Whale Talk Audiobook By Chris Crutcher cover art

Whale Talk

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Whale Talk

By: Chris Crutcher
Narrated by: Brian Corrigan
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There’s bad news and good news about the Cutter High School swim team. The bad news is that they don’t have a pool. The good news is that only one of them can swim anyway. A group of misfits brought together by T. J. Jones (the J is redundant), the Cutter All Night Mermen struggle to find their places in a school that has no place for them. T.J. is convinced that a varsity letter jacket - exclusive, revered, the symbol (as far as T.J. is concerned) of all that is screwed up at Cutter High - will also be an effective tool. He’s right. He’s also wrong. Still, it’s always the quest that counts. And the bus on which the Mermen travel to swim meets soon becomes the space where they gradually allow themselves to talk, to fit, to grow. Together they’ll fight for dignity in a world where tragedy and comedy dance side by side, where a moment’s inattention can bring lifelong heartache, and where true acceptance is the only prescription for what ails us.

©2002 Chris Crutcher (P)2002 Listening Library Bullying & Abuse Depression & Mental Health Difficult Situations Emotions & Feelings Literature & Fiction Physical & Emotional Abuse Sports Fiction Fiction Merfolk Heartfelt

Critic reviews

"Crutcher’s gripping tale of small-town prejudice delivers a frank, powerful message about social issues and ills.” ( Publishers Weekly)
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It was a very good story. We can all learn something from it. Sad but, still fulfilling.

Something to Learn

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I loved the first person narrative of TJ and the reality of how so little we know about what’s happening in other peoples lives

The humanity of decent people

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What made the experience of listening to Whale Talk the most enjoyable?

Great story, and the narrator nailed all the parts.

What other book might you compare Whale Talk to and why?

Similar to most all crutcher books.

Which character – as performed by Brian Corrigan – was your favorite?

TJ

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It has times you laugh, feel frustrated, angry, feel like crying. It's a full circle of emotions

Awesome!

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Wow, this was very powerful and thought provoking and enjoyable! Quite a bit of language and very adult themes, so it’s interesting it was recommended for my high schooler, but lots of good stuff to talk about. I feel like I just finished an advanced level psychology course that I’m going to miss - and be a more compassionate and informed human for having done so.

Powerful story!

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I liked that u can’t tell a book by its cover! Wish there were more people in the world like the characters in this story! Maybe there are, but we don’t hear about them😔

Whale Talk

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This story is so well written and so captivating that I listened to it in two days

Best audio book I have ever listened to

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This book made me go out for swim team in high-school. One of the best decisions I ever made.

One of my favorites

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