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Williwaw! Audiobook
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(3.14) - 145 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From humorist, storyteller, author, and the voice of Motel 6 commercials, here is an exciting middle-grade adventure novel set in rural Alaska. Ivan and September Crane, ages 12 and 13, are left alone for a couple of weeks while their fisherman Dad is away at sea. In typical adolescent fashion, they quickly proceed to ignore his only two instructions–don't run down the batteries on the portable short-wave radio, their only means of communication, and don't cross the bay to town. Through a series of bad decisions they find themselves crossing Bag Bay in their skiff when they are suddenly overtaken by a sudden and fierce autumn storm known as a williwaw. Ivan and September must use every ounce of strength, courage, and ingenuity they posses to keep themselves afloat until help comes. Williwaw contains rich descriptions of Alaskan geography and wildlife. Its likable characters and taut suspense will keep readers riveted until the last page.
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"I loved this book but as a read aloud it had mixed reviews. Some students were anxious for it to end but some loved it. We voted and the class chose not to abandon it. I suspect I love it so much because it is about Alaska. "
— Donna (4 out of 5 stars)
Williwaw! Listener Reviews
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" I really liked the book, but the actual storm part is very small. I thought that was the focus of the book, but it's really about them living on the island. "
— Betsy, 1/12/2014 -
" This is an amazing book "
— Katelynn, 12/13/2013 -
" I REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK BUT THEY KEPT GETTING INTO TROUBLE!!!!!! IVAN IS SOOOO FUNNY IN THE BOOK!!!! "
— Alex, 10/11/2013 -
" Tense sections and adventure/survival but a bit predictable. "
— Dotty, 7/14/2013 -
" great kids book. felt silly reading it on BART, etc. but it's about alaska so i couldn't resist. i like reading a children's book every now and then, and when i learned tom bodett lived in alaska for 23 years, this was the first of his books i picked up. it made me want to live out in the bush! "
— Tara, 5/26/2013 -
" September & brother Ivan make choices for survival in the Alaska semi-wilderness while their father finishes his commercial fishing job. "
— Vicki, 4/10/2013 -
" An exciting fourth grade and up read. "
— Nancy, 3/9/2013 -
" I read this while in the 5th grade. I was very much surprised at how good it was. Highly entertaining, emotional, and action filled. I got a lot from this book. I highly recommend it to anyone. "
— Michael, 10/22/2012 -
" A great read about the trials and tribulations of decision making as a youth with a taste of adventure. "
— Kelly, 8/23/2012 -
" I loved this book but as a read aloud it had mixed reviews. Some students were anxious for it to end but some loved it. We voted and the class chose not to abandon it. I suspect I love it so much because it is about Alaska. "
— Donna, 7/26/2012 -
" i recommend this book because it shows how stubborn and selfish people could be. "
— Edgar, 6/16/2012 -
" I read this when I was in fourth grade and I begged my mom to read it and she loved it too! Strangely my best friend didn't- I was like WHAT???? :):):):):)This is an action-packed book! "
— Rebecca, 11/2/2011 -
" Another boring book I had to read in elementary school, sixth grade I think, why anyone considers this an interesting read for anyone is beyond me. It's too bad there are not very many good books for kids grade third through six. "
— Zofie, 6/14/2011 -
" It was a very good book! To bad the mom died. "
— Courtney, 5/23/2011 -
" i read this for a book report in 6th grade...ehh... not the best "
— Lilly, 3/20/2011 -
" Such acute story; really short, but sweet. "
— Joelle, 3/10/2011 -
" Not as good as I thought "
— Elaina, 3/2/2011 -
" I read this while in the 5th grade. I was very much surprised at how good it was. Highly entertaining, emotional, and action filled. I got a lot from this book. I highly recommend it to anyone. "
— Michael, 2/5/2011 -
" Another boring book I had to read in elementary school, sixth grade I think, why anyone considers this an interesting read for anyone is beyond me. It's too bad there are not very many good books for kids grade third through six. "
— Laila, 10/13/2010 -
" It was a very good book! To bad the mom died. "
— Courtney, 6/6/2010 -
" i recommend this book because it shows how stubborn and selfish people could be. "
— Edgar, 2/19/2010 -
" I read this when I was in fourth grade and I begged my mom to read it and she loved it too! Strangely my best friend didn't- I was like WHAT???? :):):):):)This is an action-packed book! "
— Rebecca, 2/18/2010 -
" I really liked the book, but the actual storm part is very small. I thought that was the focus of the book, but it's really about them living on the island. "
— Betsy, 12/26/2009 -
" Not as good as I thought "
— Elaina, 7/10/2009 -
" I REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK BUT THEY KEPT GETTING INTO TROUBLE!!!!!! IVAN IS SOOOO FUNNY IN THE BOOK!!!! "
— Alex, 5/20/2009 -
" An exciting fourth grade and up read. "
— Nancy, 1/13/2009 -
" i read this for a book report in 6th grade...ehh... not the best "
— Lilly, 11/25/2008 -
" great kids book. felt silly reading it on BART, etc. but it's about alaska so i couldn't resist. i like reading a children's book every now and then, and when i learned tom bodett lived in alaska for 23 years, this was the first of his books i picked up. it made me want to live out in the bush! "
— tara, 5/9/2008 -
" Listening to Tom Bodet tell this tale, added to the excitement of the story. The story relates life in the Alaska and the challenges of growing up. <br/>Great story for families. "
— Jeanne, 3/4/2008
About Tom Bodett
Thomas Edward “Tom” Bodett is an American author, voice actor, and radio host. He is also the spokesman for the Motel 6 hotel chain and is famous for popularizing the phrase, “We’ll leave the light on for you.” He is the author of several essay collections including, The End of the Road and As Far As You Can Go without a Passport, and in 2010 he published his first childrens book, Williwaw! Bodette is currently a regular contributor to The Bob Edwards Show on XMPR and panelist on Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me!, a National Public Radio news quiz show. A former resident of Seattle, Washington, and Homer, Alaska, he now lives in Vermont.