Chris Crutcher's Whale Talk

In “Censorship: A Personal View”, the author, Judy Blume, argues that the censorship is the biggest restrictions that turn young people away from books that they are interested in. Blume first indicates that the censorship already existed while she was a kid. She provides her personal experience as a kid toward the curiosity about adult world that she wanted to read from books, but her parents and school were very careful and selective about what books she could read. Blume then expresses her own views on censorship while she likes to write the controversial topics as a writer. She provides her own experience while many of her books were banned because the topics in her book were dangerous to young people, and the censorship proposed the alternative

Each year, someone is guilty of challenging a book while others are guilty of banning novels from the classroom. The question remains, is censorship necessarily a negative thing? Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is a novel that has caused havoc and controversy within the education system. While some critics argue Speak should be “hidden” from students, many believe otherwise. At a glance, this novel contains scenes involving issues of drugs, parents that are disengaged in their child 's life, sexuality, and rape. It may seem understandable that it has been challenged throughout the past, however, while reading this novel, these specific scenes introduce a student to much more than just “inappropriate content.” By censoring this novel from

Judy Blume once said, “Something will be offensive to someone in every book, so you’ve just got to fight it.” Over the past twenty years, public libraries have started to ban certain books due to certain themes that have been seen as “unfit” by the county board. But personally, i wonder who is really at liberty to say what is fit in our society. In a country where it is our very right to freedom of speech, banning books does not only go against it, but it’s almost an insult. The public library should not have any banned books because it promotes censorship, it is futile, and the books we read are some of our greatest teachers.

First, the author argues, “When engaging in critical literacy, readers question reality and entertain multiple perspectives about particular topics, attitudes, and behaviors” (Graff). Challenged and banned books are beneficial to readers. These banned books help students evaluate more difficult pieces of literature, which could be used in the future. Jennifer Graff states, “...Book censorship helps us think critically about the power of the written word as well as the relationships between individuals, texts, and contexts, to paraphrase Lawrence Sipe (1999)” (Graff). Banned and challenged books allow readers to see the truth--from the past, future, or present--written by the author. Readers can apply these ideas to real-life situations successfully. In the article, On Reading and Sharing Banned Books, the topic of “...heightened sensitivity about what and how we say things,” and needing, “ongoing conversations about how literature can be part of our lives without undue stress and controversy” is exposed (Graff). Books are written for many reasons, to inform persuade, entertain, and relax; however, with books censorship, finding relaxing or entertaining books is extremely difficult. Without censorship, readers could easily discuss these now controversial topics without worry. The purpose of the book, good moral, and potentially

There are many different messages in the novel. “Whale Talk,” I think the most important and relatable in this book is bullying, harassment, and racism. There are many real-life situations of bullying and racism throughout the whole book.

Whale Talk is filled with difficult, hard to read, and disgusting acts of violence which do sadly happen in real life. Chris tries to bring some of these acts to light in this book and it works out very well. The book shows how much bad stuff can happen to someone and also how someone may be able to make it through the situation. Chris was truly trying to help people with this book while also writing a memorable and great

“The twists and turns of your life can be so unexpected, and that's a good thing to learn.” Whale talk is a story of a kid named T.J and some of his friends that go through a life of a teenager. In the story Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher, people who have been through traumatic events cope with challenges in their lives by overcoming, forgetting, or learning.

Throughout time, countless great children’s books have been published and then loved by many. To name a few, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. What do these three books have in common? They were all published as children’s books, then kept out of their hands for numerous reasons. Parents and teachers claimed these books were unfit for children’s reading. They either introduced topics that were not open to them yet or went against their lifestyle. All around the world, great books are being kept from children for doltish reasons. They are being censored, then banned from their eyes. Taking this literature from them is ruining their childhood; it is preventing children from learning about the world and being ready for it. Censoring in children’s books needs to become less harsh or else they are going to grow up in a sealed world.

Beyond athletes, Cutter High School also contains problematic coaches. Part of the reason T.J. doesn’t participate on other sports teams at school is because of the coaching staff. He explains, “Coaches have tried to get me to turn out for sports since junior high. Sometimes they’re insistent and sometimes downright nasty…even to the point of calling me a traitor” (11). These are grown men who place an overwhelming amount of importance on their sports and can’t look past their goal of winning. T.J. refers to Coach Benson, the football coach, and Coach Roundtree, the basketball coach, noting that at some point he’s sure the two coaches would “retreat to the time-tested and highly grating tool of public humiliation as a motivator” (12). Besides the way this coaching style grates personally on T.J., it shows a lack of tolerance from these coaches as well as a lack of respect for the very

It is better to look confident than to ask questions in this modern society. However, it is fear and uncertainty that lead mankind down dark paths. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said in Whitney v. California “…Men feared witches and burnt women. It is the function of speech to free men from the bondage of irrational fears” (Cornell Law School). The content of the books in Pico was morally unacceptable to a group of concerned parents, as they were afraid of the writers’ influence on their children. The question of morality policing by schools is seen in other banned book instances, as well. In fact, take Dr. Seuss’ classic The Lorax, a children’s book about conservation, or the 1987 American Heritage dictionary, which was banned for its addition of slang words (The Week). The question is where the line is drawn between what is acceptable and what is not, and who is granted the authority to decide? Are different cultural liaisons consulted? Are the religious and atheist asked their opinions or is it up to the agnostic to decide? Not only this but are educators made to be the primary compass in the moral lives of their students? Can they actually force their views and opinions on their pupils? What would be the result when the inevitable happens and a child’s family has a different view on what is acceptable than that of the superintendent of the school district? Censorship can only lead to bigger questions and grave concerns. Primarily, why is one philosophy towards life morally acceptable when another is not? Beyond this, how can adults answer questions children might have in relation to things about which they know nothing? Is it that unbelievable that a child would ask another child their questions and file their peers’ responses away in their mental filing cabinets? As society has seen through every generation, this absolutely happens. Taking

Often, violence can be viewed as a harsh method to get a point across. Preserving American values by protecting children from violence when the government perpetuates some of the worst atrocities. While banning the book is supported by American exceptionalism, the American society is a democracy that values not using cruel and unusual punishment or corporal punishment. Although, it is understandable for people to banned books containing violence to preserve children's innocence, American values or Christian values, it is crucial for people to understand about the evil and intolerance from books. Banning the messenger does not end the evil action or unkindness, but worsen the the situation. "Silence is violence when, as in this instance, it

"Censoring books that deal with difficult, adolescent issues does not protect anybody. Quite the opposite. It leaves kids in the darkness and makes them vulnerable. Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance. Our children cannot afford to have the truth of the world withheld from them” (Halse).

“I walk outside, scream at the top of my lungs, and maybe it travels two blocks” said Tj Jones. In the novel Whale Talk by Chris Cutcher, Tj Jones and Andy Mot go against the commonwealth and people’s suppositions.

Censoring books is perceived as a way of parents protecting their children from scandalous subjects, however, by banning books they deprive them essential lessons they can use in society. An example that Lee Burress offers in Battle of the Books, is how a book can give a modern perspective on a subject, children are unfamiliar with, but may encounter. “Foster Child by Marion Bauer is a banned book that gives a modern perspective of how modern foster children are treated” (Burress). It touches the subject of sexual abuse and although parents try to protect their children from these subjects: it is better for children to know what sexual abuse is rather than remaining ignorant. In this case ignorance is not bliss and it can lead to children being unable to identity when they are being molested. It can also teach children empathy and lead them

“Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance”. – Laurie Henderson. By banning books, it can deprive children the information or the mental nourishment they will need for life.