Whale Talk

"Whale Talk" introduces T.J. Jones, an adopted, multi-racial high school senior with a sharp wit and a history of anger issues. He decides to form a swim team composed of his school's overlooked and marginalized students, including a cognitively disabled boy, a one-legged student, and an obese teen. This seemingly simple act of rebellion against the school's jock-centric culture quickly spirals into a confrontation with deeper societal problems, including racism, child abuse, and gun violence, particularly involving a young girl named Heidi. The novel explores themes of identity, justice, family, and the power of an unlikely community. It's a powerful and often intense read, suitable for mature young adults who can engage with complex social issues.

A high-school bus provides surprising sanctuary for seven unlikely swim teammates who are, in the words of their coach, "A perennial road team. Mermen without a pond." These invisible kids resonate because of how the author sees them, believes in them, and lets them speak.