The Whale

Product Information

The #1 Best Overall book about whales is the Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises by Erich Hoyt. Doster, Tyler (February 24, 2023). "6th Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) awards: 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' emerges victorious". AwardsWatch. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023 . Retrieved February 25, 2023. Ihimaera notes that he wrote this book for his two daughters who one day asked him why only boys play the role of heroes in movies whereas girls are cast as the role of damsel in distress. He was living in New York at the time, and this traditional tale came to mind when a whale was stranded in the Hudson River and needed to be rescued. The character Kahutia was thus born. Kahu as an eight year old realizes that her people are suffering and is determined to become well versed in her culture, cultivating a one-sided loving relationship with Koro Apirana, and winning countless awards at her cultural school. More importantly, she can talk to whales and dolphins, if only her Paka Koro would see this. Kahu's role in saving the Maori comes to a head with the appearance of an ancient whale on the Whengara beach who is said to be Paikea, and only a true whale rider is able to save both the whale and human races. While these scenes were moving and emotional in printed form, they were mesmerizing on big screen, as the whale rider goes out to sea to converse and swim with the majestic creatures of the deep. Ihimaera has created a wonderful gift for girls all over the world in creating a girl heroine who is proactive and not crying out for boy heroes to save her. With his determination to leave this gift for his daughters, Ihimaera has created a gem in Kahu and in Nanny Flowers who encourages her every on every step of her journey.

Anderson, Erik (November 17, 2022). "Rihanna, Billy Eichner, Elvis, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio top Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) winners". AwardsWatch. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022 . Retrieved May 1, 2023. Cinema for Peace Doves 2023". Cinema for Peace Awards. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023 . Retrieved April 26, 2023.

The Best Books About Whales that Explore Their Histories, Dialects, and More FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Lang, Brent (January 11, 2021). "Darren Aronofsky, Brendan Fraser Team on 'The Whale' for A24". Variety. Archived from the original on August 20, 2021 . Retrieved January 12, 2021. Anderson, Erik (December 22, 2022). "2022 Florida Film Critics Circle winners: 'Decision to Leave', 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' are top winners". AwardsWatch. Archived from the original on December 23, 2022 . Retrieved December 22, 2022. Kroll, Justin (February 10, 2021). " 'Watchmen's Hong Chau to Co-Star with Brendan Fraser in Darren Aronofsky's Next Film for A24". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 20, 2021 . Retrieved February 11, 2021. I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married. Richard Roeper's best movies of 2022". Chicago Sun-Times. December 23, 2022. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023 . Retrieved February 23, 2023.

As you can imagine, Kahu's story is very endearing and cute, and the whales' story has more of a surreal quality. However, this would be an oversimplification of how exactly wild this book gets at times. It's a wildness in the method and narration, rather than one in the actual events, but ultimately leads to a very fairytale-ish world of collision between myth and reality. Ihimaera weaves Maori mythology and sprinkles Maori words in the narrative. These lend authenticity to the tale. A Glossary is provided to explain the phrases and words. The novel’s strength lies in the intersection of mythology with reality. It depicts the struggle of the indigenous tribes to maintain traditional belief systems in the face of modernity. Its primary appeal is to a young adult audience who may see it as a heart-warming tale of a young girl’s successful struggle to overcome the challenges of a male-dominated culture. Like humans, whales live in close social circles, relate in complex ways with one another, and have their own dialects. They’re fascinating creatures that we often don’t think of, particularly if you don’t often visit the ocean. Once you face the ocean, however, the enormity of it all comes to life, and it’s easy to get endlessly curious about it. There’s so much we still don’t know about whales and there are researchers out there doing incredible work, attempting to understand and decipher the languages of whales.First, there were unfamiliar names in the legends. (This is excusable.) But, there were also lots of unfamiliar words in the opening scenes. Nuff said on that. I'm still struggling to decide if this book is a children's book or a YA book. At times it seemed to be written for grade schoolers and at others for young adults. Then there were things written over the heads of all of us. The narrator is sixteen years older than the subject, a young girl gifted to be the savior of her people. At times a scene would feel "childish" and at others more worldly. And only upon reflection did I understand how an "uncle" could have been killed in the car accident in New Guinea when all the Maori relatives live in New Zealand. Perhaps a very short (1-2 paragraphs) preface on terminology would have been helpful. And, when it comes right down to it, was that part of the story necessary? Would a young reader understand why it was included? It was at this stage that the police and rangers arrived. I guess they must have had trouble figuring out who were the good guys and who were the bad guys because they started to manhandle us as well." I don't know what I think of this one. Somewhere in the middle 2.5/5 maybe? I don't know if I'll round up to 3, though.