The Whale Rider

Author/Guide: Witi Ihimaera

Why a Booktrail?

Timeless: A mystical story of Maori culture and an insight into tribal lifestyle, beliefs and history

ISBN: 978-3060311606
Genre: Childrens, Folklore

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What you need to know before your trail

Eight-year-old Kahu is a member of the Maori tribe of Whangarei, New Zealand. This tribe claims that it descends from Kahutia Te Rangi, the legendary “whale rider” and every since anyone can ever remember, this means that a male heir is the one to take his rightful place in the long lines of tribesmen who follow in the Whale Riders wake.

But times are changing and there is currently no male heir of the current chief. Kahu is his only grandchild. If she can prove herself to the men, she has a chance of becoming noticed. And the day hundreds of whales are beached on the island, Kahu proves to have whale rider powers of her own….

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Whangerei

“Whangarei is the northernmost city in New Zealand”

The whale rider has an ancient gift of communicating with whales. What a lovely premise before even starting to read this book. And with the setting of a small community in NZ’s north east coast, this is a lovely backdrop to a Maori legend. Apparently this is an old Maori story that has been retold with an island setting and a young girl who wants to find her place in the world.
The descriptions for one of the island itself and the creatures living on it –

“The sea was ever- changing, shimmering and seamless to the sky”

“The forest were loud with the clatter of tree bark, chatter of cicada, and murmur of fish-laden streams.”
The descriptions are as vivid as if you were there with the breathtaking beach and the undulating hills. But its the memories and scenes with the whales which had the greatest effect on us –

In that glassy sea known as the Pathway of the sun and under the turning splendour of the stars, they waited until the newly born were strong enough for the long voyages ahead.
“Quite without the musician knowing it, the melodic patterns of the flute’s phrases imitated the whale song of comfort”