Customer Reviews

Whale Song: A Novel

5 star:		(61)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The title of this book leaped out at me from its striking cover, but when I started reading, I was captivated by how meaningful the title was to this very moving story. Cheryl Kaye Tardif's words, scenes and characters flowed through the pages so smoothly I almost forgot I was reading. I felt as though I were in Canada with the characters.

This is a story about an eleven-year-old girl, Sarah Richardson, who moves with her family to Vancouver Island, Canada where her father, a biologist, has taken a new job studying killer whales. Sarah makes friends with a neighbor girl, Goldie Dixon, who is a Nootka Indian. Before Sarah moved there, a tragedy occurred in Goldie's family; it involved her older brother, and there is a mysterious tie-in to this novel's title through that occurrence.

Goldie's wise granddmother, Nana, steeped in Indian tradition, plays a major role in Sarah's life, and Goldie's entire family becomes friends with Sarah's family as the story unfolds. When Sarah's mother becomes ill, a boy who has a crush on Sarah gives her a lovely whale figurine which is another tie-in to the title.

What happened in Goldie's family before Sarah came to live there? How does Sarah lose her mother ... and then her father, in uniquely different ways? How does she reclaim them both ...in uniquely different ways? And how does Sarah lose her memory? Why can't she remember the events of the most tragic day in her life? And just how does a whale figure into the plot? Do people who are drowned truly come back as whales, as the Nootkas believe?

That's a long list of questions, I know, but this author answers them with such dexterity, she'll leave you breathless. And, finally, the question that begs to be answered: What IS a Whale Song and how does it help Sarah reclaim her mother?

To get the answers to those questions, you must read this intriguing, exciting book. It will tug at your heart strings, stirring your emotions like no other.

One doesn't simply read a Tardif story, one experiences it! Among the very few authors I've ever said that about is my all-time favorite Pat Conroy. Like him, Cheryl Kaye Tardif has a definite way with words, weaving a touch of magic into them ... a little like Conroy in BEACH MUSIC, my favorite book..

This is not only a coming-of-age story, it's a love story, a mystery and a family drama in one clear, concise package. Though billed as women's fiction or general fiction, this novel will appeal to YA and all generations--just as "Harry Potter" does.

"Whale Song" is a bestseller in Canada and the US. It made both lists on Amazon shortly after it was released. I'm not surprised that a film producer is looking closely at this book. In the front of my copy, Tardif wrote: Dare to Dream, and Dream Big! I certainly hope her Big Dream comes true and this novel becomes a movie!

My only regret is that I didn't discover this author sooner. She has two other novels out, "Divine Intervention" and "The River." But she says she "holds this one close to her heart." Well, it's now close to my heart, too, as I'm sure it will be to yours. I look forward to reading those other two, but I can't wait to read the one she's currently working on; it's a nonfiction story about the tragic murder of her younger brother and his friends, The Porch Monkeys ... a story of the lost, the forgiven.

Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, 2008
Millennium Babe: The Prophecy

I am thrilled to be introduced to Whale Song by Cheryl Kaye Tardif. This talented author has written a moving tale that touched my heart. From the opening page of the prologue, I was captivated.

Eleven year old Sarah Richardson has her world uprooted when her parents move from a ranch in Wyoming to Vancouver Island, Canada. Her father is a biology professor who has taken a job studying killer whales. Things are difficult for Sarah at first, but she is fortunate to meet Goldie Dixon, a neighbor of the same age who happens to be a Nootka Indian. Goldie's older brother drowned and her Indian tradition believes that he has come back as a whale and speaks to her. As Sarah faces a family tragedy, Goldie and her wise grandmother, Nana, will help Sarah navigate the rough road that lies ahead.

Whale Song is a powerfully moving story that had me in tears more than once (and I'm not usually an emotional reader). It's a tale of love and sacrifice, friendship and survival, and doing what is best for those you love--despite the cost. But what makes Whale Song sing is Tardif's beautiful writing. I picked it up one afternoon and couldn't put it down until I was finished.

