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Whalesong Trilogy #2
White Whale: A Novel About Friendship and Courage in the Deep
The Second Book In The Award-Winning Whalesong Enter the world of Hralekana, the white humpback whale, in the deep-sea tale of adventure, love, and nature.
228 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
Robert Siegel
82 books17 followersRobert Harold Siegel was an American poet and novelist. He authored four books of poetry and five children's novels.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 31, 2022
So while this second book of The Whalesong Trilogy followed a similar plot formula as to the life of the whales, there are enough differences in here that it is indeed different. For one a fantasy element has been added and I do think it improves the story. Now I see why many people have this series marked down as "fantasy". I love fantasy so nothing wrong with that! Its also more about ecology and saving the environment, while the first one was more about the whale hunting.
So... What did I think?
I enjoyed this one just as much as the first. In fact it may even be better as now there is a relationship developing between a human named Mark and the whale Hralekana. That adds a bit of hope to the story. Yet there are many dark elements in here. In fact this one is probably darker than the first as the environment is being affected. And this one ends so... Well. I just don't know what is going to happen! Huge cliffhanger! I will definitely have to read the third book to find out...but I do have hope that it will be all good in the end.
The whales are still going on their spiritual deep dives to have visions. They are very peaceful, spiritual beings. Their history and stories and mythology is in songs. Which is very wonderful and unique. It's also very ancient. I think that is how people did things before we had written language. It was all oral. And the whales are the same.
But this is quite the adventure story. Hralekana takes many risks in here. I would say he is definitely more a dare devil than his father Hruna was! There were a few spots where I was thinking "you shouldn't be doing that!" but of course Hralekana doesn't listen! But he is very curious and just wants to learn stuff but often his curiosity almost gets him killed! And since this book is fatter it is more satisfying!
Like the first book, there are many poems (songs) in here.
I have actually read the first two books in this series the same day! That should tell you something. Wonderful descriptions of everything too. The world of the sea and being a whale truly comes alive.
So... What did I think?
I enjoyed this one just as much as the first. In fact it may even be better as now there is a relationship developing between a human named Mark and the whale Hralekana. That adds a bit of hope to the story. Yet there are many dark elements in here. In fact this one is probably darker than the first as the environment is being affected. And this one ends so... Well. I just don't know what is going to happen! Huge cliffhanger! I will definitely have to read the third book to find out...but I do have hope that it will be all good in the end.
The whales are still going on their spiritual deep dives to have visions. They are very peaceful, spiritual beings. Their history and stories and mythology is in songs. Which is very wonderful and unique. It's also very ancient. I think that is how people did things before we had written language. It was all oral. And the whales are the same.
But this is quite the adventure story. Hralekana takes many risks in here. I would say he is definitely more a dare devil than his father Hruna was! There were a few spots where I was thinking "you shouldn't be doing that!" but of course Hralekana doesn't listen! But he is very curious and just wants to learn stuff but often his curiosity almost gets him killed! And since this book is fatter it is more satisfying!
Like the first book, there are many poems (songs) in here.
I have actually read the first two books in this series the same day! That should tell you something. Wonderful descriptions of everything too. The world of the sea and being a whale truly comes alive.
October 22, 2015
Why didn't we read books like this one in school.
It gives you a lot to think about and there are definitely many interpretations possible.
Very lyrical, though it is written kind of strangely. Maybe this is just a bad translation
of the original as I am reading those books in German.
It gives you a lot to think about and there are definitely many interpretations possible.
Very lyrical, though it is written kind of strangely. Maybe this is just a bad translation
of the original as I am reading those books in German.
April 14, 2020
While Whalesong built a picture of the world, life, and culture of a pod of humpback whales, this second instalment deepens the trilogy's exploration of the relationship between the whales and humans. As the protagonist whale Hralekana and the pod struggle to understand the deep and senseless destruction wrought by humans, they also form a bond with other humans who seem to understand their world. Though a little slow in the beginning, it builds up like the rising tide to a moving and lyrical story of kinship, courage, and love for nature.
November 23, 2023
Amazing read ! Of the perspective through the telling of White Whale who has trouble being liked by the other whales.And seeing his adventure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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April 14, 2026The urge to make a PowerPoint about this book is present.
January 27, 2012
For a while this book seemed to be going along much the same lines as its predecessor: birth, whale coming-of-age expedition, return to the pod and meet true love again etc. I was uncomfortable with the introduction of a human who could speak and understand whalish but I suppose if you're a white whale anything can happen.
