Whale Song: A Novel in Cheryl Kaye Tardif Novels

Dec 11, 2007

Amateur de Livre rated it:

bookshelves: own

Review by Tracee Gleichner

"I once feared death. It is said that death begins with the absence of life. And life begins when death is no longer feared. I have stared death in the eye and survived." So begins Whale Song by Cheryl Kaye Tardif.

11 year old Sarah Richardson is uprooted from her home on a ranch in Wyoming and forced to leave behind her best friend, some of her favorite possessions, and all of the memories of her childhood. Her father has accepte...more Review by Tracee Gleichner

"I once feared death. It is said that death begins with the absence of life. And life begins when death is no longer feared. I have stared death in the eye and survived." So begins Whale Song by Cheryl Kaye Tardif.

11 year old Sarah Richardson is uprooted from her home on a ranch in Wyoming and forced to leave behind her best friend, some of her favorite possessions, and all of the memories of her childhood. Her father has accepted a job in Bamfield, Canada where he will be given the opportunity of a lifetime - the chance to study Killer Whales and how they communicate and bond with each other.

Sarah is pretty despondent at first but rebounds quickly after meeting Goldie, her Native American neighbor and soon to be new best friend. Sarah loves to spend time with Goldie, and her family, especially Nana, Goldie's Grandmother. She teaches Sarah all about the beliefs of their tribe and even gives her an Indian name - Hai Nai Yu which means "The Wise One of the One Who Knows".

The families become quick friends and things seem to be going fine. Poor Sarah's world will soon be turned upside-down when she encounters racism, an illness that hits close to home, and a loss so devastating it is uncertain she will ever recover.

Being a mom of a little girl with heart problems, it was very easy for me to relate to the sense of despair these characters felt when an "illness" is presented and you have no control. You must put your faith in the doctors and hope that their knowledge and abilities will be enough to give your loved one the best possible care, and chance to live a long healthy life.

But the part of the story that fascinated me the most was the Native American background. I am blessed to have a very special friend who is 1/2 Onieda Indian. She has given my two girls Indian names and I love to talk with her to hear the stories that have been passed down for centuries by her ancestors. The way that nature is such an integral part of their lives is truly fascinating, and is something that all of us should take to heart.

This book is sure to strike a chord with readers, and could possibly spark some heated discussions...I won't go into more details here, you'll just have to read it to find out what I am speaking of.

For more information on the author please visit:
www.cherylktardif.com
http://cherylktardif.blogspot.com

For those of you that don't know, the author lost her brother Jason to a brutal murder (my sincerest regrets). What advice can you give people, if any, to help them get through a loss of this magnitude?

When you lose a loved one in something so pointless and violent as murder, it changes your life. Sometimes for the worst. It can make you fearful, afraid to leave your own home, afraid for your children, afraid to even live. Or it can change your life for the better, and give you a deeper sense of purpose. The choice is yours. Completely. We chose our responses and by accepting them, we make them our own. At first, I chose fear. I didn't leave my house for a week or so. Then I realized that was not how I wanted to live. That wasn't how my brother Jason would want me to live either. So I chose to make his death count for something more. By creating a memorial site at www.jaysporchmonkeys.com, I began to heal. After getting to know some of the organizations he dealt with and some of his friends, I healed even more. Then I decided to give back to these nonprofits by contributing a percentage of my royalties from Whale Song. Every time you buy Whale Song you are helping people in need. For those who have lost a loved one, I invite you to find a cause and donate time or money to it in memory of your loved one. And if you're looking for a cause, please check out my new project. There are teens who need your help now. (less)

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Jan 16, 2009

Christina rated it:

Read in October, 2007

Whale Song
Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Kunati Inc. 2007
In USA: 6901 Bryan Dairy Rd., Suite 150, Largo, FL. 33777
In Canada: 2600 Skymark Ave., Bldg. 12, Suite 103, Mississauga, Canada L4W 5B2
www.kunati.com
www.cherylktardif.com
SC 199 pages, $12.95 USA
ISBN # 1-60164-007-2
Reviewed by Christina Francine Whitcher
CFrancine@mail2world.com

We try to make sense of our world. A logical explanation often provides some comfort, however, this is...more Whale Song
Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Kunati Inc. 2007
In USA: 6901 Bryan Dairy Rd., Suite 150, Largo, FL. 33777
In Canada: 2600 Skymark Ave., Bldg. 12, Suite 103, Mississauga, Canada L4W 5B2
www.kunati.com
www.cherylktardif.com
SC 199 pages, $12.95 USA
ISBN # 1-60164-007-2
Reviewed by Christina Francine Whitcher
CFrancine@mail2world.com

We try to make sense of our world. A logical explanation often provides some comfort, however, this is not always the case. Our brain may not find needed answers, but the heart may. Sometimes it is the illogical, the unexplained that guides us through. This is how it is with eleven-year-old Sarah.

