Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Whale Rider

3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 · rating details · 2,257 ratings · 302 reviews

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 successor

...more

Audio CD, 0 pages

Published May 1st 2005 by Bolinda Publishing (first published 1987)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Feb 28, 2013 Phillip Hui-Bon-Hoa rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was a waste of time. I was forced to read it. Aint nobody got time for this book!

like 3 likes · see review

Apr 25, 2013 Chrissie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Chrissie by: Janice

Shelves: new-zealand, hf, audio, alt, kids, 2013challenge, philo-psychol, fauna, magic

A gem that glistens. Beautiful. A contemporary rewriting of an ancient Maori legend. Its messages speak of the strength of women, but even more importantly of the oneness of the past and present, the rational and the irrational, what we understand and don’t understand and of all life on earth. This is young adult literature for adults.

The audiobook narration by Kiwi Jay Laga’aia was well done. There is music throughout the recording, but it is the same snippet repeated over and over again. When...more

like 8 likes · see review

May 21, 2008 george rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2008, grown-up-books

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 her quest to find her w...more

like 2 likes · see review

Mar 01, 2013 Chana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: received-through-bookcrossing, new-zealand, maori, young-adult, world-literature, literature-fiction

This is a short, sensitive book about a Maori family and the passing of the tribal mantle of leadership. When a girl is born, the first grandchild of that generation, her great-grandfather is terribly disappointed. He doesn't accept the possibility that she could be the one to take over leadership. She loves her great-grandfather so much, and she was born with the gifts that are the tribal heritage such as being able to talk to the whales. It takes tragedy and near loss to open his eyes.
I am wi...more

like 1 like · see review

Jul 16, 2012 Peggy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Liked it. The story is about a girl named Kahu, the eldest great grandchild of Koro Apirana, the chief of the Maori in Whangara, New Zealand. Koro Apirana and the village pay great homage to their ancestor Paikea, who in ancient times came riding in on a whale to be the one to save their people. Eight-year-old Kahu shows signs of being the "chosen one" to lead the Maori tribe for subsequent generations, but the stubborn great grandfather chief dismisses Kahu because she is a girl.

I saw the movie...more

like · see review

May 12, 2012 Bron rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: maori, whales, young-adult, new-zealand-author

My son is reading this for English, so I decided to read it as well. This book is a sweet story about a maori chieftain's family, of which one ancestor had arrived in New Zealand riding a whale. Unfortunately for the chieftain, his first-in line grandchild is born a girl, which is bad because it should be a boy to lead the tribe. The chieftain spends the next 8 years refusing to believe his grand-daughter is good for his tribe, and in doing so pushes her away and does not love her. Fortunately f...more

like 1 like · see review

May 09, 2012 Drew Nevitt rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-lit

I saw the movie for this years ago and I felt like it was over my head, and that it was probably made for some art film crowd and I'd probably get it later. So, that makes it interesting that the book is for youth.
The author states in the front that he wrote it for two inspiring events, and that makes the shape of the book very different. You know he wrote it to make a heroine and to be a gift for his little girls. I liked it before reading it for that reason.
Ihimaera switches between narration...more

like · see review

Mar 27, 2012 Dora Okeyo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is a course read in high school in Kenya this year and I got it from my Mom.
I was taken aback by the prologue because of the words and how the writer starts from the beginning when the relationship between whales and man was good and when the Whale Rider was securing the future of this relationship.
I loved three things about this book: the characters- Kahu and Tawiri, the whales and also the story given that there's a prophecy and that the Maori believe in it.
Kahu is determined and eve...more

like · see review

Mar 02, 2012 Lindsay rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-ya, favorites, not-the-lower-48

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 book as children...more 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 book as children's literature. In the primary library in which I work, we shelve it as "J"...generally, chapter books for grade school and middle school readers. Ihimaera uses a reasonable amount of very erudite language that I imagine would be challenging even for some adult readers, and he addresses some rather adult issues of race and poaching through the novel's narrator, Kahu's Uncle Rawiri. I'm thinking specifically of two scenes: 1) The hit-and-run that occurs in Papua New Guinea when Rawiri's white friend, Jeff, hits and kills a native (and friend) on the side of the road with his family's car, and the family urges him to drive on because "It's only a native," and the tribe might seek retribution; and 2) The horrific and immensely sad scene when a herd of 200 whales beach themselves and poachers come to dismember the bodies before they've actually died.

