The Whale People

Alana Trumpy is a graduate student in English at the University of
Toronto.

In the tradition of the outdoor adventure novel, The Whale People takes
the reader on a compelling trek through pre-Columbian life on the West
Coast and through the coming of age of Atlin, son of the great whaling
chief of the Hotsath people.

Haig-Brown, whose primary career was that of a logger, fisherman,
trapper, and guide, effortlessly describes the rugged physical terrain
that inspires and provides the setting for many of the adventures
related in this novel. The sheer amount of detail in Haig-Brown’s
depiction of the whaling community and the various tools and habits of
the trade brings this now-lost milieu vividly to life. The spiritual and
mythical components of life in a whaling community are handled with care
and genuine curiosity.

The Whale People was awarded Book of the Year for Children by the
Canadian Library Association in 1964. This timeless gem of a story is
sure to capture the imagination and interest of young 21st-century
readers. Highly recommended.