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Ariki and the Island of Wonders
A nail-biting adventure with a strong message about endangered animals and human intervention, and a wonderful partner to Ariki and the Giant Shark.
Ariki and Ipo are making the most of a beautiful day, sailing the sea near Turtle Island on a “borrowed” boat. They’re too busy daydreaming to spot the grey clouds gathering overhead – but then a terrible storm breaks, carrying them miles from home. After days without food or drink, they are washed up on an unfamiliar island. The island is beautiful beyond belief: they see butterflies, each one lovelier than the last, lizards chasing across the rocks and, most wonderful of all, a gigantic blue bird with eyes that glow purple. When they meet another castaway, however, the children discover this island is no paradise – there are dangers lurking in the shadows! "Zoologist Davies's love of the natural world shines through in this wonderful book... Davies's prose is so evocative you can almost feel the sand beneath your toes." Mail on Sunday on Ariki and the Giant Shark
Ariki and Ipo are making the most of a beautiful day, sailing the sea near Turtle Island on a “borrowed” boat. They’re too busy daydreaming to spot the grey clouds gathering overhead – but then a terrible storm breaks, carrying them miles from home. After days without food or drink, they are washed up on an unfamiliar island. The island is beautiful beyond belief: they see butterflies, each one lovelier than the last, lizards chasing across the rocks and, most wonderful of all, a gigantic blue bird with eyes that glow purple. When they meet another castaway, however, the children discover this island is no paradise – there are dangers lurking in the shadows! "Zoologist Davies's love of the natural world shines through in this wonderful book... Davies's prose is so evocative you can almost feel the sand beneath your toes." Mail on Sunday on Ariki and the Giant Shark
- GenresChildrens
144 pages, Paperback
Published July 4, 2019
About the author
Nicola Davies
174 books185 followers"I was very small when I saw my first dolphin," says zoologist Nicola Davies, recalling a seminal visit with her father to a dolphin show at the zoo. Enchanted at the sight of what she called the "big fish" jumping so high and swimming so fast, she determined right then that she would meet the amazing creatures again "in the wild, where they belonged." And indeed she did--as part of a pair of scientific expeditions, one to Newfoundland at the age of eighteen and another to the Indian Ocean a year later. In WILD ABOUT DOLPHINS, Nicola Davies describes her voyages in a firsthand account filled with fascinating facts and captivating photographs of seven species of dolphins in action.
Nicola Davies's seemingly boundless enthusiasm for studying animals of all kinds has led her around the world--and fortunately for young readers, she is just as excited about sharing her interests through picture books. The zoologist's latest offering puts a decidedly quirky twist on her years of experience: POOP: A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE UNMENTIONABLE is a fun, fact-filled guide to the fascinating world of poop across species. "As a zoologist, you are never far from poop!" the writer explains. "I've baked goose poop in an oven with my dinner, looked at bat poop under the microscope, and had my T-shirt stained pink with blue-whale poop. I was obviously fated to write this book."
The exceptional combination of Nicola Davies's zoological expertise and her first-rate children's writing is apparent in her remarkable catalog of award-winning titles. Her first book with Candlewick Press, BIG BLUE WHALE, was hailed by American Bookseller as an "artfully composed study" offering "language exactly appropriate for four- to seven-year-olds and precisely the right amount of information." In ONE TINY TURTLE, Nicola Davies's clear, compelling narrative follows the life of the rarely seen loggerhead turtle, which swims the oceans for thirty years and for thousands of miles in search of food, only to return, uncannily, to lay her eggs on the very beach where she was born. The author's next book, BAT LOVES THE NIGHT, is a tenderly written ode to a much-misunderstood flying mammal, the pipistrelle bat, while SURPRISING SHARKS--winner of a BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Honor Award--contains unexpected facts about another one of the planet's most infamous animals.
When she is not off on scientific expeditions, Nicola Davies lives in a cottage in Somerset, England, where she is lucky enough to have pipistrelle bats nesting in her roof.