I wonder sometimes what differentiates a children's book from an adult book. Just because Kahu is an 8-year-old doesn't mean necessarily that it should be a book for 8-year-olds (I wouldn't suggest a child read Bastard out of Carolina just because it has a young protagonist). I think this book has definite crossover appeal along the lines of To Kill a Mockingbird, and after viewing the movie after reading this book, I can see how they toned down a lot of the various conflict in the book to make it more kid-friendly. But that's the movie, which is great in its own right, and this is the book. Other libraries consider it a Young Adult book, but in a general sense of its audience, would a teen want to read a book in which its main character only reaches the age of 8? I haven't done any research yet into this question, but I wonder if Ihimaera intended for The Whale Rider to be a children's book or if this was the publisher's marketing idea? Hmmm...just some questions.

Despite all this(!), I really did truly enjoy the book, especially for its insight on Maori culture, the ecological concerns of a world very different from mine, and the bravery and persistence of Kahu. I would absolutely recommend it, focusing on more mature readers.

-----

Yay! The BBC World Book Club interviewed Witi Ihimaera and used one of my questions! Ihimaera provides a moving and eye-opening commentary about the book--you should check it out.(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Nov 28, 2010 Michele Velthuizen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 a tribal elder seems to have...more

like 1 like · see review

Aug 06, 2011 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

like · see review

Apr 30, 2013 Rebekah Ortiz rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

On the east coast of New Zealand, people believe their presence there dates back a thousand years to Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. From then on, the chiefs have always been the first-born and male. This story revolves around a young mother whose male newborn twin dies in childbirth. Her young husband flees New Zealand and leaves their grandparents to raise the other baby. Her nam is Pai and she radiates with life and energy. It's no...more

like · see review

Jun 20, 2011 Brianne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-lit

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

like · see review

Sep 28, 2012 Mark Wilkerson rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This story was good for introducing me to the Maori Tribe of New Zealand, and I always appreciate books that introduce me to their folk stories and beliefs about their origins. However, while the legend about their system is fascinating, I find the central plot of Whale Rider to be somewhat middling. The conflict that arises between Kahu, a free-spirited, zesty girl of 8, and her great-grandfather (Kono, the chief of the tribe), becomes repetitious after a few pages, and the narrow perspective o...more

like · see review

Feb 13, 2013 Sharlene rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-book-lovin-kiwis

I found it hard to read this book without hearing the words from the adapted film Whale Rider (2002). Rawiri Paratene makes a fantastic old paka.

The illustrations are so detailed, right down to the lines of a moko, almost photographic. The wrinkles are so lifelike!

I have never known a picture book to have parts. This story is broken up into four parts. This is probably beneficial for smaller children as there are quite a lot of words on the pages. I wonder how often this happens in picture books...more

like · see review

Feb 01, 2013 Darcy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A moving story, but not what I expected. I thought this would be a cute story. It's short and shelved in the Juvenile Fiction section of the library, so naturally I assumed it would be a light read. This was not the case.
I can't imagine very many children enjoying this story. Ihimaera's prose is ripe and overflowing with lyricism that seems like it would be a bit above most children- "The mountains were like a stairway to heaven, and the lush green rainforest was a rippling cloak of many colors....more

like 1 like · see review

Jun 14, 2008 Amy Lindsay rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kid-realistic-fiction, lit-group-or-read-aloud, ya

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....

like 1 like · see review

Jan 04, 2012 jess rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, yaf

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 the internal...more

like 2 likes · see review

Nov 11, 2010 Alisha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010

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 trumping their...more

like 1 like · see review

Jan 21, 2013 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: viaggio-in-oceania-chlg, onceuponatime-chlg, fantasy, sfida-catena, abc

