong language was included throughout the book. In addition, difficult topics were addressed including domestic violence, child abuse, racism, intense bullying, sexual references, and ultimately murder. Young adults would benefit from adult guidance to navigate the plethora of social issues presented in this book.

[Gwennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! 4.5 stars!

Maybe it's the person inside me who hates athletics, but loves inspiring athletic movies? I mean, who doesn't get weepy when watching Remember the Titans, or who isn't a shameless Varsity Blues fan! Rudy? Radio? MIGHTY DUCKS! Bad News Bears... I could go on and on, I love them so much. I love them almost as much as dance movies. Bring on the 'Not another Sports Movie' parody! I'll be there, because I've just about seen 'em all! I mean, they're so much fun and they feel so good. So this book was a win for me.

TJ, The Tao Jones, goes on a mission to take a group of ragtag kids and get them letterman's jackets in a school where athletes are EVERYTHING. TJ? Well, he could have had a jacket long ago. He's got a natural athleticism and loves to get out there and mix it up with other people, playing Hoopster and flag football OUTside of school. IN school, he refuses to buy into the bullshit of the athletic department. He's the thorn in their side, all that untapped talent and he just continues and continues to refuse. Then one day his favorite teacher approaches him about starting a swim team, which in the beginning TJ isn't so sure about. That is until he walks through the hall and sees one of the football players with the worst attitude jacking up a mentally challenged student for daring to wear his dead brother's letterman jacket to school. TJ, for his own personal reasons and history, takes serious offense to this and sticks up for Chris. Because of Chris, TJ launches into this plan of forcing Cutters brightest and best to watch Cutters 'gutter kids' walking around in those prized jackets. But that's not it! This book touches on child abuse, racism, bullying, domestic violence, accidental death... sure it all sounds like perhaps too much, but I'm telling you it really comes together well. Simply gold.

I loved TJ. He had a strong smart voice. I loved how quick he was with a come back, and damn if I didn't agree with him every time! But it wasn't just TJ, because every single one of the characters in this book has a purpose and a reason for being included. Every single one will touch you. Even the 'bad guys' in this book are there for an important part of the story. Everyone is essential.

I had 2 favorite characters in the book. Chris, whom I touched on a bit, but I'll elaborate; Chris was mentally challenged, and as such, was bullied horrendously not only by students but even by teachers. Despite that, he was just really sweet and hopeful. The relationship that blossomed between the swim team as a whole really was amazing to read but especially the relationship that blossomed between Chris and his teammates. The reality of the world is that high school is hard for those who don’t fit a certain mold, and through the swim team Chris was able to enjoy his Senior year at Cutter belonging. All of the members felt this way, but since we start out with Chris, he really sticks out. My other favorite character was TJ's dad. Anyone who follows any of my reviews should know by now that I'm partial to really well written great Dads. TJ's Dad was amazing and wonderful and everything I would want in a father. In fact, I was jealous! I want a dad that looks like a biker but has a heart that tender. The way he was with TJ, but especially the way he was with Heidi.

I have only one complaint, which is what brings my rating down that half star. Sometimes it's easy in these books or in any book really, to get so carried away that you take it just that one or two steps too far. This book did that. For those of you who've read it, I was really sort of put off at the surprise son that TJ's father had. It was unnecessary. He could have visited the grave and heard how sad the widow's life became by a neighbor or another family member without getting that gratuitous. Just my opinion though.

Overall, really thought this book was great. Maybe my favorite one from the recommendation challenge overload in my YA-MA group. So thank you to whoever recommended it originally (it was anonymous), and thank you to Isa who read it first and made me think I'd like it.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

W O N D R O U S

Whale Talk is too expansive, profound and boundless for its 220 pages. And it works. Superbly written, Chris Crutcher has a lot on his mind and in his heart. This book is several books rolled into one. Whale Talk hits hard on many intense human issues and lessons.

