Reviews with content warning for Animal cruelty - The Whale Rider

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The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera

9 reviews

colormecaro's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? N/A

5.0

I’ve seen some reviews about how it is wrong that the book about female empowerment is told from a man’s perspective and was a bit worried. But honestly it didn’t bother me at all and I pretty much read this book in one sitting.

The uncle is the right person to tell the story and I’d have found it weirder if the male author had forced a female perspective throughout. It also gives insights that wouldn’t have been possible from a female perspective because they were excluded up to that point (and yes, that fact contributes to the point of the book).

Despite all that, I still wish we had some insight into Kahu’s perspective because I can only imagine the complexity and beauty. Maybe it’s a good thing it wasn’t included because it leaves that part up to my imagination.

I also loved the Māori folklore throughout.

Content Warnings

wytherwytch's review against another edition

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emotional funny sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I really loved the colourful characters in this book. I would love to read more about their lives!

Content Warnings

ceallaighsbooks's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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

5.0

“The sea scintillated with the sweetness of the old mother whale as she hovered near her ancient mate. Illuminated jellyfish exploded silvered starbursts through the dark depths. Far below, a river of phosphorescence lent lambent light to the abyss like a moonlit tide. The ocean was alive with noises: dolphin chatter, krill hiss, squid thresh, shark swirl, shrimp click, and, ever present, the strong swelling chords of the sea's constant rise and fall.”

TITLE—The Whale Rider

AUTHOR—Witi Ihimaera

PUBLISHED—1987

PUBLISHER—Reed Books

GENRE—MG/YA literary fiction

SETTING—Aotearoa

MAIN THEMES/SUBJECTS—whales, Maori life, history, mythical realities, & cultural traditions, a young girl’s self-awakening, finding your place in your family & community & standing in your power, lighthearted narrative voice, Nature as sacred family & teacher, cultural education & the passing on of language & knowledge, Papua New Guinea, oneness & respect for Nature as respect for one’s self and one’s community

WRITING STYLE—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

CHARACTERS—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

STORY/PLOT—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

BONUS ELEMENT/S—I love whales; also Koro Apirana’s speech in chapter sixteen was beautiful.

PHILOSOPHY—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

PREMISE—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Explicit in the author’s note in the 2003 edition.)

EXECUTION—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“She was going with the whales into the sea and the rain. She was a small figure in a white dress, kicking at the whale as if it were a horse, her braids swinging in the rain. Then she was gone and we were left behind. Ko Paikea, ko Paikea.”

My thoughts:

This book was such a tender, wholesome look at a young girl’s relationship with her culture, her family, and her community in the context of traditional lifeways being flexed and fitted to her people’s ever evolving and shifting needs and place in their world. I loved that it was told through the voice of one of her uncles and most loving and supportive family members. The characters of Rawiri and Nanny Flowers were genuine love and seeing Kahu grow into her oneness though their eyes was truly beautiful.

I would recommend this book to readers who are looking for an inspiring, hopeful, and wholesome read. This book is best read at the beach! 😊🐋🌀

Final note: Have your tissues handyyyy. 🤧🥹💕

“Shall we live? Or shall we die?”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

CW // misogyny, description of whaling, racism, colonialism, animal cruelty towards stranded whales (Please feel free to DM me for more specifics!)

Further Reading—

more by Witi Ihimaera
INTO THE WORLD OF LIGHT edited by Witi Ihimaera—TBR
TE KAIHAU THE WINDEATER by Keri Hulme
ROOT MAGIC by Eden Royce
ELATSOE by Darcie Little Badger

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traceyanderson's review

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adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

melodyseestrees's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

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jayisreading's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

3.5

I normally would not have picked up a book like this, but there was a book challenge category to read something by an author from Aotearoa (aka New Zealand), so here we are. Having very limited knowledge of Maori culture and history, The Whale Rider was really eye-opening to read. I truly enjoyed this immersive learning experience, as well as being given the opportunity to contemplate themes of nature, myth, family, and community.

When it comes to the actual storytelling itself, I didn’t enjoy it as much. The characters felt underdeveloped and the pacing was all over the place (it was especially strange when the narrator left home to go to Papua New Guinea and Sydney for a few chapters). I can also see that Ihimaera wanted to weave together myth and reality, but I didn’t find it very effective.

I still think it’s worth picking this up, especially to learn more about the Maori. I certainly feel compelled to read more works by Maori authors now.

Content Warnings

bexi's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny informative reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

daisyvb's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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? No

5.0

This book is so beautiful! Living in Aotearoa I can't really believe I haven't read it before. The film altered many aspects, but I think the heart of the novel still shines on screen. That being said I did love the way this book was laid out. The mythology and history that is its core, was interwoven with the fictional narrative, giving a really magical quality to the story. The narrator has a wonderful voice and gave us such a good perspective on everything that happened. A must read, and I'm shocked this wasn't part of my school curriculum growing up.

Content Warnings

jackelz's review against another edition

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hopeful medium-paced

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

This is the story of Kahu, as told by her uncle Rawiri.

Koro Apirana, Kahu’s great-grandfather, is the chief of a Māori tribe in Whāngārā; this tribe claims descent from the legendary 'whale rider'.

In every generation since the whale rider, a male has inherited the title of chief. But now there is no male heir, there's only Kahu. She should be the next in line for the title, but her great-grandfather is blinded by tradition and sees no use for a girl.

Nanny Flowers, her great-grandmother, is descended from a female dominated tribe, and believes that women can do anything that a man can and more so if given the chance. She and Rawiri are the only ones that see how special Kahu is; after all, she is named for the tribe's ancestor Kahutia Te Rangi who could speak to whales.

This book was originally published in 1987 and become a movie in 2002 — and I would’ve loved to see more female heroes as I was growing up, but I’m glad I discovered this book now. It’s such a special story infused with Māori culture and hope for a better future.

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