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haileylenora 's review for:
Whale Talk
by Chris Crutcher
I liked this book quite a bit more than I expected, because I don't usually read Sport books. I blew through this book too, it was very readable. This novel would make a very typical sports movie, and even though some bits were a little cheesy, I found myself very entertained.
It seems the characters- as another reviewer put it- has some sort of dramatic flaw or quality hindering them from normal social expectations, so much that the motley crew of swimmers seems too perfectly outcast. I know that T.J.'s aim was to assemble a team of misfits, so I can't really complain too much about that.
T.J.'s narration was for the most part quite solid, although I was a little surprised by how dismissive his attention to his girlfriend, Carly, was. I know that their romance wasn't the main plot, but she only came into the picture whenever her presence needed to be the mediator or the tie to another plot point. Usually a teenage boy's girlfriend plays a much more prominent role in his life than a convenient way to introduce a new subplot.
A couple of times I found myself thinking, "Why do these people care so much about letter jackets?" Even though it's a pride thing, about making outcasts feel like they belong, in my mind it's still a jacket, no matter how much symbolism it contains.
I liked T.J.'s father a lot as a character, as well as Icko. The events in this book can be quite disturbing, and it will stay with me for a long time. It really does open your eyes, and I can definitely see it being taught in a classroom.
It seems the characters- as another reviewer put it- has some sort of dramatic flaw or quality hindering them from normal social expectations, so much that the motley crew of swimmers seems too perfectly outcast. I know that T.J.'s aim was to assemble a team of misfits, so I can't really complain too much about that.
T.J.'s narration was for the most part quite solid, although I was a little surprised by how dismissive his attention to his girlfriend, Carly, was. I know that their romance wasn't the main plot, but she only came into the picture whenever her presence needed to be the mediator or the tie to another plot point. Usually a teenage boy's girlfriend plays a much more prominent role in his life than a convenient way to introduce a new subplot.
A couple of times I found myself thinking, "Why do these people care so much about letter jackets?" Even though it's a pride thing, about making outcasts feel like they belong, in my mind it's still a jacket, no matter how much symbolism it contains.
I liked T.J.'s father a lot as a character, as well as Icko. The events in this book can be quite disturbing, and it will stay with me for a long time. It really does open your eyes, and I can definitely see it being taught in a classroom.