The Whale Rider

Ethan                                                                                                 English, Period 4                                                                                                 September 16, 2009                                                                                                 Mrs. Huff       Over the summer, in my camp class, we read several books and compared them to the movies.  We read three books, and the one that stood out to me was The Whale Rider, by Witi Ihimaera.  I chose this book because it was the most realistic of the three books that we read.  I have always enjoyed non-fiction book, so I was surprised that I enjoyed this book so much.  It turned out to be the best choice for me.             The story is narrated by the character, Uncle Rawiri, and starts with the birth of his niece Kahu.  She is the granddaughter of the Maori tribal leader.  Her grandfather, Koro Apirana, does not favor her because she is a girl.  He really wanted a grandson.  Shortly after she is born, Kahu's mother dies.  She is eventually sent to live with her father's family.  When Kahu is a young girl her father leaves to find work.  Once gone, there is no male to pass on the role of leader to.  The grandfather is worried about what will happen when he dies; he is afraid that the tribe will end because there will be no male that possess' the magical power of speaking to the whales, like their great and powerful ancestors could.  Kahu wants to be counted among the possible leaders, but her grandfather ignores her.  She tries many times to get his attention by doing things that the boys do and performing well in school, but her grandfather often pretends that she doesn't exist.  Kahu's grandmother, Nanny Flowers, and her Uncle Rawiri are her biggest supporters; they know that she is special, even if the grandfather doesn't see it.  At the end of the story, Kahu proves her grandfather wrong and shows that she can be the leader of the tribe.  There are many themes in this story, but the ones that stood out the most, were keeping the tribe's identity together during both good and gloomy times and how someone could be a good leader even though they are young.             The quote that had the most significance for me, was when Uncle Rawiri had seen Kahu and told Nanny Flowers, "I found Kahu way up on the bluff, calling out to the sea. She was making that mewling sound and then cocking her head to listen for a reply."  It was an important quote because it was the first time that her family heard her call out to the whales that were dying on the sand below her.  It was at that moment, I believe, that her family (except for her grandfather) began to realize that she had the special gift of communicating with the whales.  This special gift, however, carried a big burden for this young girl and it made her family sad to see their precious relative in so much pain.  This would prove to be a major turning point for Kahu, her family, and the entire tribe.             To rate this book, I have chosen a system using pictures of whales.  I am rating this book using a 1-5 rating scale with one being a book that no one would enjoy and that I would not recommend, and a five being a book that is a must read for all.             I recommend this book to children twelve and over because it shows that if someone works really hard and believes in him or herself, they can become a leader – even at a young age.  I also recommend it for children who have had a hard life and who may have been told that they don't matter.  Stay strong and continue to prove yourself; one day, someone will notice it.  Furthermore, I recommend this book to anyone who likes animals and nature.  Although many people will like this book, there are some warnings for those with weak stomachs who are sensitive to animals being harmed by humans.