Whale Talk 

• Genre: Fiction; sports; young adult 
• Originally Published: 2001 
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1000L; grades 9-12 
• Structure/Length: Approximately 304 pages; approximately 6 hours and 32 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The protagonist, T.J. Jones, is a multiracial high school senior, adept in athletics but disdainful of high school sports culture. He forms a swim team of misfits challenging the school’s traditional athletic hierarchy and racist attitudes. The central conflict involves T.J.’s efforts to help his team members earn letter jackets, confronting deep-seated prejudices and personal demons along the way. 
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Racism; ableism; violence, including gun violence and sexual coercion; child and domestic abuse; suicidal ideation; drug and alcohol abuse; bullying; trauma and mental health concerns; adoption; strong language

Chris Crutcher, Author 

• Bio: Born in 1946; an American novelist and a family therapist known for his significant contribution to young adult literature; often features sports as a backdrop in his work, through which he explores complex themes such as racism, disability, and child abuse, drawing on his experiences as a therapist 
• Other Works: Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes (1993); Ironman (1995); Deadline (2007); Stotan! (1986)
• Awards: ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2002); ABC Children’s Booksellers Choices Award (2002); Pacific Northwest Book Award (2002); Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature (2003)