Whale Talk
by Chris Crutcher
Random House
New York
2001
ISBN: 0440229383
T.J.Jones is talented in almost every sport he's ever encountered, but the problem is, he's never wanted to assist in the glory of all the jocks and coaches at school that he hates. Born to a white, crackhead mother, he came out black, Japanese, and unwanted. Lucky for him, two wonderful people that wanted him, adopted him. But T.J. still needs to figure out what it is he wants. At his favorite teacher's urging, he crafts a band of fellow misfits into the new high school swim team: through the group, he finds himself.
Critical Evaluation:
The stories of abuse that consistently appear throughout the novel are expressed in a productive, sensitive way; pain is described as a natural part of a continuum towards healing. T.J.'s tale is told according to such a continuum, his progress towards emotional wholeness tracked alongside his physical and emotional engagement with a band of misfits. Whale Talk never deters from T.J.'s perspective, and though this leads to a greater understanding of the character, it furthers the feeling of his persona as a tad too grandiose, which in turn deflects from the character's potential impact upon the reader.
Reader's Annotation:
T.J.Jones is a rebel...but for the most part it's without much of a cause. Then he starts swimming with a bunch of other misfits, and finds a reason (and a heart) to go with that rebellion.
Author Info:
Chris Crutcher is the author of nine young adult novels, five of which can be found on the ALA's one hundred Best of the Best Books for Young Adults published during the last four decades of the twentieth century. His previous life as a child and family therapist has certainly aided in his complex and insightful views on the emotional lives of teenagers (and their parents).
Genre:
Issue/Athletic/YA Fiction
Reader Level/Interest Age:
Written with teenagers in mind, and categorized as such. The story's conflicts and T.J.Jones' emotions with resonate with a reader of any age, however his perspective often feels woefully outsized and juvenile.
Booktalking Ideas:
*Can T.J. finally live up to his own name and begin to see the yin and the yang of things?
*How can T.J.'s athletic prowess be explained? And, why won't he participate in high school sports?
*How is his participation on the swim team different for him?
*Is T.J. like his father?
Challenge Issues:
The multiple stories of child abuse and additional forms of violence will likely cause alarm for some, and the prevalent racism encountered by T.J. will also likely alarm. However, Crutcher's past experience as a psychotherapist means that the issues are managed, confronted, and overcome, serving as a model for any reader with similar problems. This reasoning will serve in defense to any challenges, as will Crutcher's place amongst librarians and other educators.
Why Include?:
Because of his ongoing popularity and large catalogue, knowledge of Crutcher's novels is a must.