The story's nucleus is a swim team (that's why my swim team kid chose it for one of her Battle of the Book reads), made up of male outsiders, and the individual lives and connections that churn and form new movement. The chase after the letter jacket is symbolic. The overall experience is the meaning of life, its importance.

Whale Talk is a male centered book. One complaint of mine could be how female characters are peripheral, how some are abused and controlled by men. This is, however, true to life, and the book fights to set it right. Whale Talk boasts a couple strong sideline women. The protagonist's, The Tao's, mom and his girlfriend. I came to the conclusion that this is a male focalized novel, and that is okay.

Whale Talk is one of my favorite books. Thank you, my daughter and Battle of the Books.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book includes great issues that no doubt need to be addressed in young adult literature, I felt it lacked something more important: a believable and relatable main character. We felt that TJ was painted as an aloof but successful and sometimes over-zealous youth but came off more like a pretentious snob. What he did for the lesser characters in the novel was generous but his motives were a little off-putting and he spoke too highly of himself frequently. The rest of the characters seemed genuine but we also felt that there was a little too much trauma happening. The Coughlin brothers, his mother, his father, Icko, Andy Mott, Alisha, Heidi, and even TJ himself all suffered pretty traumatic events at some point or another. Overall, we thought the events were a bit over-dramatic and took away from the main point of the novel. We do feel that this book would be well-received in a high school English classroom, however. It has just enough controversy to keep students interested but also delivers a hard to miss moral.

[Mitzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a powerful YA book! It's a story about an adopted teen of color who is so tired of all the injustices that go on at his high school, especially by the kids who have 'earned' letterman's jackets. So he organizes the Cutter All Night Mermen swim team, composed of individuals that can barely swim and have experienced a lot of heartache in their lives. What they go through (they don't even have access to a real pool for practice, for example) and the friendships they develop are so heartwarming. But beware--I struggled deciding whether I should give this book 5 stars or 4 because there is a lot of abuse in this story--teens coping with abusive parents, racial prejudice and both mental and physical disabilities. It's not for the faint of heart, yet it's so powerful. I'd like to share a quote about the power of hurt in terms of bigotry: ..."absent the element of hate, a person's skin color is only an indication of his or her geographical ancestry. But with that element, it is a soul stealer." This book will likely make your heart hurt but it will also have you cheering!

[Jessica Abarquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

General response/reaction:
This novel blew me away. I could not imagine a group of guys who have had more tragedy happen in their lives. Each guy in this book had struggles they had to deal with and sometimes readers forget that men have problems too. It is easier to read stories about women and their emotional issues because women are more vocal about it. The men in this novel are so proud and strong to vocalize their struggles every day. Crutcher does a wonderful job exploring the wide range of emotions felt by each individual character in this novel. He focuses more on the male emotions and struggles, and composes those issues perfectly. I truly enjoyed reading this different perspective.

Subjects, Themes, and Big Ideas:

• Domestic violence
• Identity
• Acceptance
• Sports
• Rage
• Ignorance
• Discrimination
• Emotional healing
• Growth/ Development



Characters:
• T.J. – main character, narrator of the novel, natural athlete, has a lot of rage problems but can control them, captain of the swim team
• Chris – a mentally challenged student who is a natural swimmer
• Mr. Simet – swim team coach
• Mr. Benson – football coach, feels that T.J. wasted his talent all four years by not going out for a “real” sports team
• Barbour – football team captain hates T.J.
• Mr. Jones – T.J.’s adopted father; teaches T.J. about whale talk

Plot summary:
T.J. is an adopted son trying to fit in at a school that prides itself of Athletics. Although T.J. is a natural athlete, he never participates in sports. When Mr. Simet asks T.J. to help him start a swim team, T.J. gets the most unlikely group of guys together. T.J.’s goal for the team is to gain the most coveted prize of Cutter High: The letter jacket. Since T.J. is not best friends with most of the Athletic Department, he believes that this group of unlikely mermen could embarrass the department by gaining those letters.

