Whale Talk

Chris CrutcherFiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2001

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Whale Talk

Genre: Fiction; sports; young adult
Originally Published: 2001
Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1000L; grades 9-12
Structure/Length: Approximately 304 pages; approximately 6 hours and 32 minutes on audio
Protagonist/Central Conflict: The protagonist, T.J. Jones, is a multiracial high school senior, adept in athletics but disdainful of high school sports culture. He forms a swim team of misfits challenging the school’s traditional athletic hierarchy and racist attitudes. The central conflict involves T.J.’s efforts to help his team members earn letter jackets, confronting deep-seated prejudices and personal demons along the way.
Potential Sensitivity Issues: Racism; ableism; violence, including gun violence and sexual coercion; child and domestic abuse; suicidal ideation; drug and alcohol abuse; bullying; trauma and mental health concerns; adoption; strong language

Chris Crutcher, Author

Bio: Born in 1946; an American novelist and a family therapist known for his significant contribution to young adult literature; often features sports as a backdrop in his work, through which he explores complex themes such as racism, disability, and child abuse, drawing on his experiences as a therapist
Other Works: Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes (1993); Ironman (1995); Deadline (2007); Stotan! (1986)
Awards: ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2002); ABC Children’s Booksellers Choices Award (2002); Pacific Northwest Book Award (2002); Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature (2003)