Scan barcode
A review by misspalah
The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The whale has always held a special place in the order of things, even before those times of Paikea. That was way back, after the Sky Father and Earth Mother had been sepa-rated, when the God children of both parents divided up between themselves the various Kingdoms of the Earth. It was the Lord Tangaroa who took the Kingdom of the Ocean; he was second in rank only to the Lord Tane, the Father of Man and the Forests, and so was established by them the close kinship of man with the inhabitants of the ocean, and of land with sea. This was the first communion. Then the Lord Tangaroa appointed the triad of Kiwa, Rona, and Kaukau to assist his sovereign rule: Kiwa to be guardian of the southern ocean, Rona to help control the tides, and Kaukau to aid the welfare of the sea's denizens. To the triad, two other guardians from the Kingdom of the Land, Takaaho and Te Puwhakahara, brought a special suit: Their offspring had been given lakes to live in, but they preferred to roam the freedom of the sea. The suit was ac-cepted, and this was how sharks and whales were granted habitation of the ocean. From the very beginning, the whale was grateful for this release, and this was why the whale family, the Wehenga-kauiki, became known as the helpers of men lost at sea. Whenever asked, the whale would attend the call, as long as the mariner possessed the necessary authority and knew the way of talking to whales. But as the world aged and man grew away from his god-liness, he began to lose the power of speech with whales, the power of interlock. So it was that the knowledge of whale speaking was given only to a few. One of these was our ancestor Paikea. Then came the time when Paikea asked his whale to bring him to our land, far to the south, and it was done. As for the whale itself, some people say the whale was transformed into an island; viewed from the highway to Tolaga Bay, the island certainly does look like a whale breaking through the water.
- The Whale Rider by Witi Ihaemera
.
"The Whale Rider" is a young adult novel centered on eight-year-old Kahu, a Māori girl from the tribe of Whangara, New Zealand. Although Kahu is the protagonist, the story is narrated by her uncle, which adds a disappointing perspective, if I am to be honest. I expected this to be done in a POV of Kahu. The narrative intertwines the lives of both humans and whales, highlighting the deep connection between the two and the impact of events, such as nuclear testing in the Pacific, from the whales' viewpoint. As I finished ‘War of the Whales last year’ by Joshua Horwitz, I need to highlight that whale strandings are common, and many are resolved by returning uninjured whales to the sea. However, when large numbers of whales beach themselves at the same time and appear disoriented, it raises concerns. Marine biologists and scientists often investigate these unusual events, and while they are hesitant to assign blame, many suspect that sonar emissions from Navy submarines are the cause. These sonar operations, which can last for days, interfere with the whales' echolocation abilities, disrupting their migration, movements, and potentially harming their organs. The loud sonar signals interfere with the whales' communication and navigation, leading to disorientation and strandings. At its core, the novel explores te ao Māori, the Māori worldview, and the ancestral lineage (whakapapa) of the mana whenua (people of the land) in Whangara, linking their heritage with the whales. Kahu's journey is one of love, tradition, and the struggle for acceptance. Her great-grandfather, Koro Apirana, is an aging chief who yearns for a male heir to uphold tradition. Upon Kahu's birth, he is disheartened, as Māori customs often favor male successors. Despite her great-grandfather's disappointment, Kahu is determined to earn his love and respect. Her pivotal moment comes when she saves beached whales, proving her rightful place as the heir of the whale rider, an ancient ancestor who rode a whale to their land. While the book is being celebrated as the focus on indigenous themes and female empowerment, we cannot overlooked how the whole plot reflects a patriarchal perspective. The narrative is largely male-focused, and female characters, including Kahu and her grandmother, often seek male approval rather than pursuing their own identities. Her grandmother tried to resist but still not a match to what has been dictate ages ago. Despite Kahu's achievements, her status is tied to qualities traditionally associated with males, raising questions about the representation of women in the story. I get that it’s a trope and this was published years ago but it really is disheartening to read about the whale rider but often the achievement is excelled because the main character finally earned the male validation. Overall, while Kahu's arc is compelling particularly in the whale narration , the underdevelopment of characters did detract from the overall experience, making some parts feel redundant. The novel offers a blend of ancient mythology and contemporary struggles, but its execution has drawn mixed reactions regarding its of gender roles.
- The Whale Rider by Witi Ihaemera
.
"The Whale Rider" is a young adult novel centered on eight-year-old Kahu, a Māori girl from the tribe of Whangara, New Zealand. Although Kahu is the protagonist, the story is narrated by her uncle, which adds a disappointing perspective, if I am to be honest. I expected this to be done in a POV of Kahu. The narrative intertwines the lives of both humans and whales, highlighting the deep connection between the two and the impact of events, such as nuclear testing in the Pacific, from the whales' viewpoint. As I finished ‘War of the Whales last year’ by Joshua Horwitz, I need to highlight that whale strandings are common, and many are resolved by returning uninjured whales to the sea. However, when large numbers of whales beach themselves at the same time and appear disoriented, it raises concerns. Marine biologists and scientists often investigate these unusual events, and while they are hesitant to assign blame, many suspect that sonar emissions from Navy submarines are the cause. These sonar operations, which can last for days, interfere with the whales' echolocation abilities, disrupting their migration, movements, and potentially harming their organs. The loud sonar signals interfere with the whales' communication and navigation, leading to disorientation and strandings. At its core, the novel explores te ao Māori, the Māori worldview, and the ancestral lineage (whakapapa) of the mana whenua (people of the land) in Whangara, linking their heritage with the whales. Kahu's journey is one of love, tradition, and the struggle for acceptance. Her great-grandfather, Koro Apirana, is an aging chief who yearns for a male heir to uphold tradition. Upon Kahu's birth, he is disheartened, as Māori customs often favor male successors. Despite her great-grandfather's disappointment, Kahu is determined to earn his love and respect. Her pivotal moment comes when she saves beached whales, proving her rightful place as the heir of the whale rider, an ancient ancestor who rode a whale to their land. While the book is being celebrated as the focus on indigenous themes and female empowerment, we cannot overlooked how the whole plot reflects a patriarchal perspective. The narrative is largely male-focused, and female characters, including Kahu and her grandmother, often seek male approval rather than pursuing their own identities. Her grandmother tried to resist but still not a match to what has been dictate ages ago. Despite Kahu's achievements, her status is tied to qualities traditionally associated with males, raising questions about the representation of women in the story. I get that it’s a trope and this was published years ago but it really is disheartening to read about the whale rider but often the achievement is excelled because the main character finally earned the male validation. Overall, while Kahu's arc is compelling particularly in the whale narration , the underdevelopment of characters did detract from the overall experience, making some parts feel redundant. The novel offers a blend of ancient mythology and contemporary struggles, but its execution has drawn mixed reactions regarding its of gender roles.