Williwaw!

by Tom Bodett

Book Overview

"Bodett, the genial voice in those Motel 6 commercials, offers a page-turner set in the wilds of Alaska, and he clearly knows the taste of sea and storm, the face of the landscape, and the sound of the loons and the scent of salmon. In this sentimental but rousing tale, September Crane, 13, and her 12-year-old brother, Ivan, are often left to themselves while their father fishes for their living. . . . Bodett interweaves the story of the williwaw,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375806873
• ISBN13: 9780375806872
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Yearling Books
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Williwaw! Book Report was a Success!

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!

Williwaw!

Williwaw!By: Tom BodettReviewed by: Parth ShahPeriod: 1If you and your younger sister had the whole house to yourselves, would you remember what your parents said not to do? That was the case for Ivan and September because their dad who was a fisherman was delayed at sea. He told the children to not do two things. To not hook up any video games to the radio batteries. Or to not go near the bay. Obviously, kids don't listen to their parents when they aren't home, and Ivan decided to hook up his video games. And of course when you don't listen bad consequences can happen, and Ivan ended up breaking the shortwave radios, which was the one link to the outside world from Alaska. Ivan and his sister had to quickly repair the radios before their father came home otherwise he will be mad! That only meant one thing. They have to sneak back and forth on a little tiny boat across the Bag Bay.So Ivan and September waited a day or two until the skies were clear. But autumn is an unpredictable season and they would soon find out that heading their way is the most violent storm: a williwaw!I liked this book because it is interesting to find out if Ivan and his sister make it in time to fix the radio before their father comes back. I also like it when they had to find out a way to survive the storm. There is so much action and adventure and homour to this book.I didn't like this story that much because there were many boring parts of this book. For instance, the storm and the part when he hooks up the video games all go by fast.My favorite part of this book is when Ivan and his siter find out that they are home by themsleves and it is cool to see what they do. I like this part because it was very funny. I also like the parts when Ivan and his sister are adventurous and the story is full of action!

Wonderful Teen Adventure in Alaska

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.

Williwaw

This book was great. I live in the bush in Alaska and even homeschool. I could really relate to this story. Mr Bodett did a wonderful job describing the area and storms.

Who says "family-friendly" means "boring?"

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.