Reviews for Orcas everywhere : the history and mystery of killer whales

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Leiren-Young explores basic facts about orcas as well as the sobering history of continued human maltreatment of these whales.The documentary filmmaker (The Hundred-Year-Old Whale) shares his extensive knowledge of orca culture and history with plentiful photographs. The book is approachable, the design maintaining a nice balance of text to sidebar to photograph. It is visually consistent: All callouts are called "Orca Bites," photographs are labeled clearly, and chapters are designed similarly. The biggest struggle for readers is making sense of the order in which information is presented. A very helpful section about the different types of orcas with an illustrated guide doesn't appear until Chapter 15, for example, even though several of those different ecotypes (classification of orcas into different species has proven difficult, hence the term) are referred to prior. Some of the "Orca Bites" are not aligned with their relevant photographs or are otherwise distracting. The narrative dips in and out of first person, which makes for an unbalanced tone. Disappointingly, Leiren-Young takes liberties by explaining what historical figures thought and felt without any direct citations or quotations. Readers should be prepared for the (rightfully included) gruesome and upsetting history of human treatment of whales. It's a call to action for animal rights even if, as nonfiction, it's uneven.A fascinating subject related with passionbut also with poor organization. (glossary, resources, acknowledgements, index) (Nonfiction. 9-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.


Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

For centuries, orca whales were called killer whales with little actual proof that they seek and kill humans. Many erroneous perceptions were based on their size and teeth, and those perceptions still persist today. Writer, documentarian, and orca activist Leiren-Young turns to young readers here, providing them with the history, current status, and the future of orcas. He explains how, for centuries, orcas have been sought, captured, and held in small display tanks or forced to perform for crowds, and he profiles some of these hunters and organizations, as well as their famous captives. Readers are also introduced to orcas' intelligence and the matriarchal nature of their pods, which fascinatingly display their own dialects, feeding patterns, territories, and markings. Activism is highlighted as well, including the roles movies and individuals (some of them young people) have played in bringing attention to the plight of these beautiful mammals, causing many amusement parks to cease either holding or breeding orcas. Pages filled with photographs, impassioned narrative, Orca Bites (facts), and further-research resources make this title one for all libraries.--J. B. Petty Copyright 2010 Booklist

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