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The Whale Rider
Eight-year-old Kahu, a member of the Maori tribe of Whangara, New Zealand, fights to prove her love, her leadership, and her destiny. Her people claim descent from Kahutia Te Rangi, the legendary "whale rider." In every generation since Kahutia, a male heir has inherited the title of chief. But now there is no male heir, and the aging chief is desperate to find a
...moreCompact Disc, 0 pages
Published
April 30th 2005
by Bolinda Publishing
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Such a beautiful, challenging book. Witi Ihimaera weaves a lush story, combining land and sea, past and present. The tragic scenes were incredibly heartbreaking--between Kahu's one-sided relationship with Koro and when the whales beach themselves, I about started crying at my work desk. And the triumphs were equally brilliant--as fluid and swift as the feeling evoked as the whales sliced through the sea.
I would like to wonder out loud though as to the general designation of this b...more
I would like to wonder out loud though as to the general designation of this b...more
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Kahu is the eldest great-grandchild of Kori, the chief of the Maori in Whangara, New Zealand. Unfortunately, Kahu is a girl and therefore Kori has no interest in her because he is only focused on finding the next leader of the tribe. Kahu showers Kori with love and admiration despite the fact that he continuously dismisses her and he continues his classes for the the males in the tribe and searches for the "one."
This is a heartwarming story of a detrmined little girl and h...more
This is a heartwarming story of a detrmined little girl and h...more
Interest level: 7th +
Reading level: medium
Genre: whales, Maori, myths, mythology, fantasy, New Zealand
Witi Ihimaera, the author of what has become a classic, was the first Maori writer to publish a novel in New Zealand. In 2003 it was turned into a movie.
In ancient times there was a whale rider called Kahutia Te Rangi, but ever since the whale rider turned away from the sea to join those on land, the whales have been seeking a new rider. Kahu, the great gandchild of...more
Reading level: medium
Genre: whales, Maori, myths, mythology, fantasy, New Zealand
Witi Ihimaera, the author of what has become a classic, was the first Maori writer to publish a novel in New Zealand. In 2003 it was turned into a movie.
In ancient times there was a whale rider called Kahutia Te Rangi, but ever since the whale rider turned away from the sea to join those on land, the whales have been seeking a new rider. Kahu, the great gandchild of...more
The movie was so much better, as is the rest of Witi's work, which makes this a dissapointment. It's too long for one, and the ending feels very unsatiffying; either overwrought or underthought. The whale narrative is completely unneccensary, a failed attempt at 'magic realism' that simply seems contrived and out of place. without the 'realism' we are left with just 'magic', and as the narrative about Pai is realist, the two don't gel. Watch the film, it's fantastic, and leave it at that.
This is one of those rare occasions where I liked the movie better than the book, and I don't think reading the book before I saw the movie would have made a difference. I did enjoy the book though, don't get me wrong, but it didn't pack the same emotional punch that the movie did. The book was told from the point of view of Kahu's uncle so it did provide a whole story line that I don't remember in the movie (I should probably watch it again since it's been a long time..) - ex: the Uncle goes to...more
When I first saw this book and read the title, I wasn't sure I'd want to read it, and if I did read, that I would even like it. That soon changed once I stated to read it. At first, I wasn't sure. I felt like it was set in an older time period and that wasn't too exciting for me. Once I got more and more into it though I discovered that it was actually modern times. The reason I thought it was was because they were talking about tribes and had different names that I couldn't even pronounce. I re...more
Some of the chapters, particularly the ones told from the whales' POV are very mythic and rich and hard to understand. But most of the story (that the movie follows loosely) is interesting and not hard to follow.
Even though there's no "mature" content, I think the themes and complexity make this a book for middle and high school, not for sixth grade lit groups. I'll keep a copy in my library, but probably not teach it....
Even though there's no "mature" content, I think the themes and complexity make this a book for middle and high school, not for sixth grade lit groups. I'll keep a copy in my library, but probably not teach it....
