Genre: Folktale, Fiction
Ages: 9 and up
Plot: The story is about a girl named Pai, who is rejected by her grandfather because she is a girl. In ancient history, only males could succeed to become chief of the tribe. The heir to the role of chief is Porourangi, but he has left the tribe to start a family in the city. Pai's grandfather calls for parents to bring their young sons in to train for becoming the next chief. None of the boys have the heart or determination of Pai. The whales are drawn to Pai, and when they become stranded on the beach it is Pai who sacrifices her life to save them.
Observation: Ihimaera's book The Whale Rider was adapted into a movie and listed as the Sundance Film Festival Winner. The movie was calm, but different from the book, which was told from the perspective of the whales. The actress Kiesha Hughes was perfect for the role of Pai. She expressed so much emotion, with tears in her eyes when her grandfather did not show up to her recital. For an independent film, the scenes were captured beautifully and the actors were believable in their roles.
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