Nicola Davies's seemingly boundless enthusiasm for studying animals of all kinds has led her around the world--and fortunately for young readers, she is just as excited about sharing her interests through picture books. The zoologist's latest offering puts a decidedly quirky twist on her years of experience: POOP: A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE UNMENTIONABLE is a fun, fact-filled guide to the fascinating world of poop across species. "As a zoologist, you are never far from poop!" the writer explains. "I've baked goose poop in an oven with my dinner, looked at bat poop under the microscope, and had my T-shirt stained pink with blue-whale poop. I was obviously fated to write this book."
The exceptional combination of Nicola Davies's zoological expertise and her first-rate children's writing is apparent in her remarkable catalog of award-winning titles. Her first book with Candlewick Press, BIG BLUE WHALE, was hailed by American Bookseller as an "artfully composed study" offering "language exactly appropriate for four- to seven-year-olds and precisely the right amount of information." In ONE TINY TURTLE, Nicola Davies's clear, compelling narrative follows the life of the rarely seen loggerhead turtle, which swims the oceans for thirty years and for thousands of miles in search of food, only to return, uncannily, to lay her eggs on the very beach where she was born. The author's next book, BAT LOVES THE NIGHT, is a tenderly written ode to a much-misunderstood flying mammal, the pipistrelle bat, while SURPRISING SHARKS--winner of a BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Honor Award--contains unexpected facts about another one of the planet's most infamous animals.
When she is not off on scientific expeditions, Nicola Davies lives in a cottage in Somerset, England, where she is lucky enough to have pipistrelle bats nesting in her roof.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 6, 2019
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Ariki is bored learning about the ocean and the stars. She is training to be a Star Walker, but she longs to be in the ocean not learning about ripple effects in a bowl. When her tutor leaves her alone, she gathers her pig friend Bad Boy and heads to where her best friend Ipo is working.
Telling him he needs a break the pair (and Bad Boy) head to a boat owned by the daughters of Queen of Big Toe and take it for a little ride. However, not long into their journey a storm arrives and blows them off course. The wind howls, huge waves crash against them and rain lashes down. The pair are lost and after days adrift they find themselves with nowhere to go.
Helped by a friendly whale the three crew members eventually find an island where they meet another castaway, Crusoe McRobinson who has lived on the island since his boat sank and killed his crew. The island looks beautiful and is filled with exotic creatures, but it’s not long before they realise that the island is dangerous and they are stuck.
Ariki and the Island of Wonders is the second book in a series about a young girl called Ariki who washed up on shore when she was a toddler and was taken in by the folk of Turtle Island. She loves the ocean and longs to be on or in it all the time. She doesn’t like being stuck inside learning about it.
The plot is full of adventure and both Ariki and Ipo are delightful characters who find themselves in a serious situation and have to work out how to get out of it and learn to be gutsy, trusting and brave whilst far from home.
The book is for middle-grade readers and is easily read in just one sitting down to the shortness and the fabulous story. There are black and white illustrations throughout, and whilst I would have loved to of seen the animals in their full colour I do think colouring the pictures may have made this book feel quite young.
This is an amazing book that not only has a great plot but also includes some very valuable lessons and is educational too on environmental issues.
Ariki is bored learning about the ocean and the stars. She is training to be a Star Walker, but she longs to be in the ocean not learning about ripple effects in a bowl. When her tutor leaves her alone, she gathers her pig friend Bad Boy and heads to where her best friend Ipo is working.
Telling him he needs a break the pair (and Bad Boy) head to a boat owned by the daughters of Queen of Big Toe and take it for a little ride. However, not long into their journey a storm arrives and blows them off course. The wind howls, huge waves crash against them and rain lashes down. The pair are lost and after days adrift they find themselves with nowhere to go.
Helped by a friendly whale the three crew members eventually find an island where they meet another castaway, Crusoe McRobinson who has lived on the island since his boat sank and killed his crew. The island looks beautiful and is filled with exotic creatures, but it’s not long before they realise that the island is dangerous and they are stuck.