Cheryl Kaye Tardif has written two other books, Divine Intervention and The River. I have definitely added them to my reading list.

Only child, star in her parent's crown, Sarah's fairytale life takes a startling and sad turn. Whale Song is beautifully written, and though not an action novel, it is a page turner. The novel is emotionally evocative (I shed tears for Sarah and her companions) but there are many, many heartwarming and encouraging aspects. You quickly become embroiled in the narrator's life, and Sarah's voice is so strong you could believe you are reading a true story. The characters are convincing, engaging and memorable. I found myself thinking about the novel and its "lessons" while driving to work, often in fact. The Native American mysticism was particularly well done and interesting.

The story begins when 11-year-old Sarah, her mother and father move from Wyoming to Vancouver--from the mountains to the sea. Her father is a marine biologist, her mother an artist. Sarah is devastated by the move but soon makes friends with a Native American girl named Goldie and is accepted by Goldie's family and her wise woman grandmother Nana but at school another Native American student teaches Sarah about discrimination and cruelty.

Whale Song follows Sarah as she matures--her tragedies and triumphs--to a satisfying end.

Fresh in from Wyoming, Sarah is the new girl on Vancouver Island in Canada. Along the island's shores, Sarah finds a wonderful new way of life and unexpected friends. It soon looks that the rest of her childhood will be spent in an idyllic atmosphere.

Things slowly change as Sarah's mother succumbs to a devastating illness. Her life is shattered when her mother dies and father is accused of murder. Struck by the loss of a memory that could either help or irreparably harm her father, Sarah slides into a prolonged period of torment in which she resists a tribal chief's promise that a wolf will guide her to the truth of that horrible day her mother died.

Sarah has a chance to find peace and happiness, but the journey may be more than she can bear.

Author Cheryl Kaye Tardif offers a sometimes sentimental, sometimes shocking story about the effect of tragedy on a young life. The abrupt change from an ideal childhood to the aftermath of a frightening ordeal is a premise with a great deal of potential. Tardif explores some wonderful aspects here, but there could have been so much more. More than half of the book is spent in weaving the structure of Sarah's life on Vancouver Island. The meat of the story, Sarah's transformation from happy child to troubled teen and adult is skimmed over, a list of highlights from the years following her mother's death.

While the first half of the book is beautifully written, there is the feel of a major disconnect between it and the ending. The author tries to tie it in with hints dropped in the form of foreshadowing, but this technique is iffy at best.

All told, I have to give this novel an average rating. WHALE SONG has the soul of a great literary work, but the surface was only scraped. Dig deeper, and there is a heck of a story yet to be shared. I would love to see this fulfillment someday, as this is the kind of story that could sing to anyone's soul.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
05/19/2007

This is an amazing story, and one you'll want to read again and again. Cheryl Kaye Tardif skillfully weaves her tale of friendship, love, loss, pain and forgiveness, and although not very long, it's a story you won't easily forget.

Sarah Richardson moves to Vancouver Island with her mother and father, and soon becomes fascinated with the Native American folklore that permeates the area. Her father is a marine biologist, and through him, she is introduced to the song of killer whales as they frolic in the ocean. Although some aspects of her school life are a bit rocky, she is fortunate to meet Goldie, who becomes her best friend. Goldie's grandmother is a very wise woman who educates Sarah in significant aspects of Native American culture, and also provides guidance and support.

Just when things are falling into place, tragedy strikes, leading to an event so traumatic that Sarah loses her memory. Unable to deal with the pressure, she begins separating herself from her friends and family, until the day when the past catches up with her and she is finally able to forgive.

The story shows how someone can triumph over prejudice and hatred, and just about the point when you think you have it all figured out, the author throws in a twist, and an ending well worthy of being called a grand finale. A short yet emotional read that may just move you to tears.


Amanda Richards, July 23, 2007

I haven't read a young adult novel since my son was in Middle School and quite honestly I didn't even realize that Cheryl Kaye Tardif's story of a young girl living in Vancouver with her artist mother and marine biologist father fell into this category until I was half way through it and checked out the author's item page on this website. After all Harper Lee's masterpiece "To Kill a Mockingbird" uses the voice of the pre-adolescent Scout to tell her tale set in the American South in the 1960s in the same way that Tardif speaks through her main character Sarah Richardson.