However, as the group trains and goes to competitions, each boy grows into a man. Each boy sheds his tough shell to reveal his softer side. The group bonds and soon this motley crew of swimmers become the closest of friends.

While the team is not the best, they continue to work hard and beat their personal best. Unfortunately, the personal life is not better. T.J. must deal with vindictive football players (and the coaches), domestic dispute problems, and living with his personal struggle of his mixed race.

Through all the difficulties, T.J. seems to make it through. He grows to care more about his team than himself and learns to channel his rage into other outlets (like helping children and swimming). He is able to help instill confidence in his fellow team members which leads Chris to beating Barbour in a swimming competition.

After the swim season is over, the group continues together to play basketball. While the game was clean, Marshall and Barbour do not take losing as well. Marshall goes crazy with the idea that he is losing his wife and kids and targets T.J.’s family. At the end of the basketball game, Marshall gets his rifle and points it at his own daughter. T.J.’s dad takes the bullet to save the girl.

By the end of the novel, T.J. learns how to control his rage and make real friends. He learns to accept his place in society and grows into a man.

Strengths (including reviews and awards):
• The book is raw and real. There is no holding back on any of the situations which makes the book harsher and more real. Crutcher doesn’t decorate his work; he tells it like it is.

Drawbacks or other cautions:
• Language, violence, traumatic experiences
• The teacher may want to caution students about these experiences so that everyone in the class is comfortable. There is no way of knowing if there is a student who has experienced some of these situations before.

Teaching ideas:
Whenever I read for this class, I think of teaching this book to high school kids. Here are my ideas:
• Journals – How bad is your family?
o This could be a pre-reading exercise. All the journals will remain confidential, but if anyone wants to volunteer to read theirs, it will be welcome. Some people won’t like their families because of curfew or other not-so-serious reasons. Hopefully, they will share these reasons and then as they read the book, realize how wonderful their life is.
• Explore each scenario
o There are so many different problems in this book. Maybe the class can be divided up to research each problem. For the domestic disputes, they can look up statistics and resources. A class project could be a supply drive to donate to shelters. Another group could study gangrene, mental illnesses, and other issues that arise in this story.
• Journals again
o Re-visit the first journal. Talk about what how the book ended.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book about the power of friendship and the human spirit. It is rare to find smart and honest YA books out there about real everyday issues that are often overlooked or not talked about. I loved the mix of humor and truth in this book and found myself really rooting for this rag tag group of young men. TJ is an awesome protagonist and his father is quite possibly one of the best YA fathers I have ever met. I am super sad about TJ's dad dying and wonder if that was 100% necessary to the story (I know, I know it was supposed to be redemption but wasn't he already redeemed??) and I am also not so sure about the whole lost son ending but the rest of the book was so wonderful these things did not stop me from loving this one

p.s. thanks to Wendy F for recommending this one!

[The Dusty Jacket · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s interesting being “of color” in a part of the country where Mark Fuhrman has his own radio talk show. My parents have always encouraged me to be loud when I run into racism, but I can’t count on racism being loud when it runs into me.

The Tao “T.J.” Jones is almost 18, adopted, and of mixed race (he’s black, Japanese, and white). He’s had to deal with racism early and often and isn’t much bothered by it anymore. What bothers him NOW is the elitism and exclusivity that the Cutter High School athletics department has placed on earning a letter jacket—an article of clothing he vehemently avoids acquiring. But after he’s recruited (rather academically coerced) into starting a swim team, he sets his sights on taking back his slice of the pie and assembles the unlikeliest group of misfits with the promise that each will earn a letter jacket of their own. Over the weeks, these young men not only begin to strengthen physically, but they start to heal emotionally and the lessons they learn in the water will stay with them long after the last swimmer touches the wall.

