The Whale Rider

The Whale Rider centers on a Maori tribe in Whangara, New Zealand whose traditions are threatened by the same thing that threatens all cultures. Forgetfullness. There are no traditions unless they are passed down from one generation to the next. The aging chief, named Koro Apirana, has a son named Porourengi who will take over after his death. The problem is that he worries about the generation after since Porouangi has a daughter instead of a hoped for son. Koro wants the bloodline to continue through sons, not daughters. So he scorns the girl-child, who is given the name Kahu. He is outraged by this name because it is the ancient name of the mythical figure from whom the whole tribe is descended. This figure was the friend of whales and rode on their backs and knew their language. Like King Arthur, he vowed that in its time of greatest need, he would return to help his people. Kahu might just be that returning savior who could join Nature and Man together again, but how will she attain the position when she has to constantly strive against the sexism of her great-grandfather who says he has no use for her an does not allow her to learn the ways of the tribe?

Unlike the movie, where the main character is Kahu, the main narrator of the book is Rawiri, who is Koro's second son, and who was portrayed in the movie as an overweight drunk. In the book, he is sort of a bad boy who is in a motorcycle gang but he respects tradition and is Kahu's appointed protector. Kahu is almost a minor character in the novel. She flits in and out of the plot but she's not in the spotlight as such until the closing chapters. Kahu's father also plays a smaller role than in the film.

Why did I dislike this book? Because when I seek the book a film was based on, I seek it because in novels you are supposed to get far deeper meanings than you can get from an image on a screen. You should be able to get more backstory, more characterization, more thought. I got none of these things from reading the novel. It was dull and boring. The characters were lifeless. They had no inner life. There was some use of whales as characters in the book and they talk using completely human words like "radiation" and "data-banks" which totally went against the whole in tune with nature thing to me and became goofy. The book was emotionless. It had no heart. As Bill and Ted would say, it was "most untriumphant". If I had read the book before I had seen the movie, I would not have gone to see it. That's how bad this book was.

To me, weirdly enough, the film has more story to it, and the screenwriters did a brillant job. They made the story BETTER if you can believe it. Go see the film! It was one of the most brillant movies I have ever seen. The acting is superb, especially the girl that plays Kahu. I really admire the filmmakers for turning an awful book into one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. Avoid this book. The novelization of the film Dude, Where's my Car? would be better than reading this. I was so disappointed.


Magical   January 27, 2004
E. A Solinas (MD USA)
41 out of 43 found this review helpful

"Whale Rider" is best known as the hit indie movie, winner of the Audience Award in the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. But the basis for that film was Witi Ihimaera's magical, lore-laden novel "Whale Rider," a bittersweet story about a Maori girl and her mysterious destiny.

The first great-grandchild of the Maori chief Koro Apirana is born... but a girl called Kahu, not the hoped-for boy, and soon her mother dies. Koro is upset, since only a male can carry on the line. He hopes for a destined chosen one to restore the Maori people, but his hopes are growing more and more futile. He starts teaching young boys about the old traditions, looking for the one who can "pull the sword from the stone."

Meanwhile, Kahu grows up into an inquisitive and sweet-natured eight-year-old. She loves her grandfather, but his bitterness over her not having been a boy has never really worn off. But one day, whales are found beaching themselves near the town where Kahu lives, and she hears their song. Searching for his old friend, master and rider, the oldest whale will find Kahu.

Few novels have the earnest simplicity that "Whale Rider" does. Ihimaera tackles subjects like tradition, sexism, faith, and of course the Maori culture. Not a lot of books and movies handle the Maori, who are the native people of New Zealand, and Ihimaera does an excellent job of conveying the creation myths, a handful of traditions, and the danger to it now (illustrated by Rawiri's journeys to Australia and Papua New Guinea).

Since the story is told through Kahu's biker uncle Rawiri, it takes us awhile to get to know Kahu. Similarly, the book is rather ordinary near the beginning, and the writing is too simple. But it grows in majesty, mystery and poetry as it progresses to its haunting, magical climax. Among the best parts of the book are the almost mythological sections devoted to an ancient whale who carried the Whale Rider long ago.

Kahu is a nebulous figure for much of the book, but flowers about halfway through, when Rawiri returns to New Zealand. Koro is an enigmatic character, crusty and grumpy, but is deeply concerned for his people and loves his granddaughter underneath it all. Nanny Flowers, who threatens to divorce Koro on at least a daily basis, is a wonderful character.

Sweet, beautifully written and memorable, "Whale Rider" is a memorable tale about traditions and culture, and about a little girl in white who rode a whale out to sea.


Movie v. Book   June 26, 2003
C.M. (Washington, DC USA)
26 out of 28 found this review helpful

I read the book after seeing the movie, and found the book to be grittier. The book explains the myth of Paikea (Kahutia Te Rangi), the whale rider, in more detail, and explores Maori social issues in more depth. The story is also told from the perspective of someone other than Kahu (Pai).

The book stirred my imagination very differently than the movie. The movie had an ethereal quality that the book doesn't have as much, but the book explores the mystery surrounding the myth in a way that the movie doesn't begin to touch upon.

This book is immensely respectful of its characters, their failings, fears, and shortcomings, and despite the fact that the book centers on a founding myth, its humanity and compassion will move you. I highly recommend this engrossing, moving read, even to adults. In terms of an appropriate audience, children under ten or eleven might be upset by some of the scenes in the book, ranging from whaling practices to the consequences of an auto accident.


The Whale Rider   August 9, 2003
Kathy Smoot (California, USA)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

This is a beautiful work that fills one with the chills of destiny. I decided to read the book after seeing the movie, and though the movie was very good, the book gives a greater flavor of the Maori culture.
Koro Apirana is the chief of the tribe but he is disappointed when a girl first-born child comes instead of a boy. His eldest son's first wife dies, sealing the destiny for Kahutia Te Rangi to be the only heir to the chief. Her name also, is the one of the ancestor who was the first to come to their land, and the first whale rider. Koro's wife, Nanny Flowers gets their son to name her that, but afterward everyone says she's gone too far. Kahu proves to be a strong child, who loves her grandfather even though her love is not returned. When she hears the whales calling, destiny is calling her too. Witi Ihimaera's magical tale of Kahu brings a sense of the strength of the Maori culture to her readers. There is more to the book than the movie.


Almost as Good as Rich Man's Coffin   June 18, 2003
Michael O'Keefe (San Diego, CA United States)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

If you're sick of the Harry Potter series, and you want to broaden your kids' horizons, this book is perfect. Transcending the gender and racial stereotypes, this book will thrill, entertain, and educate young boys and girls all at the same time. Short of overcoming the myth that everyone who looks Polynesian is from Hawaii, this book will lay out in rich detail the cultural history of New Zealand for young readers and adults alike, in an exciting thrill ride. Bringing to light and bringing together New Zealands "clean and green" image with its fascinating Maori people, this book instills young minds with the importance of preserving the Earth, living beliefs of all people, and the idea that we are all connected.

For detailing Maori tradition and customs, this book ranks up there with Kenneth Gardner's debut novel, Rich Man's Coffin, which deals with a bit more adult themes including the days of cannibalism, but nonetheless focuses on the unique and beautiful spiritual rituals of the Maori.

For anyone wanting to immerse themself in the culture and beauty of a far away land, New Zealand, which seems to becoming all the rage in America these days, I recommend The Whale Rider wholeheartedly.