As the story developed into a whale's eye view of Greenpeace anti-whaling activism I suffered from a feeling of manipulation. I'm old enough to remember some of the incidents described, although I don't recall the oil spill (in which he finds the human-whale speaker again).
It's a little cosy, but at the same time brings alive a perspective from another being who in my opinion has as much right to be on this planet as we have, and as much right to unpolluted enjoyment of this planet as ourselves. Is it preachy? I don't know. The three Visions that the whale has are realistic consequences of man's greed and complete disregard for the health of our oceans. If this book makes sixth graders think about these things (ref. the other reviews) then that's fine by me, but as other environmental organisations have found, those thoughts seem to disppear from the majority of young people until they have children of their own.
So I'm old enough to enjoy the treatment of the message, it is cleverly done with excellent and accurate description of the ocean ecosystem as science knows it so far, but I don't know whether I want to read the final part of the trilogy.
As the story developed into a whale's eye view of Greenpeace anti-whaling activism I suffered from a feeling of manipulation. I'm old enough to remember some of the incidents described, although I don't recall the oil spill (in which he finds the human-whale speaker again).
It's a little cosy, but at the same time brings alive a perspective from another being who in my opinion has as much right to be on this planet as we have, and as much right to unpolluted enjoyment of this planet as ourselves. Is it preachy? I don't know. The three Visions that the whale has are realistic consequences of man's greed and complete disregard for the health of our oceans. If this book makes sixth graders think about these things (ref. the other reviews) then that's fine by me, but as other environmental organisations have found, those thoughts seem to disppear from the majority of young people until they have children of their own.
So I'm old enough to enjoy the treatment of the message, it is cleverly done with excellent and accurate description of the ocean ecosystem as science knows it so far, but I don't know whether I want to read the final part of the trilogy.
June 19, 2016
This is the second book in the trilogy. I liked this story even better than book 1--I can't wait to begin book 3.
This is the story of the white whale, Hralekana-kolua (fullnam), son of the whales known as Hruna and Lewte. I met Hruna and Lewte in the first book and so enjoyed their story. With book 2, I traveled with Hralekana as he learns of the world around him--the joys, new friends, and his enemies. The references make to man-made and natural disasters are from the perspective of the creatures of the sea. You would have to have some understanding of history to know about these disasters--most of do, especially if you are over 18.
Ready this trilogy it is a wake up call to protect our environment--for both man and the creatures of the sea.
This is the story of the white whale, Hralekana-kolua (fullnam), son of the whales known as Hruna and Lewte. I met Hruna and Lewte in the first book and so enjoyed their story. With book 2, I traveled with Hralekana as he learns of the world around him--the joys, new friends, and his enemies. The references make to man-made and natural disasters are from the perspective of the creatures of the sea. You would have to have some understanding of history to know about these disasters--most of do, especially if you are over 18.
Ready this trilogy it is a wake up call to protect our environment--for both man and the creatures of the sea.
January 4, 2011
I used to listen to the audio book of this novel as a child particularly on road trips with my family. It was an old copy from the library and on cassette no less so that should say something about how long ago this was. However I remember loving the story and the descriptions of Hralekana's life and his narration. The reader's voice was so soothing and the imagery so beautiful that I often feel asleep. The details are fuzzy but I look forward to re-reading this book and adding to my review as soon as I can get my hands on a copy.
July 26, 2010
I was forced to read this book in sixth grade, and even at age eleven I was able to recognize how overwrought and self-important it was. It's a book about whales, for God's sake, and it took itself so seriously. My friends and I giggled over the endless descriptions of underwater seascapes. This is a book about talking animals that has no self-awareness of the silliness of the concept, or indeed any sense of fun.
October 11, 2010
After finishing the first book in the series and enjoying it (to a degree), I wanted to see how the other two books compared to my memory. I could barely get through this one! I felt like the author was very heavy-handed with his environmentalist message, and that was before I got to part where the whale and the human learned to communicate. Ugh! I could barely finish reading it and haven't even picked up the third.
Alas! I really liked these series in sixth grade.
Alas! I really liked these series in sixth grade.
May 13, 2012
I loved this book for its simple reconnect to nature. It wasnt just a story told through whale eyes, it was an entrance into another world, a world with love and fear and tradgedy so like our own. This book can be read by anyone, I first read it in fourth grade.
October 1, 2008
The second book of the Whalesong trilogy. I continued to enjoy the detail put into Hralekana's underwater life.
November 30, 2015
I can't say I liked this very much, but my five-year-old did. So I read it to him.
November 30, 2016
I, the dad, enjoyed this book more than the previous one. It had more action and interest. What's more important is that my five-year-old son liked it and kept asking for it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews