Walter and his musician father have always been inseparable as they traveled the country together. But this year, Walter is sent to live with his grandfather, in the town where Dad grew up, and start fifth grade all on his own.

Weirdly Walter is about unconditional love, forgiveness and how our heroes aren’t always perfect.

“All great moments start with a choice.” For Walter, that choice is to impersonate an alien on the school intercom on his first day at Apple Grove Performing Arts Academy. Walter has spent most of his life on the road with his dad, a travelling musician, but now he’s on his own. So Walter impersonates other people – something he did a lot with his dad – as he makes a new friend, Fil, and wards off the class bully. Walter is a shoe-in for the leading role in the school musical, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but the revelation of a secret about his dad sends his new world into a tailspin. He learns that the only way to reconnect with his dad is to accept himself and other people for who they are.

Weirdly Walter is a heartwarming middle-grade novel about a kid who struggles with balancing his anger, and admiration for a dad who is anything but perfect or normal. He is supported by fearless Fil, and his grandpa who is quiet and a good listener and willing to stretch his own comfort zone to help.

With his dad away, Walter resorts to various quotes from his dad recorded in an orange journal to stay connected, as well as taking on different voices as he delivers the daily announcements to the school. But he learns that taking on the roles of others keeps him from accepting the truth about his own loneliness and anger towards his dad.

Author Julia Walton effectively captures the voice of a fifth-grader and uses humour as a safe way to address loneliness, acceptance and the complexity of multi-generational families. The story is appropriate for junior and intermediate readers (ages 8-12).
– James Steeves