First published 2004
Amiqqaq's heart races as his family successfully hunts a massive bowhead whale. The catch brings joy and anticipation to their Iñupiaq community. Now comes the work of preparation and the promise of celebration ahead. As Amiqqaq helps ready for the traditional whaling feast, he encounters teachings he has never fully understood before. Elder family members share stories and customs that connect the hunt to something larger than the physical act of catching prey. Through these lessons, Amiqqaq begins to grasp the concept of the whale's spirit and its significance to his people. The feast preparation becomes a journey into cultural knowledge that transforms how he sees both the whale and his place within ancient traditions.
Genres: fiction, animals, family-life, adventure, cultural
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-identity, found-family
Setting: Inupiaq Community
Period: Contemporary
32 pages · Paperback · Charlesbridge