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  • Published: 1 August 2023
  • ISBN: 9781776950669
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 192
  • RRP: $14.99

The Whale Rider




A classic novel that became a classic film.

This classic has been released in the Popular Penguin format to mark 50 years of publishing in New Zealand. The format reaches further back to 1935, when Allen Lane founded Penguin Books with a clear vision: ‘We believed in the existence of a vast reading public for intelligent books at a low price, and staked everything on it.’

In this international bestseller, Kahu feels destined to become the leader of her tribe in the East Coast village of Whangara. But her grandfather, Koro Apirana, refuses to accept that a girl could take over from him as chief. When a pod of whales is beached, Kahu has to act if she is to save them and her people.

  • Published: 1 August 2023
  • ISBN: 9781776950669
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 192
  • RRP: $14.99

About the author

Witi Ihimaera



Three-time winner of the Wattie/Montana Book of the Year award, Katherine Mansfield fellow and playwright Witi Ihimaera is one of New Zealand’s most prolific and accomplished writers. Witi’s first novel, Tangi, won the Wattie Book of the Year Award in 1974, a feat he repeated with The Matriarch in 1986. His celebrated novel Bulibasha, King of the Gypsies, now adapted as the film Mahana, won the Montana Book of the Year award in 1995. Witi’s other novels and short story collections include The Whale Rider (also adapted as an internationally successful film); Dream Swimmer (sequel to the award-winning The Matriarch); Pounamu, Pounamu and Nights In The Gardens of Spain. In 2015 he published the first volume of his autobiography, Maori Boy.
 

Also by Witi Ihimaera

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Praise for The Whale Rider

Like his other books it explores Maori culture in contemporary New Zealand, in this case, the crisis that occurs when the first-born to whom traditions are entrusted turns out to be a girl. However there are significant differences between the book and film . . . The book or the film? I’m glad I had the vivid film images in my mind as I read, but I prefer the book.

Lisa Hill, ANZ Litlovers

a profoundly enchanting story that will hold [you] in its grip right up to its tender conclusion

Amanda Cuda, Curledup.com

how often does a book change your life? It would take some pretty powerful words to make something like that happen - but those are exactly the kind of words that make up Whale Rider. Whale Rider is a magical tale of survival, stubbornness and destiny. . . . You are in for a bit of an emotional rollercoaster with Whale Rider. As you follow Kahu and her family, you'll soon realize that they're not that different from you and your family. They struggle, fight, laugh, cry and have no idea how to make things perfect. . . . This is most definitely one of the most amazing books you will read in a really long time. Not only will you walk away feeling a little more cultured and inspired after reading Whale Rider, you won't have to give up a lot of time to do it. If you've been lucky enough to catch the movie version of Whale Rider you will notice quite a few differences, but you'll still be able to enjoy this very unique tale. (Five stars)

Kidzworld.com

Discover more

Video
At Home With Penguin and Witi Ihimaera

We are proud to present the first of our At Home with Penguin video series, in which we ask some of NZ’s most wonderful authors to talk about life in lockdown – kicking off with Witi Ihimaera on The Whale Rider, neighbourhood walks and why the peace of lockdown might NOT be good for writers’ creativity! With numerous short stories, novels, libretti, plays, memoirs – well over 20 books, plus many more Witi Ihimaera has edited or contributed to – where do you begin? Here is a handy guide from our Fiction Publisher, Harriet Allan: https://bit.ly/3bEL8ks