Reviews

A book written about "a women" for and by men. Sexist men are sexist and blame women for their sexism. "it's her fault he hardened his heart to his great granddaughter because she allowed them to give her a man's name" - let's ignore the fact he literally ran away like a fucking child immediately when he found out it was a girl and had to be chased for hours before he came back.

The main character isn't even an active part of the story so far. It's a book about her uncle and him justifying her treatment by his grandfather because "tradition." I guess it might eventually be more about her because she's obviously being set up to be a whale rider, but if you're going to write a book about her, maybe write it about her?

roadtripreader's review against another edition

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emotional informative sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"You have called and I have come, bearing the gift of the Gods"

I watched the movie without realizing it was a book years ago and it was a tearjerker. But the book is sooo much BETTER which hardly seems possible.

The style of writing feels like I'm sitting at the feet of an old Uncle Rawiri as he tells the long story of his tribe leading up to the reborn whalerider, heir of Paikea and Chieftain of the village. It is enough to draw tears to the eye, sniffles and of course:

"If the whale lives. We live.
Haumi e, hui e, taiki e.
Let it be done."
I bloody cried reading about Kahu's unending love for her old goat of a grandfather and Maori heritage. Reading it is so much more powerful than I could have expected. And then I cried watching this movie.

Plot/Storyline/Themes:
I didn't realize the story is told from Rawiri's perspective. Also so many things were left out of the movie that were like finding treasure of color enhancing brushes to turn paintings into captivating masterpieces.
Dare I say I prefer the book?🤔

Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:

Maori Origin Myth is so lush and blue and green and invigorating and oh so beautiful: Sky Father and Earth Mother. The guardians: Lord Tane, Kiwa, Rona, Kaukau, Takaaho, Te Pu-whakahara, Tangaroa.
The guardians of the origin myth mirror Kahu's Biker guardians. I LOVE Uncle Rawiri and Nanny Flower so much.
Old Paka, Koro Apinara searching for something right under his nose, in his face ...right there. Old stubborn bull.

Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:

🌸The first whale rider: breaking through the surface throwing spears that transform and a prayer for the future.
🌸Kahu's Biker Guardians help Nanny Flowers with Kahu's Birth cord.
🌸Kahu and Uncle Rawiri at the movie theatre and the the Orca Pod sighting.
🌸Kahu's letter to Rawiri in Papa New Guinea
🌸Kahu's School Ceremony: Speech for Koro Apinara
🌸Kahu, Rawiri and Nanny Flowers go to sea. Kahu and the dolphins find the stone🐬
🌸The Ancient whale and his herd in Antarctica and The aurora australis.
🌸😭😭😭Kahu singing to the Ancient Whale. The ancestor.

Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “ Uia mai koia, whakahuatia ake ko wai te whare nei e? Ko Te Kani —’.” (Kahu's Speech! The Haka and Nanny Flower)
🖤 “Our Koro was like an old whale stranded in an alien present, but that was how it was supposed to be because he also had his role in the pattern of things, in the tides of the future.” (The Ancient Whale and Koro)
🖤 “Karanga mai, karanga mai, karanga mai.” (Whalesong)

Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ The Ancient Bull Whale and Kahutia Te Rangi/Paikea
■Whalespeaking: The power of interlock
■Whale-Family: Wehenga-kauiki
■ Navel of the Universe.
■Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, the Great Ocean of Kiwa.
■Houses of Learning: Te Whakaeroero, Te Rawheoro, Rangitane, Tapere Nui a Whatonga.
■Apanui, Muriwai and Mihi Kotukutuku

StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Fantasy (Mythology) Books by 2025

karinlib's review against another edition

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4.0

Loved this version of the Maori legend of the Whale Rider. Now, I will have to watch the movie.

jackievr's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

lost_ghost's review against another edition

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fast-paced

3.75

emjayknocks's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

An unexpectedly emotional tale of family, fate, and misogyny. I enjoyed the Māori words and phrases throughout, and thought the folklore scene-setting was done well. I was unprepared for That Whale Situation which felt particularly hard hitting given the overall lighthearted nature of the rest of the story. The ending was predictable and I didn’t feel like the grandfather’s character development was believable, but I enjoyed the story nonetheless.

Content Warnings

buiii's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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