Crutcher’s Whale Talk was one of the American Library Association’s Top Five Most Challenged Books in 2005 and was removed from the Limestone County, Alabama school district’s five high school libraries for racism and offensive language. But the book also received countless honors and awards—all well deserved. Was the language spicy and derogatory? Sure was. There were also instances of physical abuse, bullying, child abuse, sexual assault, not to mention a little teacher-student blackmail, but instead the school board decided to focus on the “bad words” thus denying its students the opportunity to benefit from the many lessons contained in this exceptional book.

Whale Talk is my first introduction to Chris Crutcher and it won’t be my last. The story (think The Sandlot meets The Outsiders) is a feel-good story about a bunch of misfits who—led by a no-nonsense coach; a homeless, loyal assistant; and a talented, fearless team captain—band together to defy the odds and earn themselves a coveted prize. It’s a tale as old as time. Crutcher could have easily written a trite and predictable underdog story, but instead delivers a tale full of heart, hope, and forgiveness. These kids are diamonds in the rough and each is given an opportunity to shine and show their worth not only to their team, but to one another. These are principled young men who understand that they’re not fighting for a jacket with a fancy letter, but they’re standing up against stereotypes and proving that they are more than the label they’ve been assigned by their peers and society. These characters are steadfastly devoted to each other and you can’t help but cheer as each touches the wall and moves closer to achieving their goal. Crutcher is a master storyteller and truly taps into the high-school mindset with characters that are relatable, likeable, and you just can’t help but root for. With morally centered characters (including T.J.’s adoptive parents and especially his father who was given an incredibly heartbreaking backstory) and themes of acceptance, perseverance, and grace, Whale Talk should be moved from the banned books and instead placed on the required reading list.

Although T.J. may have started this journey with a questionable motive, he learned a lot about his teammates and himself along the way. There is a common theme of being able to project your own thoughts and feelings to the world so that everyone would instantly know your challenges, struggles, triumphs, and joys. T.J.’s therapist once told him that, “There is very little about humans that doesn’t have to do with connection.” Author Rachel Naomi Remen wrote, “The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen.” Imagine how many problems we could solve if we all just stopped being human for a moment and instead started acting a bit more like whales.

We’re now posting videos of some of our book reviews! Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thedustyjacket or on Instagram @tdjreviews and join in on the fun!

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished. Some language, lots of dialogue by the author that clearly belies that he's a therapist. In fact the whole story is mostly a tale of an abusive, racist man harassing his ex and her kids and the family that protects them against the backdrop of a sports story. The sports aspect of the story is fairly original. In order to help out a mentally challenged kid being bullied for wearing his dead brother's letter jacket, the protagonist, an athletic multiracial adopted boy (these details are important, as this part of American Northwest is described as teeming with neo-nazi types) helps start a school swimming team that is comprised of various misfits, including said kid, a rash, one legged swimmer, a geek, etc. The idea is that they will all letter, which will stick it to the haughty football players. Along the way, they end up sharing the bond many high school sports teams build. Both stories build up to a climax, one triumphant, one tragic.

The main weakness for me was that at times it felt too much like Crutcher was talking to me, not the characters. Make no mistake, this book is about as subtle as a sledgehammer most of the time. Also, if you've read previous Crutcher sports books, you'll likely recognize much of the formula, but if you liked his other books, that can be a positive. Liberal use of strong language and intense subjects like child abuse mean this is for mature teens.

[Celia Buell (semi hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't had a day recently where I got to sit down with the sole purpose of starting and finishing a novel, and I kind of feel like this wasn't a great one to do that with.

It's not that I didn't like Whale Talk, just that it seemed to be missing some elements. While there was a strong plot and a lot of character development, there just didn't seem to be a lot for the characters to develop from. There also wasn't much conflict, and the book just kind of ended when things were resolved, but lacked the central part.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy this. There is a time and place for feel-good sports and academic stories, and I'm definitely at a place in my life where I need that right now. This book had everything I love about underdog movies like Stand and Deliver or McFarland, USA. Maybe it just doesn't come across as strong in book form, when the conflicts all seem more arbitrary or instantly solved.

