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kaila_robertson's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
on the whole, i liked it. I thought that Hager characterised Will well with a uniquely New Zealand sounding voice and I liked the environmental focus it had. Also pretty great that tikanga Māori (e.g. pōwhiri) are normalised in it and not only portrayed in a respectful way but also beautifully described. I did find some bits a little cringey - e.g. Will dating Pania even though they're second cousins, some of the prose from the whale's perspective which was meant to be whimsical and lyrical and wise sounding but didn't always hit the mark for me. I thought Will's voice came through authentically though and I liked Hager's exploration of his trust issues and mental health.
wendyh65's review against another edition
5.0
Will Jackson is staying at his uncle's place in the Marlborough Sounds, while his parents are away working at a mine in Australia. He doesn't want to be there, but he doesn't want to be at home in Wellington, either, after what happened.
A baby orca arrives in the bay. It's apparently a threat to the salmon farm nearby, and is a long way from it's own pod and family. Some in town want to kill the orca or drive it away. Will wants to protect it, and help it find its way home.
The story is told from two perspectives - Will, and the Orca he names Min. It's a lovely tale which I have no hesitation in recommending.
A baby orca arrives in the bay. It's apparently a threat to the salmon farm nearby, and is a long way from it's own pod and family. Some in town want to kill the orca or drive it away. Will wants to protect it, and help it find its way home.
The story is told from two perspectives - Will, and the Orca he names Min. It's a lovely tale which I have no hesitation in recommending.
indigo5545's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
quite a beautiful book - i especially liked the pov from the orca, it’s messages were quite powerful, and the imagery was provoking! for me, i liked being able to relate to the setting and music side of it.
HOWEVERwhy did the second cousins have to get together??? like ew no thanks - it devfs didn’t add anything to the plot or character development… so points marked down there for sure ALSO the book also kinda proved all the tenor stereotypes (iykyk) which felt truthful at least?? but also ugh tenors
overall the book was pretty good though and taught some lessons which is always pretty handy. the book cover is also gorgeous so points for that as well
HOWEVER
overall the book was pretty good though and taught some lessons which is always pretty handy. the book cover is also gorgeous so points for that as well
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
Minor: Murder, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness
stephee's review
4.0
Will is hiding out at his uncle's in the Marlborough Sounds. He was publicly humiliated on a televised talent show and then the YouTube clip went viral, attracting a lot of nasty comments. To top it off, Will is also recovering from a serious head injury. He is fragile, defensive, and living in self-imposed isolation. Until he meets Min, an orphaned baby orca whale. Min saw his mother killed by a whaling ship, in his grief he has lost his pod, and now he is alone in the vast ocean.
Will and Min create a bond through music, and gradually help one another to heal. There are some problems along the way - Min damages property and eats the fish at a local salmon farm, and Will is slapped with a huge fine for being in contact with the protected animal - but somehow the unlikely pair manage to rescue each other.
I don't know how Mandy Hager manages to write convincingly from an orca's perspective (the chapters are alternating points of view) - but she does. A brilliant book.
Will and Min create a bond through music, and gradually help one another to heal. There are some problems along the way - Min damages property and eats the fish at a local salmon farm, and Will is slapped with a huge fine for being in contact with the protected animal - but somehow the unlikely pair manage to rescue each other.
I don't know how Mandy Hager manages to write convincingly from an orca's perspective (the chapters are alternating points of view) - but she does. A brilliant book.
ella1212's review
4.0
This Book was an all encompassing story about a young boy who finds an orca Whale on the coast of rural New Zealand. I loved every word of this book. I also loved how the story alternated between the whale’s perspective and Will’s. I also loved how both perspectives were really quite different in the sense that the words of the whale are elegant and sleek but on the other hand Will’s were average and shy. I have a hunch that Mandy Hager did this on purpose to really excentuate what Will’s background, being rural NZ is.
All in all a great book!
All in all a great book!
cc55's review
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
rebeka_r's review
3.0
I've been in a reading slump for past few weeks and I picked two completely different books, hoping one of them will get me out of it. Unfurtunatelly I really struggled with this one. I'm not saying it's not a good book, because it is, but maybe it wasn't the right time for me to read it.
Even though the book isn't very long it took me ages to finish it. It was too slow paced and I felt like I'm not making any progress, the story isn't moving forward, even though it was.
The conversations felt forced and immature, like the words characters used were the ones I would say maybe preteens use. I had to keep reminding me that Will was 17 years old.
Also there was very little emphasis on the romance, which I didn't mind but... Let me say it like that, through all the book there were only indications that Will and Pania like each other. Their interactions were kind of awkward and innocent, it was like reading about a teen who is in love for the first time, all shy and has no idea how to talk to a girl. But then at the end of the book it's clear that they have sex. Which I have no problem with, I mean they are 18 or so, but it felt wrong. Like it's not that kind of a book, even though there was no desciption of an actual sex. Okay, I don't know if any of that made sense.
I really liked the ending tho. It was very moving and I had watery eyes. All in all the message of the story is very touching. So, good job on that Mandy.
Even though the book isn't very long it took me ages to finish it. It was too slow paced and I felt like I'm not making any progress, the story isn't moving forward, even though it was.
The conversations felt forced and immature, like the words characters used were the ones I would say maybe preteens use. I had to keep reminding me that Will was 17 years old.
Also there was very little emphasis on the romance, which I didn't mind but... Let me say it like that, through all the book there were only indications that Will and Pania like each other. Their interactions were kind of awkward and innocent, it was like reading about a teen who is in love for the first time, all shy and has no idea how to talk to a girl. But then at the end of the book it's clear that they have sex. Which I have no problem with, I mean they are 18 or so, but it felt wrong. Like it's not that kind of a book, even though there was no desciption of an actual sex. Okay, I don't know if any of that made sense.
I really liked the ending tho. It was very moving and I had watery eyes. All in all the message of the story is very touching. So, good job on that Mandy.
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