“I just finished _Whale Talk_ by Chris Crutcher, a new author for me. This is a good book for teens, especially boys who gravitate towards sports stories. Yes, it's got plenty of the hormones and competitiveness, but it also reminds us boys are as complex emotionally as girls. A group of misfits form a swim team and learn things about themselves and gain a sense of belonging they've never know. Add to that mix issues of race, bigotry, prejudice (on a variety of levels), child welfare, foster care, drugs and fatal, life altering experiences and you've got _Whale Talk_. Crutcher does a great job at voice and characterization and does well with life lessons without going over the top. The target audience is YA but any adult who cares about youth can appreciate the novel. I'm really glad I read the recommended title. Solid read.”
posted Sunday, May 25 2008