Sarah tried to adapt to her parent’s decision to move from Wyoming to Vancouver Island, Canada, and did. Her father had been offered a position to study killer whales and to record their vocalization instead of being a marine biology professor at the university. At first Sarah wasn’t so sure she liked the idea. For one thing, she had to leave behind her best friend and familiarity, but her new home did have perks. For one thing her bedroom was bigger and from her window, she could see the ocean. Secondly, it wasn’t long before she had a new best friend, whom Sarah adored, and she came to learn more about orca whales than she ever imagined. Not-so-good things also occurred too, and Sarah wasn’t sure of how she would deal with these. Prejudices, Indian legends, and later a blow that devastates her once safe world. She knew her move would change her life but she never imagined how much. She’d never listen to a whale’s song the same again.

A powerful coming of age tale with heroism and courage. The level of perception and sensitivity is not only convincing but haunting. Tardif again leaves a lasting mark on her readers. Her story promises to follow long after ending. This is the second book I’ve read by Tardif and each one grabbed me and wouldn’t let go – even after I’d completed the last page. It’s one of those books which stops time and leaves you hungry for more. Moving and irresistible.
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Nov 11, 2008

Chase Von rated it:

Read in November, 2008

recommends it for: Yes, Highly!!!

I've read the first two chapters and can't wait to read the rest, fantastic author!!! Update: 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

A Literary Master Piece!!!, November 24, 2008
By Chase von (California) - See all my reviews

This is going to be an unusual review for me. I too am an author and I have also read other works by this immensely talented woman and also interviewed her. I also have a suggestion but I will mention that again at the end of this...more

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Nov 01, 2008

Kathleen rated it:

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book other than there would be whales in it. The summary above comes from the back of the book and doesn't say much. I'll tell you a little more about the book so you can properly decide if it's your kind of book but don't worry, I'd never reveal too much or spoil and ending.

The main character is an 11 year old girl whose family moves to a small town where most of the inhabitants are Native Canadians. The book is Children's Fiction but for older...more

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Jun 01, 2008

Debra rated it:

Read in August, 2007

recommends it for: anyone who loves a compelling story

In the summer of 1977, eleven-year-old Sarah Richardson is filled with trepidation and resentment when her father’s new job forces her to leave her home and best friend in Wyoming to relocate in the remote town of Bamfield on Vancouver Island. But these feelings fade when she sees her gorgeous new home overlooking the ocean and befriends and Indian (a term commonly used for First Nations people in 1977) girl named Goldie. Of course, her idyllic summer with her parents and Goldie doesn’t last...more In the summer of 1977, eleven-year-old Sarah Richardson is filled with trepidation and resentment when her father’s new job forces her to leave her home and best friend in Wyoming to relocate in the remote town of Bamfield on Vancouver Island. But these feelings fade when she sees her gorgeous new home overlooking the ocean and befriends and Indian (a term commonly used for First Nations people in 1977) girl named Goldie. Of course, her idyllic summer with her parents and Goldie doesn’t last. Once school begins, Sarah endures long, painful lessons about bullying, racial hatred, and family tragedy.

Cheryl Kaye Tardif’s WHALE SONG is an unusual mystery. Although the story opens with an adult Sarah reflecting back on the summer that changed her life, she eases into eleven-year-old Sarah’s point of view as the story unfolds, turning the book into a young adult novel. But then grownup Sarah slides briefly back into the story with ominous foreshadowing about events she wished she’d seen coming.

The other unique aspect is that the mystery doesn’t occur until two thirds into the book. Certainly, the reader feels tension building among main characters and a grim situation inevitably spiraling out of control. But death, a police investigation, and murder charge don’t occur until the reader knows the Richardson family so well that we feel their anguish. Some mystery fans might loathe the pacing of events, yet it’s important to understand that mystery is only one facet of this multi-layered story. Crime might not be center stage in WHALE SONG, however, it’s essential to the story.

