Review: Whale Eyes

Written by James Robinson

Illustrated by Brian Rea

New York: Penguin Workshop, 2025. Biography. 298 pages.

James Robinson has a complicated eye condition which is very hard to describe to people. Even when he does try to tell people about it, they rarely take the time to listen or understand. Some people have even said to him, “Oh, cross-eyed.” Which is not what his condition is! I really connected with James’ story. My dad has blepharospasms, which happen when the muscles around his eyes cause involuntary twitching. Sometimes my dad’s spasms are fairly mild, but other times the twitching is nearly constant. Because that’s not something most people are used to seeing, it often leads to people staring or giving strange looks. 

I really enjoyed the glimpse James gave us into his life experiences! His interactions with children and adults alike were profoundly impacted due to his eyes and people’s perceptions of him. He was fortunate to have a very patient mother who was able to devote a lot of time and attention to taking him to doctors. She and James worked together to try and implement ideas the medical community proposed for helping him. She was an amazing advocate for her son. I appreciated when James acknowledged that not everyone with rare medical conditions has a parent or caregiver who can advocate for them the way his mother was able to.

The journey James shares in his book is a deeply personal one, and simultaneously relatable even though his specific eye condition is quite rare. He does a fabulous job helping the reader feel like they have a window into his memories. The book was a beautiful reminder to me that every single human on this planet is dealing with something that affects them personally, and we should show a little more kindness to each other. James talks about strength and perseverance, while using humor and positive insights. I loved the vulnerable side of the story, and the way facing challenges apply to the broader human experience.