Mocha Dick: The Legend and Fury

by Brian Heinz, Randall Enos (Illustrator)

In 1839, Herman Melville was among the New Yorkers who thrilled to a magazine account of a white sperm whale's attacks on whaling ships. That whale was named Mocha Dick, but 12 years later, he would be immortalized in fiction as Moby-Dick. Believed to have been active from 1810 to 1859, Mocha Dick was infamous for the ferocity of his retaliations against those who attempted to capture him. From the first recorded encounter near the South American island of Mocha till the fatal harpoon blow, Mocha Dick was a legend in his own time. In language befitting a sea lore, author Brain Heinz describes characteristic episodes of the great whale's life, as illustrator Randall Enos animates the tale in a textured style evocative of scrimshaw.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals, History, Adventure, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 26, 2014

Reviews

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author probably should have thought out the prose better, especially in the first handful of pages. After the initial giggle fit, it turns out to be quite a compelling story - but pages 6 and 7 had an entire library staff reduced to tears.

"The ocean's surface exploded as the sperm whale breached...seventy feet of majesty...fountains of spume...Droplets fell like jewels upon his back...the excitement he aroused in the men on the ship's deck."

Five sentences with a whole host of adult imagery, only egged on by the title of the piece.

As the book continues, the language starts to make sense - it falls into a rhythm of storytelling with an archaic charm. The tale is a good one, made even more fun by dint of being a true story.

Unfortunately, though, there's no way I could use it in a story time. The entendre would sail right over the heads of the kids, but even the most mature of adults would have a hard time keeping a straight face.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story!
I have been intrigued by whale stories since I read "In the Heart of the Sea".
I have read several whaling stories and accounts since then.
I am currently reading "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and find similarities and wonder if it was in part based on Mocha Dick.
This book has great illustrations - they are so unique!
I didn't realize that Mocha Dick was around destroying ships for so long!
I think that my 4th graders would be lost reading this book because of the niche vocabulary, but wow! It's so interesting that I want to read it to them....if we get to go back to school this year.

[Michelle Farella · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not care for this book at all! Is whaling even still a thing?

[Sabra Kurth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whale who fought back—the inspiration for Moby Dick. Great illustrations, a sad tale.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an okay book but definitely not the type of book that I was hoping on trying to get. Ever since I came across the creature that was known as Mocha Dick, the inspiration for the more famous Moby Dick, I have wanted to learn more about the creature who was fighting not for his life but for his survival.

The writing wasn't consistent for in some parts it sounded like the prose of an old sea rhyme, which suited the story, and then in others it went back to a normal fictional telling of the story. At the same time the story was given in two colored fonts - one black and one was in blue - while sometimes those paragraphs conflicted with each other and the story.

Parts of Mocha Dick's story was definitely missing such as at the end the author mentioned he was tired of the game that wouldn't end but in the actual account of Mocha Dick his end came when he tried to help a distraught cow of his species. And the way that they tried to make him seem like some stupid animal until his "intelligence awoken" also led to the lower ranking for this book.

And finally my last complaint was the artwork. I have seen books with similar artwork that pulled it off but the replication of this one made it seem scrimshaw combined with Picasso, which I didn't like. The sailors were too awkward while there is one in the pages that looks like he isn't wearing any pants *smh*.

It would be a nice introduction for those kids who have heard of Moby Dick but nothing I would keep in the house or use as a factual basis. Due to the subject matter (there were no pictures of them killing or attacking him that had blood) I would suggest it as a parental first-read and allow the parent see whether they would allow their child to read it.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an exciting story, but one which may have limited appeal to the usual audience for picture books. It's more of an adventure story for somewhat older kids, in the form of a picture book.
I have two concerns about the book. One is the artwork, which I just didn't like. It's a very quirky style that often leads to unclear imagery, or just really weird faces, like on page 21.
My other concern is the it's apparently a fictional retelling of a real bit of history, but the author makes NO effort to separate fact from fiction. As an adult vaguely familiar with the story, I couldn't tell where the boundaries were, and I suspect most kids won't be able to tell either.
In looking at online sources, I THINK that what he did was to conflate the sinking of the Essex by a whale with the quasi-factual story of Mocha Dick, to make a single more dramatic story. If that's what he did, it confuses and weakens the real tale, and suggests that only one whale ever fought back against the whalers.
Both Mocha Dick and the tale of the Essex were inspirations for Melville's Moby Dick, which is only mentioned in the liner notes at the front.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of the whale that inspired the story of Moby Dick. I wasn't aware that Moby Dick was inspired by the exploits of a real whale, but now I know, and I have to admit that it makes me a bigger fan of the whale than of the hunters that tried to catch him. Though Mocha Dick did destroy many boats and kill sailors, he was a monster of the hunters own creation. He was acting out of self-defense. I'm fairly certain that if I were in that whale's skin, I would have reacted similarly, though he was rather prolific. It's a sad tale, but one that deserves telling and it's done very well in this book. The illustration style is unusual, but beautiful. I really enjoyed the book as a whole.

[Angelina Justice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not even going to add this to my picture-book tag because it made me very uncomfortable. I think it's great that the author and illustrator strove to tell the story of the whale that inspired Moby Dick. There

But the lingo and language is very suggestive on the first page. The rest of the text may be age appropriate, but when read outside of a classroom environment, could leave a young reader with unanswered questions and a new irrational fear.

This book got great reviews, but I disagree. That's all. I disagree.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reads like nonfiction, but as far as I can tell it is listed as historical fiction by the reviewers. It would be interesting to know what was fact, and what is fiction. This is a fairly violent story (it is about whaling, after all), and does not have a happy ending. I would not read this with young children.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of Moby Dick by Herman Melville will be interested in this nonfiction picture book about the giant whale that was the inspiration for that novel. Over decades, whalers tried to capture him unsuccessfully. The book details attacks by the whale who seemed to be retaliating against the hunters.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a picture book version of the story that inspired the novel Moby Dick. It is very interesting and not too terribly long - it would be good for an elementary level reader because of its length and new words, and also because of the animal violence inherent to this story.

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book regales the real-life exploits of Mocha Dick, the legendary whale who influenced Melville's great white whale. The scrimshaw illustrations are intriguing and the story is an interesting one for older students who may read Melville's book or know it as a cultural reference.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the idea of the linocut illustrations; they are so spot on appropriate for this story. But the story itself, while interesting, just didn't hold the attention the way I thought it would. Also, it's unclear whether the author means for us to empathize with Mocha Dick or with the whalers.

[Harla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad story, but well written. Illustrations are different.

[Shanshad Whelan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not for youngsters! Middle grade at least.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't a bad book, and at part it was quite enjoyable, but I'm having difficulty picturing the audience for this tale.

[Jacqueline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange phrasing and odd Spanish style art make this more of a coffee table book then a read aloud for story time.

[Marta Pelrine-Bacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad but well-told and wonderfully illustrated tale.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pair with Moby Dick: Chasing the Great White Whale

[Debby Baumgartner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of the real Moby Dick in picturebook format.