A Possibility of Whales

Nat is twelve years old and has moved many times in her short life. Her father, XAN GALLAGHER (all caps always because he is truly larger than life) is a hugely popular movie star who hasn’t had a hit in many years, but that doesn’t stop the paparazzi from following them around, a big impetus for the many moves. Moving means losing friends and trying to make new friends. Nat had a best friend before their last move, and now she has a friend, Harry, whose real name is Harriet, but Harry insists he is a boy — just wasn’t born that way. His parents don’t see it the same. It’s complicated. And Nat doesn’t know who her mother is, and, as Nat approaches womanhood, that is a huge hole in her life. And then there are the whales.

Author Karen Rivers has written a richly layered story filled with beautifully-rendered characters and settings and a story that captures readers and compels them to keep turning pages. This will not only connect with middle-graders today but will grab older readers and remind them of the angst and poignancy of early adolescence. This book deserves wide readership. Don’t miss it.