4.5 stars
“La Balena e la Bambina” è una piccola ma splendida fiaba Maori in cui mi sono imbattuta per puro caso la scorsa settimana mentre curiosavo tra gli scaffali della bibloteca locale. Non avevo nemmeno mai sentito parlare del ben più celebre film che ne è stato tratto nel 2002 e che ha riscosso notevole successo al botteghino: vincitore del Toronto International Film Festival e del più noto Sundance Film Festival, ha fruttato alla sua interprete principale, la giovanissima Keisha Castle-H...more 4.5 stars
“La Balena e la Bambina” è una piccola ma splendida fiaba Maori in cui mi sono imbattuta per puro caso la scorsa settimana mentre curiosavo tra gli scaffali della bibloteca locale. Non avevo nemmeno mai sentito parlare del ben più celebre film che ne è stato tratto nel 2002 e che ha riscosso notevole successo al botteghino: vincitore del Toronto International Film Festival e del più noto Sundance Film Festival, ha fruttato alla sua interprete principale, la giovanissima Keisha Castle-Huges, la candidatura agli Oscar 2004 come miglior attrice protagonista. Ma tutto sommato, meglio cosi: forse non avrei apprezzato pienamente il libro.
La vicenda ha inizio quando, in un piccolo villaggio sulla costa neozelandese, viene alla luce Kahu, nipote del capo tribù Koro Apirana, la cui unica colpa agli occhi della comunità è quella di essere nata femmina… Da sempre, infatti, la tradizione Maori stabilisce che a prendere le redini della tribù possa essere solo un erede maschio, come maschio fu il capostipite della tribù, Paikea, il quale, secondo la leggenda fondativa, approdò sulle coste neozelandesi dopo un epico viaggio sul dorso di una balena e lì fondò il villaggio di Whangara e la sua comunità.
Secoli dopo, il vecchio Koro Apirana, vedendo interrotta la discendenza maschile, si prodiga come un matto nella ricerca di un erede maschio e si fa promotore della cultura Maori, organizzando corsi di lingua, tradizioni e leggende riservati ai soli bimbi maschi del villaggio. Acciecato dalla propria chiusura mentale, il vecchio rifiuta di continuo l’affetto della piccola nipotina che, però, stravede per lui. Crescendo, Kahu diventa la sua ombra: lo segue ovunque di nascosto, e cerca di apprendere quanto più le riesce sulle tradizioni Maori e sul mare, proprio per conquistare il cuore del burbero capo tribù e per dimostrarsi degna della propria discendenza.
A difesa del diritto di Kahu alla leadership della comunità, si schiera un altro personaggio femminile incredibilmente forte: Nonna Flowers. Moglie di Koro Apirana, nonna Flowers è in continua lotta col marito, che definisce troppo tradizionalista e retrogrado e che chiama affettuosamente (ma non troppo) “paka”, “canaglia” in lingua Maori. Secondo Nonna Flowers, le donne Maori hanno oramai ampiamente dimostrato di avere un ruolo forte nella moderna società Maori e non sono più disposte a farsi accantonare sulla base di antiche leggende. Da qui, la quotidana e buffissima minaccia della nonna di divorziare da Paka e andare a vivere con un arzillo vecchietto che fu la sua prima fiamma in gioventù!
Intanto gli anni passano e Kahu cresce nel totale disinteresse del nonno, anche se in svariate occasioni dà piccoli segnali del suo essere speciale. Nessuno lo sa, ma Kahu ha un dono che oramai l’uomo moderno ha perso: lei riesce ancora a parlare alle balene. In Kahu, infatti, complice forse la purezza che solo i bimbi possiedono, vive ancora lo spirito degli antenati. E sarà proprio questo spirito a riemergere in tutta la sua forza in un momento tragico e straziante per la piccola comunità di pescatori.
Questa fiaba, solo all’apparenza banale con il suo linguaggio volutamente semplice ed infantile, tocca in realtà tantissime tematiche importanti. Ed è cosi che affiora, ad esempio, il tema della presa di coscienza del nuovo ruolo delle donne in una società per molti versi ancora tribale come quella Maori; o ancora, la perdita del rapporto di rispetto tra Uomo-Natura e le conseguenze che da tutto ciò stanno scaturendo, soprattutto in luoghi cosi profondamente legati all’elemento naturale e da esso dipendenti per la sopravvivenza quotidiana, come certe isole della Nuova Zelanda (ma si potrebbe parlare di Amazzonia o Polo Nord e la situazione non sarebbe poi migliore!). C’e poi la tematica dell’emigrazione forzata che affligge le nuove generazioni di queste terre sperdute: ecco, quindi, che la voce narrante del libro, lo zio Rawiri, ad un certo punto lascia il suo Paese e va in Australia per fare esperienza e cercare un futuro diverso da quello che Whangara potrebbe offrirgli.
Una particolarità stilistica di questo libro che mi ha molto affascinata è che si sviluppa anche su una dimensione parallela alla narrazione delle vicende di Kahu e della sua famiglia. E’ la dimensione più ancestrale del mito originario, dove protagonista è il branco di balene che portò sul proprio dorso Paikea e il lettore, ascoltando la voce stessa della balena-totem, ne segue il peregrinare negli abissi, fino all’epilogo (molto intenso e che confesso mi ha commossa) che vede i due universi – quello reale e quello mitologico – incontrarsi nuovamente e fondersi in una terza dimensione, sospesa a metà tra realtà e immaginazione, sulla superficie dell’oceano illuminato dalla luna e “tutto intorno le balene saltavano, riempiendo l’aria di spruzzi lucenti come diamanti...
Hui e, haumi e, taiki e.
Che sia."(less)