This book alternated between ancient mythology and the modern struggle of a young girl trying to take her place in society. The mythology portions tell the story of the whale rider, who was a long-ago ancestor who rode a giant ancient whale to the land where the Maori tribe of Whangara, New Zealand live. The young girl is Eight-year-old Kahu. Kahu is the only great-grandchild of an aging chief who is desperate for a male heir to take his title.
So, the parts about the mythology and t...more
So, the parts about the mythology and t...more
Having seen the movie, I haven't been exactly looking forward to reading this book. I liked it the first time I saw it, but then I worked at a summer camp for 3 years with a bunch of Kiwis... and I LOVED them, but they LOVED this movie and watched it everytime it was a rainy day... well, MOST summers were pretty rainy, so if you're catching my drift, I've seen the movie probably about 50 times. LITERALLY.
HOWEVER, I don't know why I didn't trust in my usual instinct of books ALWAYS tr...more
HOWEVER, I don't know why I didn't trust in my usual instinct of books ALWAYS tr...more
A great story that was let down a bit by the book. Kahu is the first child born into her generation. The first born has always been a son, since the great ancestor, Kahutia Te Rangi who rode a whale to arrive in New Zealand. Her grandfather is proud of his heritage, but stuck in his ways, and rather a curmudgeon. He can't accept Kahu, and is rather awful to her. She loves him just the same. Some wonderful insights into family and racial politics, set in 1980s New Zealand. I'm a frequent visitor ...more
Robin
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
12 and up
Shelves:
fairy-tales-mythology-folklore,
young-adult
This book is catalogued as juvenile fiction, but I definitely think it takes an older and more patient reader. There are a lot of mystical descriptive passages and Maori vocabulary is integrated throughout the story. It is a fascinating tale of the changing relationships between New Zealand's Maori people, nature, and themselves. Kahu is a selfless folkloric heroine placed in a current setting. Readers who know up front that this is not a straight-forward American-style novel will enjoy Whal...more
A 1001 CBYMRBYGU.
Kahu was born into a world that did not want a female chief. Her great-grandfather, the current chief, like all the others in her tribe, ignores her, despite obvious signs of her chief-ish qualities.
From page 64: He (Kingi) used to tell me that his favorite image of Australia was of Joan Sutherland singing "Advance Australia Fair," a can of Foster's in one hand, and surfing into Sydney Harbor like "an antipodean Statue of Liberty."
...more
Kahu was born into a world that did not want a female chief. Her great-grandfather, the current chief, like all the others in her tribe, ignores her, despite obvious signs of her chief-ish qualities.
From page 64: He (Kingi) used to tell me that his favorite image of Australia was of Joan Sutherland singing "Advance Australia Fair," a can of Foster's in one hand, and surfing into Sydney Harbor like "an antipodean Statue of Liberty."
...more
Interesting book. I saw the movie ages ago and really enjoyed it. Today I just happened to sub for a teacher who had it in her room so it I read while I subbed. It was a very quik read. The story was very similar to the movie. Once again I feel like women's roles blow! The entire book is based around a girl who loves her great-grandfather and wants nothing but his affection. The great-grandfather, Koro, wants nothing to do with her. Her grandmother, Nanny Flower, adores her yet it is only Koro t...more
The Whale Rider
By Witi Ihimaera
This book fits the catogory 'written by a New Zealander' on my bingo board
I enjoyed this book because it tells a traditional Maori legand about Paikea and his arrival in NZ. It explain how this man arrived here and 'set up' for his tribe to come. The story then goes into depth about how Kahu the great great great great great grandaughter of Paikea must become the leader of there tribe. My favorite part of the book is where Kahu rides...more
By Witi Ihimaera
This book fits the catogory 'written by a New Zealander' on my bingo board
I enjoyed this book because it tells a traditional Maori legand about Paikea and his arrival in NZ. It explain how this man arrived here and 'set up' for his tribe to come. The story then goes into depth about how Kahu the great great great great great grandaughter of Paikea must become the leader of there tribe. My favorite part of the book is where Kahu rides...more
I read this book because Whale Rider is one of my favorite movies, and I prefer the book to the movie adaptation about 90% of the time. However, this one was an unfortunate exception. While the movie's story is told from Pai's point of view and sticks closely to her experiences and feelings, the book is told from her uncle's point of view. That means that Kahu (the girl's name in the book) is a lot more distant and inscrutable in the written version of the story. Emotions are expressed through t...more
I saw the movie several years ago and loved it. My daughter gave this to me for Christmas because she knew I had so enjoyed the movie. The book is just as good (or better.) Ihimaera is a lyrical writer who beautifully combines myth and reality to tell a tale of the Maori people. He seamlessly weaves the stories with modern life showing how embedded they are in the Maori life. The book is not only about myth and mystery, but the human story of a young girl who struggles to win the love of her gra...more
I read this one for my 7th grade class. It is actually the third or fourth time I've read it for one reason or another, and I cry every time I get to Kahu diving for the stone. This book is a true pleasure. Entirely accessible, culturally rich, a heartwarming social commentary, and enough magic to please most readers. Definitely worth sitting down for a little while and giving a chance. Maybe it's not for everyone, but, in my opinion, it is quite the epic little story. (Also, I see a good deal o...more
I need to have my own copy of this book. And I will possibly buy two copies and donate one to the library where I work, because they need to have a copy too.