I did enjoy this, but it's not necessarily a book I would read again. It was a little too nothing of a book compared to other books in the genre.

[Janie Staires · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok so I got this book from book club and I had a hard time putting it down though to be honest it was hard to read certain scenes happening to the kids in this book. It was a eye opener with viewpoints I was both encaptured by and heartbroken by.

When Heidi starts to scrub the "black" off of her with a britto pad and starts bleeding. Dude that broke my heart. I got so angry at the character, Rich Marshall that I wanted to chuck my book across the room. I loved and appreciated Chris so so much and I grew to respect and love most if not all the team mates in some way! TJ is a great human just straight up a good narrator and person you grow with.

I think that one of the main points of the book with TJ's dad with living his Ptsd and whales being a symbol of what you carry and put out into the world through whale song was beautiful!

I enjoyed this book but god did it hurt. I think I'm going to come back to this book and think about parts of it but It might be a bit before I read it.

thank you Katie for the book💖💖

[Anna Drenick · Rating 4 out of 5]

When your students tell you to read a book, you read it

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023 Reread -- "Whale talk is the truth, and in a very short period of time, if you're a whale, you know exactly what it is to be you."

Damn Chris Crutcher...he can break my heart faster and more completely than most other authors. I knew how it would end, so I avoided finishing it Saturday night...I started to read a bonus essay, "More Whale Talk," in this paperback edition. Nope. Nope. Had to put that away also, as Crutcher writes about meeting a speech and debate group at a bookstore. You'll have to read it yourself to know how it dissolved me in tears, too.

So, I finished it Sunday morning, knowing I'd be wiping tears off my face for an hour.

TJ Jones is painfully honest, with a strong sense of justice. He's mixed-race in a vanilla school and community. Adopted, carrying so much trauma, but getting on with life. His adoptive parents are fierce advocates...Mom's a lawyer; Dad is carrying his own crushing trauma that he's spent TJ's life trying to correct...make amends for...

TJ's a natural athlete who hates organized sports in a town and school where athletes in letter jackets run the world. He stands up for a vulnerable boy carrying his own grief and hatches a scheme to collect misfits together, mold a swim team, and earn letter jackets for all his misfits.

TJ collects the vulnerable, the needy. He tries to protect them all and often makes big mistakes in his quest to save the world...or his little corner of the world. TJ collects people and creates a family built on love and support, not necessarily blood. He learns to listen, to be patient. To learn his truth, even when it breaks his heart. And breaks mine. Is he perfect? NO. He's cocky, impatient. His temper is monumental, and will always be his weakness. But he's learning. He's growing. He's seeing the world through other people's truths.

Crutcher was a teacher, a swimmer, a counselor. His characters come from all those young people whose stories he listened to, watched. The young people who touched his heart. He makes us love TJ, Heidi, Chris...his teammates. Because he loves them.

I'm so grateful I spent some time with TJ again and his hilarious team, and his wise parents, and little Heidi, whose life he probably saved. I'm picking up the broken pieces of my heart, knowing TJ has a towering future in front of him. I think he's ready to grab it.

As with all of Crutcher's books, this one is a target of book-banners. Which is exactly WHY young people need this book. Some will recognize themselves in TJ, or maybe in Barbour, or Heidi, or Chris. They will see we can survive the worst moments and build our futures. That we're not the worst moment of our lives, our worst mistake, our biggest tragedies. We are free to build a future, made richer by opening our lives to others who may need us.

******************************************************************************

Tao Jones (yes, say it out loud!) is one of my favorite Crutcher characters. His sense of justice allows him to fight for others who are unable to fight for themselves...His efforts to secure a letter jacket for Chris, a mentally disabled student at school result in the funniest swim team I've ever read about.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

T.J. is a natural born athlete but due to his background has a problem with authority and refuses to play team sports at his sports crazed high school. That is, until he hatches a plan to start a swim team of rejects and to get the whole team varsity letter jackets. Showing the jock centered power structure of the school what it really means to be sportsmen.

