Williwaw!

By: Tom Bodett

Narrated by: Tom Bodett

Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Growing up in a remote part of Alaska, Ivan and September Crane know that autumn is an unpredictable season - days of clear blue skies can give way to fierce, sudden storms in a blink. They know the trouble signs: changes in the wind, the temperature, or even the color of the dawn. But somehow, this time, left alone when their fisherman father is delayed at sea, even their keen sense of their surroundings and the lessons they've been taught fail them. So does their common sense. Though their dad warned them not to hook up their video game to the short-wave radio batteries and ordered them to stay off moody Bag Bay in their skiff, they wind up doing both. With their radio - their only link to the outside world and the town across Bag Bay - fried and useless, they've got to sneak into town to have it repaired.

Soon brother and sister are caught up in a whirlpool of complications from which they can't escape. And unbeknownst to them, heading viciously and mercilessly their way is something they fear more than anything else on Bag Bay: a williwaw, a violent and unbending storm, the kind that took their mother's life years before.

©1999 Tom Bodett; 2000 Random House, Inc. (P)1999 Wayne McLoughlin; 16 9; 1998 Windham Hill Records

Extremely enjoyable book

This is one of the most enjoyable stories I've come across on Audible. Trying to soak up some books related to Alaska before a trip planned for summer 2013, and this ended up first on the list. Audio quality seemed a little less than on most other audiobooks I've listened to on Audible. This was more than made up for with Tom Bodett's delivery, and his engaging and accessible story. A great storyteller and I'll be checking out other works by Mr. Bodett in the future. A very familiar voice in the narration as well - if you've heard the Motel 6 commercials, you've bumped into Mr. Bodett. This is one of those books I couldn't wait to resume each time I got back to my mp3 player.

Starts out slow but, wow what a climax!

I absolutely adore Tom Bodett: his voice, his writing, his humor, & his storytelling.

I was very impressed with this long story about September & Ivan. Even though it started out quite slow & possibly even boring... Which I'm sure the author was going for - the day to day tedium of Alaska homestead life.

The climax brought tears to my eyes. Wonderful tale!

The audio recording isn't as sharp & clear as some of his other works but, it was well worth it.

Good listen for kids on a car trip

We all enjoyed this title on our last car trip. The main characters are children (12 yrs. and 8 yrs., if I recall) and the premise is suitable for all ages. If you're riding with kids, you might also take a look at Hoot, by Carl Hiassen. We enjoyed Hoot slightly better than Williwaw.

One for the whole family

You will get thoroughly engrossed in the adventures of Ivan and September. The teens are admirably self-reliant, but oh, so young in their misjudgements. The book vividly describes the people and locale of coastal Alaska. This tale will appeal to both adults and children.

Nice Relaxed Story

I enjoy these stories and the narration by Tom Bodett. It seems to bring back a more distant and slower time in life.

Poor production quality - good, not great story

This is not a series of stories like other Bodett listens I've found. It is a short novel that follows a couple of young kids who live in the wilderness of Alaska, and have to fend for themselves while their dad is away.

This was very captivating and charming, once you get passed the crapping recording quality.

My only real gripe with the novel is that the ending was a bit of a let down. It is a bit too predictable, and the kids act in ways that are out of character.

Still worth the listen, though. The ending wasn't horrible, it just wasn't great.

Suitable adventure for tweens!

Read and listened to this book a decade ago with my children and still enjoyable for kids today. Most recently I used this book in a 5th grade classroom where I was working s long-term substitute job. It was the perfect way to get them settled after lunch and recess. They were quiet because they WANTED to hear the story and always asked if we could listen to it "for just a few more minutes, please."

where's the rest!?!

I downloaded this in order to help my fourth grade daughter whose class was reading it. this version is missing a huge piece and I'm not sure how or why. Extremely disappointed I wasted my credit on it