Ariki and the Island of Wonders is the second book in a series about a young girl called Ariki who washed up on shore when she was a toddler and was taken in by the folk of Turtle Island. She loves the ocean and longs to be on or in it all the time. She doesn’t like being stuck inside learning about it.
The plot is full of adventure and both Ariki and Ipo are delightful characters who find themselves in a serious situation and have to work out how to get out of it and learn to be gutsy, trusting and brave whilst far from home.
The book is for middle-grade readers and is easily read in just one sitting down to the shortness and the fabulous story. There are black and white illustrations throughout, and whilst I would have loved to of seen the animals in their full colour I do think colouring the pictures may have made this book feel quite young.
This is an amazing book that not only has a great plot but also includes some very valuable lessons and is educational too on environmental issues.
April 28, 2024
My seven year old and I really enjoy these Ariki stories!
July 21, 2019
This is a delightful treasure trove of a story, which I enjoyed enormously. The gorgeous illustrations by Nicola Kinnear complement the story perfectly.
Ariki is an apprentice Star Walker living on Turtle Island (having washed ashore as a toddler) with her Guardian, Arohaka and her mischievous pet pig, Bad Boy. She is a wonderfully carefree young girl who wants nothing more than to have fun and explore the ocean, for which she has a deep affinity.
Adventurous and strong-willed, she decides to ‘borrow’ a boat so that she can go exploring with her best friend, Ipo and Bad Boy. Unknowingly, they sail into the eye of a storm, cast adrift for many days, until they eventually come ashore on an island.
It is not long before she meets a castaway who has been living on the island with only the company of its incredible native species, including the wondrous Giant Bowerbirds who are vital to the survival of the island. Crusoe McRobinson is a fantastic character whose deep-rooted love of, and respect for, nature is obvious.
However, the idyllic, peaceful island is being threatened by something non-native, and rather scary, which has the power to destroy the island. Can Ariki and her friends save the island?
I loved Ariki! She is adventurous, quick-thinking and courageous with a wonderfully exuberant personality, and a real affinity and empathy for nature, with the incredible ability to communicate with animals through her thoughts.
Whilst the story is a real celebration of the beauty and awe of nature, there is a timely warning that we cannot take it for granted. The underlying themes offer an excellent opportunity to explore what happens when non-native species are introduced to an environment and the impact this can have on the natural ecosystem, including threats to habitat and the danger of the extinction of native species.
This is Ariki’s second adventure, with Ariki and the Giant Shark being published in 2018. I can’t wait to find out more about where Ariki has come from, and join her on further adventures. This is a perfect read for children of 7+.
Ariki is an apprentice Star Walker living on Turtle Island (having washed ashore as a toddler) with her Guardian, Arohaka and her mischievous pet pig, Bad Boy. She is a wonderfully carefree young girl who wants nothing more than to have fun and explore the ocean, for which she has a deep affinity.
Adventurous and strong-willed, she decides to ‘borrow’ a boat so that she can go exploring with her best friend, Ipo and Bad Boy. Unknowingly, they sail into the eye of a storm, cast adrift for many days, until they eventually come ashore on an island.
It is not long before she meets a castaway who has been living on the island with only the company of its incredible native species, including the wondrous Giant Bowerbirds who are vital to the survival of the island. Crusoe McRobinson is a fantastic character whose deep-rooted love of, and respect for, nature is obvious.
However, the idyllic, peaceful island is being threatened by something non-native, and rather scary, which has the power to destroy the island. Can Ariki and her friends save the island?
I loved Ariki! She is adventurous, quick-thinking and courageous with a wonderfully exuberant personality, and a real affinity and empathy for nature, with the incredible ability to communicate with animals through her thoughts.
Whilst the story is a real celebration of the beauty and awe of nature, there is a timely warning that we cannot take it for granted. The underlying themes offer an excellent opportunity to explore what happens when non-native species are introduced to an environment and the impact this can have on the natural ecosystem, including threats to habitat and the danger of the extinction of native species.
This is Ariki’s second adventure, with Ariki and the Giant Shark being published in 2018. I can’t wait to find out more about where Ariki has come from, and join her on further adventures. This is a perfect read for children of 7+.
July 5, 2019
A truly gripping adventure, this story is so beautifully written you will feel as if you are actually there. The descriptions of landscape, wildlife and weather are evocative and imaginative. The sense of the storm and the sea is full of texture and delight. Ariki is bold, intelligent and filled with personality. Ipo is more cautious and practical. When faced with the unknown, together they make an unstoppable team. The beautiful cover and black and white illustrations throughout the book set the scene and bring this amazing island fully to life. The message woven within the story is thought-provoking; one of the cost and concern of human intervention in the natural world and our role in the lives of endangered animals. It lies subtly in the background of an exciting, dramatic adventure that is just waiting to sweep you away with a quality that can only be called magic. An incredible companion to their previous book, Ariki and the Giant Shark, this book just shimmers with life and wonder.
August 11, 2020
Sat in a hut staring at a bowl of water and a pebble, Ariki is meant to be learning how to be a Star Walker. Bored with Arohaka’s lesson her mind wanders to the ocean and when Arohaka briefly leaves her alone she seizes the chance to get out to sea with friend Ipo and pet pig Bad Boy.
Enjoying their freedom and having fun, the stowaways are blissfully unaware of the storm that they are sailing into. Swept away by the wild seas, Ariki, Ipo and Bad Boy find themselves shipwrecked on an island that they have never been to before. The island is a world of wonder with an abundance of wildlife, plants and trees. When they meet another island dweller, he too is in love with the natural beauty of the island but he also reveals a much darker and dangerous side to island life…
From Zoologist Nicola Davies comes the second adventure starring Ariki. I haven’t actually read the first story but this is a standalone read so no prior knowledge is needed. I will be seeking out the further Ariki adventures though as I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
Davies is a champion of nature and looking after wildlife and her passion shines through in this thrilling adventure story. She introduces readers to a wonderful world of blue oceans and luscious island paradises and her evocative descriptions bring Turtle Island and the surrounding area to life. You can feel yourself floating on the waves and then being immersed into the beauty of the newly discovered island with its trees that ooze golden resin, butterflies, lizards and huge birds with blue feathers and purple eyes. I love that Davies has raised the importance of respecting nature and the dangers of introducing non-native species to a habitat into the narrative.
Ariki is an excellent lead character. She is skilled, bold, brave and resourceful. Her love for the natural world shines through and her connection with the animals is such that she believes she can communicate with them. Throughout the narrative the children are surrounded by animals and time and again the animals play a big part in keeping the pair safe from harm. A clear message that we need to take care of the natural world and live in harmony with animals.
Nicola Kinnear’s Illustrations that are featured throughout are detailed and vary between full page spreads to images that fill part of a page. I’m a particular fan of all the illustrations featuring animals.
A lovely read for nature loving children and for those who care about animals and the environment.
Recommended for 6+.
Enjoying their freedom and having fun, the stowaways are blissfully unaware of the storm that they are sailing into. Swept away by the wild seas, Ariki, Ipo and Bad Boy find themselves shipwrecked on an island that they have never been to before. The island is a world of wonder with an abundance of wildlife, plants and trees. When they meet another island dweller, he too is in love with the natural beauty of the island but he also reveals a much darker and dangerous side to island life…
From Zoologist Nicola Davies comes the second adventure starring Ariki. I haven’t actually read the first story but this is a standalone read so no prior knowledge is needed. I will be seeking out the further Ariki adventures though as I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
Davies is a champion of nature and looking after wildlife and her passion shines through in this thrilling adventure story. She introduces readers to a wonderful world of blue oceans and luscious island paradises and her evocative descriptions bring Turtle Island and the surrounding area to life. You can feel yourself floating on the waves and then being immersed into the beauty of the newly discovered island with its trees that ooze golden resin, butterflies, lizards and huge birds with blue feathers and purple eyes. I love that Davies has raised the importance of respecting nature and the dangers of introducing non-native species to a habitat into the narrative.
