A Possibility of Whales - Hardcover

Karen Rivers’s books have been nominated for a wide range of literary awards and have been published in multiple languages. When she’s not writing, reading, or visiting schools, she can usu­ally be found hiking in the forest that flourishes behind her tiny old house in Victoria, British Columbia, where she lives with her two kids, two dogs, and two birds. Find her online at karenrivers.com and on Twitter: @karenrivers.
 

Gr 5–8—Twelve-year-old Natalia Rose Baleine Gallagher's father, famous movie star Xan Gallagher, tells her, "We all contain multitudes... Everyone isn't ever all one thing." The same could be said of A Possibility of Whales, a remarkable novel that encompasses more than the usual flotsam and jetsam of turning 13. Nat not only experiences her first period and secret crushes, but also aggressive paparazzi, tabloid secrets, a secret stolen cell phone, miraculous whale sightings, and the painful process of losing one best friend and finding another. At the heart of the novel lies the complex and sensitively drawn friendship between Nat and Harry, a transgender boy, as they both struggle to navigate middle school and the expectations of their families. Nat's witty and vulnerable voice drives the novel, from her wry observations about contemporary celebrity culture to the thoughtful collection of untranslatable words that help define her world. The chapters that center Harry's perspective are just as strong, emphasizing his desire to be seen and understood, not as an abstract exemplar of a transgender child but as an individual. The novel avoids offering simple solutions for questions of identity and adolescence, instead reveling in life's nuance and complexity. VERDICT Perfect for fans of Raymie Nightingale and Counting by Sevens, Rivers's latest work brings an improbable combination of elements together in an unforgettable story that is quirky and wise.—Molly Saunders, Homewood Public Library, AL