This is another of Chris Crutcher's fast paced well-written sports centered novels that skillfully melds sporting endeavors with serious social issues. Crutcher's books are full of characters that you wish you knew in real life. Even the heavies have their facets and one can often glean what makes the villain the villain. Given that these are written about high-school aged protagonists who are active in sports, they're naturals for engaging the interest of reluctant teen male readers. And the material that they cover makes them well worth reading for people of any age.

At moments this book is laugh out loud funny and there are other moments that make even a jaded old stoic a bit misty eyed. By all means, check it out for yourself.

[Dr. Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crutcher is so good at writing sports novels. I remember meeting him in high school before I'd really read any of his books and I thought he was the coolest person ever. I had a bit of star shock to my little brain, but I still enjoy his novels! Also he's like 74 now, just damn.

TJ Jones is not convinced that Cutter high school needs a swim team. But after witnessing one of the school bullies harass his friend over a letter jacket, he's determined to pull together the least likeliest team ever and have them win big. TJ sets out for his team to get letter jackets even though they don't have a pool, and only one of them can actually swim. But the Cutter All Night Mermen have spades of determination that will help propel them.

I loved this group of misfits! TJ was such an interesting character, besides his anger issues he had a very great take on how things should be. He stood up for those who needed protecting and was determined to not let the bullies of the world get him down. I was glad that he did slowly come to learn that he can't solve every problem with fistfights.

This was such an inspiring story about a team of misfits that managed to pull off a very impressive stunt through hard work and a little bit of luck. While the ending was bit bittersweet, the overall storyline was really encouraging. Plus there was so much in this book that probably resulted in it being banned so A+ Chris Crutcher.

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate that this book covers a lot of very heavy and important topics, but I can’t help feeling it is trying to cram in too many issues / plot points in a relatively short page count. While I have some critiques regarding the craft elements of this novel, it was the first book I had the privilege to witness drastically impact a student’s life, and for that I am grateful. Seeing a book find one of my students at the right time and connect so powerfully is one of the highs of my teaching career so far, and for that alone I’m bumping my rating up a star 🐋🌟🩵

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific work. I loved how much hope was part of the student’s teamwork.

[Nia Guest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t believe another book got me to cry. Totally worth it though, both the story and the prose of this book are phenomenal. Crutcher weaves witty dialogue with the most gut punching story in such a fantastic way, I’d recommend this to anyone.

[Maximillian Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you start reading Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher, you might take the wonderful humor and cynicism of the main character, T.J., as a sign that this is going to be the usual coming-of-age, snarky-teen-protagonist tale common in YAL. The guy is named “The Tao Jones” for Pete’s sake; the jokes practically write themselves. However, some readers might glance over the very heavy and heart-wrenching back-story of T.J. because of his humor, but his tragedy is a better foreshadowing of the themes of this novel than anything else. This is a very dark book. Every character has some sort of harsh history or situation that definitely adds depth but also makes them all the more depressing.

Not to say that makes the novel unreadable. As mentioned earlier, the humor is the real saving grace of this work; without it the depth and hard-hitting issues would leave every reader reaching for the razorblades after the last page. Yet, it was not the darkness that I had problems with but my own personal preferences. Crutcher assimilates and uses sports very heavily as a metaphor and way of connection the various elements of the story. As a person who never participated in school sports, these references were both foreign and tedious to me and worked to push me out of the narrative. I appreciate Crutcher’s techniques and understand why he employed them. I also understand how and why many male readers would more easily identify with this story. If a teacher were looking for a book that might attract teen male students into reading, this would be very effective. Is it teachable? I’m not so sure. It could definitely be used for its school settings and its themes of bullying, being an outcast and teen pressures but the way those themes are handled may be “too real” for any students younger than a 12th grader.