Ariki is an excellent lead character. She is skilled, bold, brave and resourceful. Her love for the natural world shines through and her connection with the animals is such that she believes she can communicate with them. Throughout the narrative the children are surrounded by animals and time and again the animals play a big part in keeping the pair safe from harm. A clear message that we need to take care of the natural world and live in harmony with animals.
Nicola Kinnear’s Illustrations that are featured throughout are detailed and vary between full page spreads to images that fill part of a page. I’m a particular fan of all the illustrations featuring animals.
A lovely read for nature loving children and for those who care about animals and the environment.
Recommended for 6+.
July 27, 2020
Charming, engaging for the kids. Interesting, but not spectacular.
February 1, 2023
This is a sequel to Ariki and the Giant Shark. The story isn't quite as exciting, but it includes great description of the wildlife on the island. A good Y3 read for lovers of Ariki.
September 25, 2019
This is a surprisingly good story set in a lovely place. Set in the past, ‘Ariki and the Island of Wonders’ is the second book in the series however it can be read as a standalone, as I did. The book is filled with text but also some really lovely illustrations of the characters and many animals, all images in grey, black and white. Ariki is learning to be a star walker, but she is bored with Arohaka’s lesson and takes the chance to get out onto the sea with her friend Ipo and pet pig Bad Boy. But then a storm rolls into the ocean and the waves take Ariki and Ipo further and futher out into sea, away from Turtle Island and to a place she’s never been before.
The book is set in a time before modern sea travel, back in the days that sailing ships used sails and takes place on a tropical island. Ariki and Ipo’s adventure on the sea is just the beginning and eventually they land on a mysterious new island that nobody they know of has ever visited, with strange animals that need their help. I really enjoyed reading this and considering it’s part two of a series, it was really easy to get into and enjoy right away. I love the setting on these islands and the adventure Ariki and Ipo end up having is full of surprises and interesting creatures. I love the way the author, Nicola Davies who is always championing nature, manages to not only create these lovely scenes featuring so much wildlife and descriptions of the animals they encounter but there’s also a wider message of looking after the wildlife, especially the beautiful wildlife in untouched areas (perhaps extra fitting given recent environmental problems).
The story is exciting and I started to enjoy it even more when we discover Crusoe (not Robinson) and the humour he and Mweep bring to the story is something I loved reading. As the tale comes towards its end though I couldn’t help but feel sad too for Mweep, especially when there is a moment involving some bright feathers – it actually touched my heart, made me quite emotional. The story is a lovely one and ends on a happy note though and with an interesting ending that makes me want to read the next book to see what will happen! (as well as the first book to find out how Ariki ended up on Turtle Island) It also does do a good job of bringing in a bit of emotion, espeically towards the end when you think about poor Mweep and the future of our own world.
The illustrations are just perfect and are detailed as well as fun. There are images surrounding text, with an image sometimes spread across a whole page or on just part of the page. There are also some lovely circular tribal patterns used as chapter headings. The illustrations are just perfect and I love the expressions on the characters’ faces and I especially love the way all hthe creatures are drawn, particularly Mweep and Bad Boy! There’s something so fun and engaging in the pictures and I can’t help but keep looking back at them even after I’ve finished reading the story.
I really didn’t think I’d enjoy this book as much as I have! I thought it would be a lovely tale, but it’s so much more and I simply love all the illustrations which just make it feel so much more special. I’d definitely recommend this book, it’s a great story and is perfect for kids who love nature and animals. It’s also got a good environmental/conservation message although it’s mainly just a great story. I’m definitely going to read the next book when it comes out I’m going to read the first one in this series now too.
-Thanks to Walker books for a free copy for review.
