"Whale Talk" Edgy Young Adult Novel of Fiction

Title: "Whale Talk"

Author: Chris Crutcher

Author Website: http://www.chriscrutcher.com/

Publisher: Greenwillow, HarperCollins Children's Books Group (2001)

Genre: Realistic Fiction - "Edgy Novel"

Awards:

Notable/Best Books (A.L.A.) (2002)
Book Report starred (2001)
Publishers Weekly starred (2001)

Plot Summary:

The Tao (pronounced “The Dow”) better known as T.J. Jones is the protagonist in Chris Crutcher’s edgy realistic fiction novel, “Whale Talk” T.J. attends Cutter High School in Washington state where he is shunned by the district’s athletic coaches and athletes for not playing organized sports for the school. T.J. is a very quick-witted, intelligent and athletically talented young man. His ethnicity falls into the category of a multi-racial “potpourri” (as T.J. puts it). He is of African-American, Japanese and Northern European decent. His humorous personality is overflowing throughout the novel. Speaking aloofly of his ethnicity he says, “I have never been to Africa or Japan and for that matter, I do not even know what countries make up Northern Europe.” “God, by the time I wrote all that on a job application, the position would be filled.” His intelligence, athletic ability and ethnicity are both a blessing and a curse. T.J. has his struggles, but is more than capable of getting through them with a little assistance from his loving and nurturing adoptive parents and a dedicated and caring social/child welfare worker named Georgia.

Disgusted with the “Jock” mentality of the high school coaches and administration, T.J is wise beyond his years recognizing the empty glory in their “athletics always comes first” policies. T.J., a decent swimmer himself, with the encouragement of one of the school’s level headed coaches, decides to start a new sport at Cutter High, “The Cutter Swimming Mermen”. Realizing that he’ll need more than himself to comprise a team, T.J. recruits a colorful cast of characters, most of whom are not necessarily athletes; to swim for Cutter, and their own dignity. What they find is a whole lot more than any of them ever expected of the team, or themselves.

Throughout the novel, while the Mermen struggle to keep their heads above the water T.J.’s goal is for the guys on his team to earn varsity letters. Meanwhile, as the team is working hard, the football and basketball coaches are changing the requirements to earn such letters, stating that they want to uphold the athletic integrity of the district’s lettering policy. These are just the ideals, or lack thereof to which T.J has and will remain opposed. Throughout his struggle for justice in the school, he and his family fight for the justice and protection of a young mother and her children by taking them into their home.

My Reaction:

Crutcher’s descriptive writing and dynamic character development makes reading this book a true pleasure. Profane language is present throughout the novel, but not unnecessarily. In most cases it is utilized in the context of high school conversations or in the case of one of T.J.s adversaries’ drinking binges. It is utilized effectively and not just for show, but to dramatize various situations and emphasize the maladjustment of certain characters. After reading Whale Talk I am anxious to read his other novels. I believe that young adult readers will appreciate his honest and true to life characters, scenarios and action. I had a difficult time putting this book down once I opened it. I am sure that many high school readers will relate well with T.J. whether they are athletes or not. Further, T.J. seems larger than life and he always seems to do the right thing, which sends a wholesome message to the reader.

My Recommendation:

Considering the adult and abusive language, minor sexual content, and a couple of scenes of drunken rage and violence, I would recommend this book for mature young adult readers grades 10-12. Although these components exist, they are well within the context of the story and not just thrown in for effect; they add to the realism and authenticity of the story. I am not one to see the need for profane language in children's or even young adult literature, but Crutcher uses it effectively in Whale Talk.

Book Talk Hook:

Have you ever been fed-up with the "Jock" mentality in our school? Have you ever been told that you were not good enough to be on a team, or felt like you were a misfit and did not fit in? Like Rudolph and his little dentist friend in "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer by Rankin-Bass, that is the way that T.J and his swimming Mermen felt. Read Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher to find out how he and his teammates dealt with their adversity as they worked hard to overcome their misfit status.