A review by nicki_in_nz
The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera

5.0

This is amazing - don't be put off by anyone telling you it's YA or fantasy - it isn't in my opinion. It has a child main character but I think it's YA in the same way that To Kill a Mockingbird is 'YA'. It's the sort of book you're made to read in school but you appreciate more as you get older. It's based on Maori legends, so not a 'fantasy' book but an insight into the richness that is Maori history. It also touches on the discrimination that exists between genders and races. You can learn a lot from this book - including how we should all respect the natural environment far more than we do. Give it a try!