The book is set in a time before modern sea travel, back in the days that sailing ships used sails and takes place on a tropical island. Ariki and Ipo’s adventure on the sea is just the beginning and eventually they land on a mysterious new island that nobody they know of has ever visited, with strange animals that need their help. I really enjoyed reading this and considering it’s part two of a series, it was really easy to get into and enjoy right away. I love the setting on these islands and the adventure Ariki and Ipo end up having is full of surprises and interesting creatures. I love the way the author, Nicola Davies who is always championing nature, manages to not only create these lovely scenes featuring so much wildlife and descriptions of the animals they encounter but there’s also a wider message of looking after the wildlife, especially the beautiful wildlife in untouched areas (perhaps extra fitting given recent environmental problems).
The story is exciting and I started to enjoy it even more when we discover Crusoe (not Robinson) and the humour he and Mweep bring to the story is something I loved reading. As the tale comes towards its end though I couldn’t help but feel sad too for Mweep, especially when there is a moment involving some bright feathers – it actually touched my heart, made me quite emotional. The story is a lovely one and ends on a happy note though and with an interesting ending that makes me want to read the next book to see what will happen! (as well as the first book to find out how Ariki ended up on Turtle Island) It also does do a good job of bringing in a bit of emotion, espeically towards the end when you think about poor Mweep and the future of our own world.
The illustrations are just perfect and are detailed as well as fun. There are images surrounding text, with an image sometimes spread across a whole page or on just part of the page. There are also some lovely circular tribal patterns used as chapter headings. The illustrations are just perfect and I love the expressions on the characters’ faces and I especially love the way all hthe creatures are drawn, particularly Mweep and Bad Boy! There’s something so fun and engaging in the pictures and I can’t help but keep looking back at them even after I’ve finished reading the story.
I really didn’t think I’d enjoy this book as much as I have! I thought it would be a lovely tale, but it’s so much more and I simply love all the illustrations which just make it feel so much more special. I’d definitely recommend this book, it’s a great story and is perfect for kids who love nature and animals. It’s also got a good environmental/conservation message although it’s mainly just a great story. I’m definitely going to read the next book when it comes out I’m going to read the first one in this series now too.
-Thanks to Walker books for a free copy for review.
October 16, 2019
Part of a series set in another culture, sea and island adventures.
I am used to seeing Nicola Davies' name and drawings associated with picture books for both older and younger students, on an 'educational nature' theme. She creates beautiful but incredibly informative books that inspire and spread curiosity about the natural work.
While this is in many ways quite different, a chapter book, and illustrated by another artist, the themes of respecting nature and showing interest in other species are both present.
This is clearly the second in the series from the beginning, references are made to a previous book, but not having read it, I didn't feel I missed much. Ariki is a young girl bored with her interminable lessons on waves and constellations, desperate to get out onto the water she loves near her Turtle Island home.
The spunky heroine will strike a chord to every reader bored with lessons and wanting to get out and play. And of course, she and her best friend (and pet pig Bad Boy) end up doing just that, managing to 'accidentally' take a boat out by themselves. But a storm blowing up means the three become lost and when finding an island, have no idea how to get home.
But they aren't alone...
New species as well as another lost mariner come their way as scientific curiosity takes the driving seat. Readers will enjoy the excitement of a few moments of danger, and seeing that Ariki's 'boring' lessons actually do have real-world significance and use.
Ariki's friend and his unusual appearance as well as her own mysterious background and tattoos are both features of the plot, clearly marked out to continue in the next episode.
With plenty of illustrations, the chapter format will appeal to newly confident readers who enjoy a longer story but who might be put off by something that is pure text.
Morals about family, friends, community, learning and being at one with nature each share the stage. Ariki is a protagonist that any reader will enjoy following, and her heritage will incite curiosity.
Can be read aloud or read alone, for ages 6-10.
With thanks to Walker Books for providing a sample reading copy.
I am used to seeing Nicola Davies' name and drawings associated with picture books for both older and younger students, on an 'educational nature' theme. She creates beautiful but incredibly informative books that inspire and spread curiosity about the natural work.
