30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Who says "family-friendly" means "boring?", July 1, 1999
Tom Bodett's latest opus is a slender volume, and in fact it's really a longish novella. It has the same tone and pacing of his End of the Road tales.
The story concerns two young adolescent siblings, September and Ivan Crane. They live in the "bush" of Alaska, the wild and untamed areas far from power lines and telephone hookups. Their father, a commercial fisherman, must of necessity leave the children unattended for weeks at a stretch.
They stay in touch via radio communication, at least until Ivan fries the transceiver. Now, the kids have only a week to make enough money to repair the radio before Dad calls again. That means trips across Bag Bay, and in the autumn of the year, the dreaded, violent storms known as williwaw can spring up at a moment's notice. One such storm claimed the children's mother seven years before.
For a mainstream novel such as this, I was surprised at the total absence of any objectionable material. This book could fit very comfortably of a middle-school library shelf -- and yet it is not a "children's" book. This is a book for any reader who enjoys a page-turner.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Teen Adventure in Alaska, October 21, 2003
This is a strong message book - with the message being that even teenagers have to have moral character and live or die by their word. It's a story that is timeless, but is told like a folk tale, with country aphorisms and speckled with crusty old timers and real life problems. A good book for all ages, but particularly appealing to teenagers who should be able to relate to the problems of the teens in this story.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Williwaw! Book Report was a Success!, February 13, 2005
Hello Parents,
I was recently having a brief conversation with a friend, and I realized that many of us as parents are probably experiencing, and in some cases struggling with, the same issues related to assigned book reports for school. Issues like children procastinating to read the selected book, complete a written report, or prepare for oral report, etc.
Last year, a serious reading comprehension problem was recognized for my son. He did not enjoy reading AT ALL. His book selections were lower level grade reading. Unless a book at his grade level had been made into a movie (i.e., Harry Potter, Holes), he did not enjoy reading it. I realize now that after seeing the movie, he could then more readily visualize the storyline as he read the book.
This fall, my husband accompanied our son to the San Ramon Library to select a book for a 6th grade book report. Coincidentally, a book by Tom Bodett was on display in the library. Yes, Tom "We'll leave the porch light on for you" Bodett. As it turned out, it was an excellent selection. The plot is about siblings, 12 and 13 years old, and the choices they make while left alone. The book "Williwaw!" The book report was a success.
During the holidays, I purchased "Williwaw!" because my son enjoyed it so much, I knew he would read it over and over. I also purchased another book by Mr. Bodett, "Norman Tuttle on the Last Frontier." The oral book report that he is preparing for now was written completely on his own -- two pages, let me repeat, completely on his own! Success again! Norman is a teenager growing up in Alaska.
I highly recommend you check out these books. And if you do, I hope you have the same success as my son. I know we'll be checking out other books by Tom Bodett. Thank you Mr. Bodett!
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