This book is brilliant. I haven't seen the movie (although I've been reliably informed that I really must see it), and I have to admit that now I'm not entirely certain how the book would transfer to the screen (although clearly it must have done). The magical-realism elements (I'm not sure what else to call the sections of th...more
This book is brilliant. I haven't seen the movie (although I've been reliably informed that I really must see it), and I have to admit that now I'm not entirely certain how the book would transfer to the screen (although clearly it must have done). The magical-realism elements (I'm not sure what else to call the sections of th...more
I liked that this book had a heroine and that she didn't give up when the person she loved the most didn't love her back. I liked how culture and myth was intertwined with reality. I think how much stories make up our lives whether they really happened or are mythical. I was very fascinated that although it was about a heroine, the speaker was a male character. Not her Dad, but her uncle. I thought it was weird at first, but sometimes maybe uncles (or not immediate family) might not have as bias...more
The Whale Rider, By Whiti Ihimaera
Whale Rider is set in New Zealand it's about a maori family with cultural rituals. As the story begins, Porourangi, the aldest of the two has a daughter, inflaming his grandfather because the birth of a daughter breaks the lineage.
As she gets older she shows talent of being the whale rider.
The Whale Rider is a truly amazing story ; that will give you an inside on what maori cultures like.
I would rate The whale rider nov...more
Whale Rider is set in New Zealand it's about a maori family with cultural rituals. As the story begins, Porourangi, the aldest of the two has a daughter, inflaming his grandfather because the birth of a daughter breaks the lineage.
As she gets older she shows talent of being the whale rider.
The Whale Rider is a truly amazing story ; that will give you an inside on what maori cultures like.
I would rate The whale rider nov...more
I reread this over the weeekend. My students will start it this week in literature circles. I had forgotten how rich the story is and how much insight it contains into the culture of the Maori people past and present and the difficulties that indigenous people continue to face in maintaining traditions and teaching those to the next generations in the midst of the pressures imposed from dominant society and change. The relationship between the young girl, Kahu, and her grandfather is so bitter...more
I did like this book, but I just wasn't really into it that much. I liked how the book showed family dynamics and the kind of culture that they lived in. Some parts of the book were just boring to me but overall it was a pretty enjoyable read. It was written well, and I liked some of the characters, mostly Nanny Flowers, I really enjoyed that character a lot. It was quick read, only took me about two days to finish, probably could've finished it in one if I was feeling more ambitious.
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This book was one my son had to read for school. He complained the whole way through, and I kept telling him it couldn't be that bad. In the end, I picked it up to see why he was carrying on. Surprisingly, I agreed with him whole-heartedly. With all the wonderful books out there, I don't understand why this book was chosen.
Lucky I am a dedicated reader, or this repetitive novel may have done to me what it did to my son. Sadly, he hasn't read again for pleasure, only things he has to for sch...more
Lucky I am a dedicated reader, or this repetitive novel may have done to me what it did to my son. Sadly, he hasn't read again for pleasure, only things he has to for sch...more
I appreciated this book's deep yet accessible symbolism and themes.