While this is in many ways quite different, a chapter book, and illustrated by another artist, the themes of respecting nature and showing interest in other species are both present.
This is clearly the second in the series from the beginning, references are made to a previous book, but not having read it, I didn't feel I missed much. Ariki is a young girl bored with her interminable lessons on waves and constellations, desperate to get out onto the water she loves near her Turtle Island home.
The spunky heroine will strike a chord to every reader bored with lessons and wanting to get out and play. And of course, she and her best friend (and pet pig Bad Boy) end up doing just that, managing to 'accidentally' take a boat out by themselves. But a storm blowing up means the three become lost and when finding an island, have no idea how to get home.
But they aren't alone...
New species as well as another lost mariner come their way as scientific curiosity takes the driving seat. Readers will enjoy the excitement of a few moments of danger, and seeing that Ariki's 'boring' lessons actually do have real-world significance and use.
Ariki's friend and his unusual appearance as well as her own mysterious background and tattoos are both features of the plot, clearly marked out to continue in the next episode.
With plenty of illustrations, the chapter format will appeal to newly confident readers who enjoy a longer story but who might be put off by something that is pure text.
Morals about family, friends, community, learning and being at one with nature each share the stage. Ariki is a protagonist that any reader will enjoy following, and her heritage will incite curiosity.
Can be read aloud or read alone, for ages 6-10.
With thanks to Walker Books for providing a sample reading copy.
August 23, 2019
I could see this book appealing to children who don't have much in the way knowledge of the Pacific or of Polynesian cultures, but it's hard to get past some of the elements as someone who lives in this part of the world (Auckland, New Zealand - biggest Polynesian city in the world!), and who therefore is familiar with Pasifika cultures and individuals. Not to mention the fact that as a bookseller in Auckland, I am frequently asked by visitors for books about NZ/the Pacific etc.
The natural world aspects were obviously glorious and wonderful (Nicola Davies is hard to beat in that space) - although I must note that dogs were part of the Polynesian migration throughout the Pacific so they wouldn't exactly be an unknown Big Bad in the way they're shown to be in the book.
But beyond that, I found the melding of cultures a bit weird, not to mention the oddly shoehorned concepts like a specific side of the body for different gender's tattoos (not to mention children having them??? something in some cultures but no Polynesian ones that I'm aware of...). The effect just felt a bit too muddied and muddled. If it was explicitly a fantasy setting that would be different, but since Crusoe is from Scotland, we were rooted in the real world in some capacity. The names clearly drew on Polynesian language, but the bowerbird is from Aus and PNG... the language barrier stuff read a bit strangely, because it just wasn't the way that limited understanding would come across with real Polynesian languages... (although I get that realistic versions of stilted language would read strangely, and liberties must be taken)...
Basically, it's a nice, sweet little read, but I wish it was either explicitly completely fantastical (i.e. Crusoe was from somewhere imaginary too) or more rooted in real understanding of Polynesian culture.
The natural world aspects were obviously glorious and wonderful (Nicola Davies is hard to beat in that space) - although I must note that dogs were part of the Polynesian migration throughout the Pacific so they wouldn't exactly be an unknown Big Bad in the way they're shown to be in the book.
But beyond that, I found the melding of cultures a bit weird, not to mention the oddly shoehorned concepts like a specific side of the body for different gender's tattoos (not to mention children having them??? something in some cultures but no Polynesian ones that I'm aware of...). The effect just felt a bit too muddied and muddled. If it was explicitly a fantasy setting that would be different, but since Crusoe is from Scotland, we were rooted in the real world in some capacity. The names clearly drew on Polynesian language, but the bowerbird is from Aus and PNG... the language barrier stuff read a bit strangely, because it just wasn't the way that limited understanding would come across with real Polynesian languages... (although I get that realistic versions of stilted language would read strangely, and liberties must be taken)...
Basically, it's a nice, sweet little read, but I wish it was either explicitly completely fantastical (i.e. Crusoe was from somewhere imaginary too) or more rooted in real understanding of Polynesian culture.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews