Willa and the Whale is a sweet, contemporary, realistic middle grade novel–except Willa finds she can talk to a whale and the whale can talk back. (Not a spoiler since this information is on the book’s cover.) This phenomenon is never explained, nor dismissed as a figment of her imagination, so the reader can interpret to their liking. It is a touching way for Willa to open up her most innermost thoughts. The book is in first person and chapters are opened with excerpts from Willa’s journals at various times of her life. Appreciation and awe for the ocean and its life are a major theme in the books so this is a must read for ocean-lovers and some cool facts will be picked up by the reader along the way.
The authors did an especially nice job of weaving in multiple themes that are “real”, but that can be heavy to address with younger audiences. This deft treatment made things authentic while keeping it from feeling hodge-podge.
While this novel is gentle enough for a reader as young as nine, it will probably have more appeal and resonant stronger with the older middle grade reader of eleven to thirteen-years-old. Willa is in middle school and so the setting will feel quite familiar to other middle schoolers. Ultimately, this novel is hopeful and the world can always use a little more hope.
Review of an Advance Reading Copy
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Shadow Mountain
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: None
Violence/Gore: Character relates story about orcas trying to eat another animal; report of death of a parent due to medical condition; report of a baby animal born dead; characters playfully punch each other in the arms; characters what a historical film regarding the violent disposition of a large, dead animal; animal dies.
Sex/Nudity: Character teases another about “lip-smacking” aka kissing.
Mature Subject Matter:
Death of a parent, death of an animal, divorce, remarriage, therapy, drug addiction.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
A character is said to be addicted to drugs, no details.
