The Whale Rider

The Whale Rider
by: Witi Ihimaera
152 pages hardback
1987

Written primarily from the view point of a loving uncle, this Maori "fable" is an interesting account of the life of an eight-year-old girl.  Had Kahu been a first-born son, there would be a different story to tell.  But this little girl persevered in spite of receiving any affection from the great-grandfather that she adored, and in the end, she saved the day.  Intersperse in the story are Maori phrases (often the explanation immediately following) so like the other books I have read about New Zealand, the use of additional language give a rich texture to the reading experience.  There are very poetic chapters about whales and their lives which also provides variety to what would be a very straight-forward story plot.  The characters are consistent and likable (even the grumpy grandparents) and easy to picture in the ways in which they interacted with one another. 
Tribal history and the desire to preserve it played a role in the novel.  Perhaps the bits I liked best was the uncle's travels to Australia and on to Papua New Guinea and the discoveries he made about himself while he was away.  When he returned home he was glad to be back and had a deeper appreciation for all that he had left. 
This is a quick and enjoyable read that makes me happy for family and the value of community. Oh, and the novel was made into a movie, but i have not seen it.