This story is about a girl who was born in a family from New Zealand. It is a rule that the oldest boy would become a leader of the tribe, the Whale Rider. When she was born her grandfather gets mad because he doesn’t believe that a girl could become a leader. The story is about her trying to show her grandfather that she is strong enough to become the Whale Rider. I really enjoyed this book because it really shows the New Zealand culture. This book reminds me of another book I read in second gr...more
Written in 1987, THE WHALE RIDER is a deceptively short book. Only 120 pages long, it’s a richly layered story dealing with several major social issues: family relationships, gender discrimination, generational differences, racial prejudice, loss of the cultural identity of indigenous tribes, ecological conservationism and modern man’s disconnection from his spiritual self.
Kahu is a young Maori girl who, from the moment of her birth, had a deep connection with her great-grandfather Kor...more
Kahu is a young Maori girl who, from the moment of her birth, had a deep connection with her great-grandfather Kor...more
A charming story about a little girl who tries to win her great grandfather’s love.
Kahu’s birth is a source of disappointment to Koro Apirana, as he has been hoping for a male heir to succeed as chief of the Marori in Whangara, New Zealand. Kahu is Koro’s eldest grandson, Porourangi’s first child.
Refusing to accept that she is “of no use to him”, as Koro cruelly tells her, Kahu seeks out Koro even more. Thankfully, Koro’s wife, Nanny Flowers, is a doting great grandmother who chastises her hu...more
Kahu’s birth is a source of disappointment to Koro Apirana, as he has been hoping for a male heir to succeed as chief of the Marori in Whangara, New Zealand. Kahu is Koro’s eldest grandson, Porourangi’s first child.
Refusing to accept that she is “of no use to him”, as Koro cruelly tells her, Kahu seeks out Koro even more. Thankfully, Koro’s wife, Nanny Flowers, is a doting great grandmother who chastises her hu...more
I haven't yet seen the film version, but I wanted a shorter "palate cleanser" to read between longer books, and this was the shortest novel I had on my shelf. Not realizing when I started out that this was a young adult fantasy novel, it took my brain a long time to adjust to these parameters. But even if a book is written for young adults, it does not excuse subpar writing. The book alternates between chapters of florid prose and narrative realism, and unfortunately I don't think eith...more
This is going to be another review featuring heavy reference to the movie about the book... just so's you're warned. In my defence, there probably aren't very many people around who read the book before seeing the movie, and they're likely all in NZ - the book was never even published in America before the movie, so at least I'm not alone.
Anyway, I was tickled (yes, tickled!) to find out that this was actually written in NYC, and in part inspired by a whale coming up the Hudson in th...more
Anyway, I was tickled (yes, tickled!) to find out that this was actually written in NYC, and in part inspired by a whale coming up the Hudson in th...more
Really really liked this. Kahu is a bit of a Mary Sue, I guess, but I found her charming and loved Nanny Flowers. The whale stuff worked better for me than I initially thought it would -- when I read the synopsis I was worried whale-human psychic bonds would break my suspension bridge of disbelief, but it didn't (though, er, the whale sexy times definitely swayed the bridge a bit). You do have to go in thinking "kids' book, kids' book". But there was so much humour and fun in the book,...more
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Wata Ihimaera is a novelist and short story writer from New Zealand, perhaps the best-known Māori writer today. He is internationally famous for The Whale Rider.
Ihimaera in New Zealand and is of Māori descent and Anglo-Saxon descent through his father, Tom. He attended Church College of New Zealand in Temple View, Hamilton, New Zealand. He was the first Māori writer to publish both a ...more
More about Witi Ihimaera...
Ihimaera in New Zealand and is of Māori descent and Anglo-Saxon descent through his father, Tom. He attended Church College of New Zealand in Temple View, Hamilton, New Zealand. He was the first Māori writer to publish both a ...more
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“Der Mensch mag sein moko (Tätowierung) in die Erde tätowieren, aber sobald seine Wachsamkeit nachlässt, nimmt die Natur sich zurück, was er sich angeeignet hatte, um seine Eitelkeit zu befriedigen.”
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