like 1 like · see review

Nov 27, 2011 Louise rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

like · see review

Sep 04, 2012 Rebecca added it · review of another edition

Having seen the movie a few years ago I thought it was high time I read the actual story. I don’t read nearly as many kiwi authors as I ought to because I do find them to be really talented and reading a book set in New Zealand is always something I love.
The narrator of the story is Kahu’s uncle so it shows his point of view for everything and I really liked that. I enjoyed his voice as I found him to be really enthralling and it just made the story that much more interesting.
I felt that time se...more

like · see review

Dec 23, 2008 Robin rated it 3 of 5 stars · 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 Whale Ri...more

like · see review

Feb 05, 2011 Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 1001, adventure, animals, children, coming-of-age, healing, quest

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."

Kahu's grandfather: "Our Koro was like an old wh...more

like · see review

Apr 26, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

like · see review

Nov 28, 2012 Winnie Demsus added it · review of another edition

Shelves: whale-rider

THE BOOK IS SO MCH THRILLING WE READ IT N SKUL AZ PART F A LITERATURE SET BOOK ND INDEED IT HAS AN OUT COMING MESSAGE IT IS ALL ABOUT KAHU A GYAL BORN WITH A BROTHER BUT UNLUCKILY THE BOY DOESNT SURVIVE XO KAHU IS THEA TO INHERIT THE CHIEFTAINSHIP BUT THE GRANDPA,KORO APIRANA DISAPPROVES THIS ND SEES NO USE OF A GYAL BUT AS I READ FURTHER...... WHEN THE WHALES GET STRANDED AT WHANGARA SHOWS A SIGN AND KAHU SAVES THEM IN THE END.... PROVING SHES KAHUTIA TE RANGI AFTER SAVING THE WHOLE OF WHANGARA...more

like · see review

Jul 20, 2011 Jordan Bartlett rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 the Legandary Bull Whale out...more

like · see review

Feb 24, 2013 Amanda Childs rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This story about a young Maori girl who defies traditional roles of women and leads her tribe to unity is uplifting and powerful. The choice of narrator (the second son of the tribe's chief) is also interesting and gives the story a nice perspective. However, I found this book to be somewhat disappointing after having seen the excellent film. The film takes liberties with the story that actually refine and make the story better. For example, the book has the girl to be a young child, six or seve...more

like · see review

Dec 28, 2011 Liz rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

like · see review

Jan 10, 2012 Faith Justice rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

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

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Is the book as good as the movie	2	10	21 de Sep 06:15

combine
Other Editions (27)

More editions...

Genres

Young Adult

62 users

Fantasy

27 users

Literature

7 users

Animals

5 users

Young Adult > Coming Of Age

5 users

Family

5 users

Contemporary

5 users

Academic > School

5 users

Childrens

5 users

Fantasy > Mythology

4 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Witi Ihimaera

Witi 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 novel and a b...more

More about Witi Ihimaera...

Books by Witi Ihimaera

Uncle's Story (Contemporary Pacific Literature)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Whale Rider

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from The Whale Rider

“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.” — 2 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: The Whale Rider
avg rating	preview: The Whale Rider Goodreads rating: 3.77 (2257 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/949043.The_Whale_Rider?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348370363l/949043.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/949043.The_Whale_Rider?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera[/url]

The Whale Rider

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website