Soren’s Seventh Song, Eggers

Soren, a young humpback whale, loves music but is tired of the dull, droning, endless songs that are frustratingly popular among the adult whales he knows. He has ideas for better songs: shorter, up-tempo tunes with snare drums and even maracas. Unfortunately, every time he shares his new tunes with his friends, he’s met with less than encouraging feedback and even a bit of discreet whale vomiting. In this upbeat story of resilience and tenacity, Dave Eggers offers readers of all ages essential creative advice: your first drafts are probably terrible.

Dave Eggers is the author of books for readers of all ages, including The Eyes and the Impossible and The Circle, as well as numerous books for young readers, including Her Right Foot, What Can a Citizen Do? and The Lifters. He is the founder of the independent publishing company McSweeney’s and the cofounder of 826 Valencia, a youth writing center — fronted by a supply store for working pirates — that has inspired dozens of other organizations worldwide.