[LM_NET] BOOK: Whale talk by Crutcher

[Frederick Muller <mullinator52@GMAIL.COM>]

Crutcher, Chris. Whale talk. Laurel-Leaf, 2001 [0-440-22938-3]
T.J. is one of a group of odd athletes put together to form a HS swim team.
To top it off, he is an adopted African American crack baby who has spent
many years in counseling.  This is a book of people dealing with adversity.
T.J.'s father accidentally killed a child, T.J. is a great athlete who does
not like organized sports, the HS feels T.J. feels he has let the school
down by not participating in sports. Some of the usual jocks in the football
team do not like T.J. and by a quirk, he and his family ends up becoming the
foster family for the family of one of these abusive jocks. This 220 page
book is a heart-wrenching tale of a large, colorful cast of characters all
dealing with their problems in different ways.  The swim team has a great
collection of members.  This is a powerful and harsh book.. maybe too many
of the characters have to struggle with adversities, but it is great read.
Be aware that there is some harsh language (including the f-word), but not
overdone in my mind.


-- 
Frederick Muller, Librarian
Halsted Middle School Library
Newton, NJ
mullinator52@gmail.com
My book reviews are compiled at http://www.mullersreviews.com
My book review blog is at http://MullerInTheMiddle.blogspot.com

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