Sightings: The Gray Whales' Mysterious Journey

by Brenda Peterson, Linda Hogan

Traces the lives of gray whales during their migrations between Alaska and Mexico, from their summer feeding grounds in the Bering Sea to winter birthing lagoons in Baja, examining their rich history including the conflict between their hunters and environmental protectors. 25,000 first printing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Nature, Animals

336 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2002

About the author

Brenda Peterson is the author of over 20 books, including the recently released murder mystery, Stiletto. Her first memoir Build Me an Ark: A Life with Animals, chosen as a “Best Spiritual Book of 2001,” to three novels, one of which, Duck and Cover, was chosen by New York Times as a Notable Book of the Year. Her second memoir, a dark comedy of family and faith, is I Want To Be Left Behind: Finding Rapture Here on Earth; it was selected by The Christian Science Monitor among the Top Ten Best Non-Fiction Books and chosen by independent bookstores as an Indie Next and a Great Read.
Her non-fiction has appeared in numerous national newspapers, journals, and magazines, including The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, Seattle Times, Reader’s Digest, Christian Science Monitor, O: The Oprah Magazine, and Utne Reader. Oprah.com featured her Your Life is a Book: How to Craft and Publish Your Memoir. Her new kid’s are Wild Orca and Lobo: A Wolf Family Returns Home.

Reviews

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

By turns, this book is beautiful, horrifying, heartening and ultimately depressing. It left me profoundly pessimistic about my species and its impact upon the rest of Creation. But, I am a glass-is-half-empty kind of guy. You may find the book uplifting. I'm glad I read it. I will never read it again.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book, moving and sometimes difficult. I put it down for some time during the part about whaling, but so glad I picked it up. This was a special one.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and informative. Reading becomes harder emotionally in the later chapters about whale hunting.

[Ally, the Unknown · Rating 5 out of 5]

People have given this book low reviews because it is sad. It is a book about the relationship between grey whale and man and the truth is that as with most of humanities relationships with nature, it is a devastating one. It is important for the curtains to be drawn in order to gain awareness and, hopefully, learn ways to implement change. If we are left blissfully ignorant then we will never be moved to advocate for improvement in how we treat other living things. So please do not let the fact this book is sad deter you from reading it. There are many parts of this book that are also filled with beauty and hope and slices of human empathy so deep it will stick with you forever. The authors are incredibly skilled at their craft, making this book both poignant and accesible to those who may not normally like to read non-fiction. The writing is poetic and lyrical, and the descriptions of their firsthand experiences with the whales makes you feel like you are there with them as well (which is a treat for those who may never have the opportunity). I got this book randomly at a used bookstore several years ago and just read it now, and absolutely loved it. I just wish more people would read this book as it is the type that will make you think far after you are done with it and moves you to want to be better and do better. An absolutely beautifully written nonfiction piece. 5/5

[Vic Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two voices, one story. A remarkable communication of information and soul. You can sense the connection between Native people and ocean mammals and from there, sense our own human connection to another sentient, self-aware, intelligence. It is both emotionally powerful and frightening. The power of connection and sense of bond is emotional dynamite. The depth of blind betrayal is terrible and frightening to behold.

[Jeff Cinciripino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sightings is now 20 years old and in my opinion still relevant. I enjoyed the way Brenda and Linda took me on their journey of discovery of the gray whale. The struggle and conflict associated with traditional whale hunting is thought provoking. With this information as a backdrop, it has inspired me to investigate the current state of gray whales some 20 years after this reporting.

[Denise Spicer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Chapters go back and forth between the writings of the two co-authors, one a "Native American" poet, the other an ardent environmentalist. Somewhat distracting to have this back-and-forth conversation which makes it hard to understand if the reader is looking for more straight-forward facts. A few photographs and no Index.

[Louis C]

(no rating)

Very interesting, clear chapter subjects and discintive voices, clear balance between facts and interviews and own opinions, but some use of outdated terms etc. Didn't take away from reading experience though.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because a friend of mine works on whale watch tours in Puget Sound, and the season for gray whale migration in my region was approaching, and I wanted to know more about the whales. I appreciated how this book contained two perspectives, and through the authors' experiences and interviews, brought more opinions together into one volume. A pro-whale thread definitely pervaded, but the space was held to learn more about Native cultures with a connection to whaling – which could, I suppose, still be considered a pro-whale view.

I gained a new sense about the wonder that is gray whales, their remarkable interactions with humans, and their amazing and long annual migrations. As a Seattleite who fiercely believes that Native Americans have a right to all that was promised them in their treaties (and frankly, a lot more than that), and who loves whales, and who followed the stories of the Makah whale hunt with interest, I also gained a new understanding of the complexities and divergent opinions that surrounded that hunt.

[Iris (The Sheep and the Wolf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book to my dad as a gift, and at some point decided to read it for myself. This book might not be for everyone, but personally I loved it. It is very descriptive and many-stranded. Linda Hogan's language is extremely poetic and makes for a nice contrast with Brenda Peterson's slightly more detached account.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book. I could read it again in a few months.

[Perfumesofarabia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nice, but dropped it. I'd rather read fiction, this is not my kind of writing at all.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book touched my heart so very deeply and I've dreamed of visiting the breeding grounds near Baja ever since. What incredible creatures they are. I need to re-read this book soon.

[electrickerrain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend Linda Hogan's People of the Whale to people who like this book for further reading .

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book. I would recommend this to anyone who is passionate about gray whales.