Cross-genre novels are hard to pigeonhole, and this one will be a challenge for librarians and booksellers. WHALE SONG is an elegantly written, heartbreaking blend of friendships lost and gained, family tragedy, spirituality, death, guilt, punishment, and forgiveness. This is a lot to incorporate into one novel, but Tardif does it beautifully in a mere 199 pages. If you want something different in a mystery, WHALE SONG is a compelling story you won’t forget any time soon.

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Jan 24, 2008

Betty rated it:

Read in January, 2008

recommended to Betty by: I saw it on the author's profile on SHELFARI.
recommends it for: Everyone from YA to adult

A POWERFUL, MOVING FAMILY DRAMA THAT SPANS THE GENERATIONS! BEAUTIFUL WRITING!

The title of this book leaped out at me from its striking cover, but when I started reading, I was captivated by how meaningful the title was to this very moving story. Cheryl Kaye Tardif's words, scenes and characters flowed through the pages so smoothly I almost forgot I was reading. I felt as though I were in Canada with the characters.

This is a story about an eleven-year-old girl, Sarah Ric...more

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Oct 07, 2008

Jeannie rated it:

Read in October, 2008

recommends it for: Any age

Another hit for Kunati publishing! Cheryl Kaye Tardiff's story of a young girl's struggle to leave her home in Wyoming to move to Canada with her parents touches the very soul of the reader. Change is hard for any age. Cheryl weaves the uncertain path of life, death and recovery with a golden needle. Many times I found myself fighting back the tears because of the grip of real-life emotion. Ms. Tardiff spans multi-tradtions, as well as multi-races and brings you full circle through the murder of...more

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Sep 27, 2007

Karen rated it:

bookshelves: i-read-it--you-should

Read in September, 2007

recommended to Karen by: Saw it on Goodreads

Great book...and I heard about it from Goodreads! Cheryl Tardif captured what it feels like to lose someone you love and so many of the different emotions you go through. She also captured an accurate portrayal of a girls adolescence--like the first kiss of an 11-year-old; that was very cute. This was a short, quick read that kept me entertained throughout.

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Feb 05, 2009

Laurel-Rain rated it:

Read in March, 2009

From the talented author Cheryl Kaye Tardif we are given a poignant and haunting tale – a coming-of-age story of a young girl transplanted to an island culture that combined Native mysticism with the beautiful animal world of the whales.

When Sarah Richardson’s family moved from Wyoming to Vancouver Island, she was not happy. Leaving behind a life of familiarity and comfort, including her best friend, she could not imagine ever experiencing joy again. Her parents, however, imme...more From the talented author Cheryl Kaye Tardif we are given a poignant and haunting tale – a coming-of-age story of a young girl transplanted to an island culture that combined Native mysticism with the beautiful animal world of the whales.

When Sarah Richardson’s family moved from Wyoming to Vancouver Island, she was not happy. Leaving behind a life of familiarity and comfort, including her best friend, she could not imagine ever experiencing joy again. Her parents, however, immerse themselves into their new lives – her mother resumes her art and her father, his marine biology.

But soon enough, she finds herself seamlessly drawn to the island, the ocean, and eventually to a new best friend – Goldie Dixon – and a wise old woman called Nana, who instilled Native Nootka mysticism into her new identity.

Unfortunately, as she begins a new school year, she becomes the victim of racism meted out by another young girl and learns what it’s like to be bullied. In the process, however, she discovers the other girl’s secret abuse by her father, and during a school field trip, when she saves the other girl’s life, they become fast friends.

As life begins to settle into some kind of normalcy, Sarah is happy – she even has experienced her first crush on Adam, a young boy in her class.

But then life takes a tragic turn, as she learns of her mother’s terminal illness. Then in a horrible and devastating moment that dramatically alters all of their lives, something happens in that hospital room; something that Sarah cannot remember – hysterical amnesia, the doctors report. Because her father is the suspect, he is sent to prison for murder…for allegedly turning off his wife’s life support.

Through the horrible aftermath, Sarah clings to Nana’s words: “When wolf walks by her, she will remember.”

What finally emerges, years later, will set them all free.

A story of mystery, drama, Native mysticism and coming-of-age, "Whale Song" was like a magical journey...I couldn't put it down.

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Feb 11, 2008

Beth rated it:

Read in July, 2007

recommends it for: Anyone

The thing that struck me the most about Whale Song was its message of compassion. I highly recommend it.

Beth Fehlbaum
http://courageinpatience.blogspot.com

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