Not that Tardif's novel rivals Lee's classic. That's not to say that it isn't a good coming-of-age narrative, but where Lee's portrait of Articus Finch suggests the noble hero fighting a battle larger than himself for the greater good, Tardif formulates a smaller world which centers not so much on a brave father figure but on the pain of a young girl adjusting to a new school where her race sets her apart as a social pariah. Sarah's angst increases when her beloved mother falls ill and she must come to grips with the potential loss. Whereas Lee communicates a daughter's pride in her father's courage, Tardif goes for the same feel, and if she fails it is only in achieving the overall tightness of the older story. For indeed Sarah's father commands respect too even if his issue focuses on a individual choice rather than a universal failing of society.

Bewildered by a series of events leading to a personal train wreck, Sarah wallows understandably until certain facts become clear. Utilizing a first person narrative technique, the reader experiences Sarah's initial acclimation first-hand under Tardif's very skillful voice. We enjoy her discovery of the mystical Indian legends of the whale and the wolf and await her comprehension of her specific mission.

The younger Sarah successfully emerges as a girl on the brink of her teenaged years. Tardif relays her sense of uncertainty and the ups and downs of triumphs and failures in an adept way that cements her ability to capture the sensibilities of this burgeoning adolescent with great credibility.

Driven by Tardif's strength in creating such a believable character, the story moves along with great readability. Somehow I thought it stalled a little once Sarah's greatest fear becomes actualized but perhaps this lull in the action was meant to illustrate Sarah's confusion over a situation with implications larger than the world she knows. Likewise, the endgame of this novel seems to be rushed, but this seems indigenous to young adult novels where the resolution takes place under the auspices of adulthood.

Bottom line? Cheryl Kaye Tardif writes a most satisfactory story about a young girl's coming-of-age amidst a background that is simultaneously beautiful, mystical and bittersweet. Recommended for all young adults.
Diana Faillace Von Behren
"reneofc"

I had never heard of Cheryl Kaye Tardif until the power of the internet and myspace.com brought us together. When I read about her book, "Whale Song" I knew I had to read it.

I am a librarian in a small public library so I thought there would be no problem finding her book. No one in our system had a copy so I purchased one for our location, of course reading it first before putting it into circulation. I am so glad I did.

This is a wonderful story of a young girl who faces a life-altering tragedy in her life and with the love and caring of a sacrificing father, the support of a good friend and her Native American family, comes to terms with an act of compassion and love for a parent.

May we all find comfort in the songs of the whales and in the spirits of our loved ones.

Linda Riffe

Cheryl Kaye Tardif's remarkable novel, Whale Song is an unexpectedly good read. With the dinner dishes left undone and staying up into the wee hours of the morning, I closed the last page and just sat there, staring, seeing compassion in a whole new way.

Tardif's language is compelling and engaging, and her ability to handle character motive is skillfully done. The pace of the story is quick, yet possesses remarkable depth, imagery and beauty. The reveal at the end left me surprised and saddened, yet touched.

When you buy Whale Song, you might want to get one for a friend, otherwise you'll find you've given your only copy away. But in my case, no matter, since Whale Song is one of those stories--like all truly remarkable stories--that stays with you for a long time to come.

Whale Song would make a great gift if you know someone who has lost a loved one, or for any teenager for that matter. Many teenagers experience loss every day in one form or another.

From the first moment I laid eyes on the cover I was captivated. Seeing the girl under water made me want to read what was inside...The book is one that I read in one day it is spellbinding. Young Sarah deals with loss,prejudices,love,all in a very short period in her young life. She overcomes all odds and turns prejudice into lasting friendships. This is a must read.

Simply sublime. I agree with other reviewers that Whale Song is a touching and heartfelt story. The best possible kudos I can give this book are these: I will share this story with my own daughters when they come of age and will enjoy revisiting the story in years to come.