Is this a (objectively) good book? Yes. Do I (subjectively) like this book? No. Would I recommend this as a “good read”? ….Eh.

[Isamlq · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes my makes my month after a series of bore-me-brainless, I’ve-read-you-before reads. WHALE TALK is most definitely a favorite. It’s sweet and deep; smart and funny… and then ends on this ache-y note. I love love love so many things in it:

First,that it’s all about the underdog, because those? There were many here. Most of them have a sadness to share, but despite that (because of that?) there’s this bond that’s built up slowly… so, I found that a sweet progression. Second, that the Tao (who else loves his name?) gets called out on being arrogant, because he could get pretty arrogant, is small plus, because this is about him seeing those who get the short end of the stick and not getting why that’s the case. Then that he struggles with why little is done about so many things. It’s a struggle that gets harder when dealt with a couple of harsh truths like not being able to help those unwilling to help themselves and there being a reason why people are the way they are.

But, mainly I love the idea of people finding their place with others.

I believed the Magnificent Seven consisted of one swimmer of color, a representative from each extreme of the educational spectrum, a muscle man, a giant, a chameleon and psychopath; when in fact we have one swimmer of color, a representative from each extreme of the educational spectrum, a muscle man, a giant, a chameleon and a one legged psychopath.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to really enjoy YA novels, but Crutcher's leave me with the feeling that really good literature does: that the book is pure entertainment, and at the same time something far more universal than that.

This is the second of his books that I've enjoyed. He draws you in with wit and humor, and then moves into more important territory, and you're caught by the feeling that he has Something Important to Say. And he does. He says it plainly and beautifully and the wisdom he has gained about life shines through his characters.

His favorite theme seems to be how people can begin to accept the ways that good and evil are interacting and existing in the world. How they are so thoroughly interdependent that evil begets good and good sometimes begets evil until they both begin to lose the black and white contrasts of their identity. But at the same time they don't.

He also uses sports as a catalyst for camraderie and discipline and goodness, but doesn't take them too seriously.
I think his characters tend to be almost too articulate and awesome to be real teenagers, but you know what? Not all teenagers are average.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

T.J., whose real name is The Tao, was born into a home with a mother who was addicted to crank and crack. T.J. is black, Japanese, and white. Despite growing up with anger issues, he has channeled his rage and grown into an attractive, athletic, smart, and witty (often sarcastic), young man. Despite his athletic ability, he's stayed away from organized sports at school because he despises the jocks, who think they run the school. When T.J. sees Mike, a football star, picking on Chris, a boy with disabilities, he takes action. T.J. forms a swim team of outcasts in opposition to the "cool" jocks at the school. Chris is T.J's first recruit for a swim team of misfits: "a representative from each extreme of the educational spectrum, a muscle man, a giant, a chameleon, and a psychopath." This would be a great novel for classroom use because it addresses self-identity and what it means to be a misfit.

[Magpie67 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book several years ago when I saw an article in a local paper of a girl who didn't want to read it for her English class due to language. I had never heard of the book before and so my interest was piqued because I dislike censorship. This child was trying to get it banned based on language that I'm quite sure she heard everyday in the hallway of her high school.... Seriously..

I did enjoy the book very much and I loved the swim team aspect. I'm a swimmer and both my children have been on our local swim team. Plus I've always rooted for the misfits no matter what. This book taught some valuable lessons with sheer honesty.

[Daria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another of my fave books! T.J. Jones is an adopted, racially-mixed senior living in a small town in Washington. Though very athletically gifted, he refuses to join any organized school sports because of the almost "God-like" treatment received by the jocks. When his favorite English teacher Mr. Simet ask T.J. to join a swim team (despite the fact that the school does not have a pool), T.J. sees an opportunity to infuriate the jocks by putting together a motley group of misfit swimmers. T.J. learns about "whale talk" (the truth) from his father and his new teammates.

[K.Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a terrible cover and a less than inspiring teaser on the jacket. Now did this ever get picked up by any reader? Luckily, somebody read and I found it on a list of best books. I was blown away with how much I enjoyed the main character, TJ, and his band of misfit swimmers. The story is told from the clever TJ with his biting intelligence. I'm all about underdogs, and this is the best underdog story I've read in a long time! Read it!

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn to the cute new cover and its tale of a misfit swim team who want to earn letter jackets. The book feels a bit dated, but I can’t resist an underdog sport story and the ending is a heartbreaking punch in the gut.

[Moka · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, thought-provoking, quick read. There is one event in this book that I swear will haunt me forever...but I wont spoil it...

[Erica Odell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Crutcher writes the perfect problem novel. This is not to be confused with a problematic novel, in which proper representation of diversity is missing from a novel. A problem novel shows its readers the bad and the good of the society they live in. It is not a happy-go-lucky book, but shows what teens wonder and or worry about in terms of sex, drugs, money, peer pressure, health problems, etc.

Whale Talk has plenty of problems that the main character as well as secondary characters face. This includes, racism, misogyny physical and emotional abuse, child neglect and abandonment. I know sounds like a depressing book and believe me, there were a few moments when I thought “Omg! this actually happens; who could do that?!” However, this shock reaction, I believe is the point on the novel. As stated above, a problem novel shows you the good as well as the bad of a society. Whale Talk, tells the stories of individuals that do not have voice.

On the surface, this book follows a teen in high school (T.J.) while he assembles a swim team with a group of lets say, far from the traditional popular kids. A story about sports, athletics and getting the Letterman’s jacket. However below the surface, this book and these kids tackle more than they should have to. Within the swim team, the group of misfits form some kind of therapy group; a caccoon-like snug where they talk about things they would never mention on the outside. These outsiders form a friendship, a sense of belonging and a relationship they crave.

Whale Talk includes a quest for redemption, and a hero or a Robin Hood of sorts. A novel that ponders humanity for, “If we knew more about humans, maybe we could accommodate one another better.” I love this quote because it holds truth today. We think we know, but voices are silenced and thrown away. However, everyone deserves a safe place to voice their concerns, and everyone should respect and listen. Then maybe we can accommodate one another. Crutcher gives life, light and a voice to those left in the dark.

My favorite part of the book is when the title makes sense. I love that moment when you are reading and it just clicks. “Ahhh, know I see.” I won’t spoil if for you here, but you’ll just have to trust me.

[B.A. Malisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something really wrong with me, because every time I pick up a Chris Crutcher book, I love it and really connect with it, yet I'm always hesitating to read his stories. He writes really raw, honest characters who have messy lives, and his stories are both unique and unexpected, while still being easy to relate to.

This gem with an ugly cover is about a teen boy who starts up a ragtag swim team full of unlikely athletes, in order to prove a point to the overreaching athletics committee that tries to rule the school. The story is full of diversity and unexpected friendships, and there's a lot going on here, which I personally enjoyed. It makes a few big points, and it makes them loud, which is a strategy that I don't always like. I'm usually a big fan of subtlety and letting the reader take away what they choose to take away. However, they are things that not enough teen novels speak to and that are so good for struggling or at-risk teens to hear and think about, so I can't help but appreciate that.

I wish I head read this book while still teaching, because I can think of several kids right now that I could and would have handed this to. It would have been both a book they really needed but also one that I think they would have really loved.

Let's hope I don't wait another year or two to pick up my next Chris Crutcher book. Also, as an aside, I sat in a session with the author at a lit festival, and he's really a great guy. After hearing him talk so openly and honestly about kids, his work, and his writing, I basically wanted to go out and buy all of his books, which is how I ended up with Whale Talk in the first place. Why I didn't immediately read it probably has more to do with the cover than anything else, and I'm slightly ashamed to admit that.

Book 110 read in 2018

Pages: 223