Harpoon of the Hunter

by Markoosie and Markoosie Patsauq

Book Overview

Based on an Inuit legend, Harpoon of the Hunter is a story of life in the old days, not as it appeared to southerners, but as it has survived in the memory of the Inuit themselves. Emerging from a largely oral tradition, it is the first novel by an Inuit written in English. Markoosie has the rare ability to capture the richness and imagery of the Inuit language in English.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0773502327
• ISBN13: 9780773502321
• Release Date: May 1974
• Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press
• Length: 84 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 7.5" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Wonderfully written, which older readers may appreciate...

I read "Harpoon of the Hunter" for a children's literature class, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It's not a book that I would recommend to younger readers- not only because it really communicates in a strong, vivid manner the harshness and danger of Kamik's world, but also because there's a complexity to the way it deals with the themes of struggle and survival. The ending especially invites meaningful discussion, something that older readers may find more interesting. Mostly, however, the real treasure about the book, and what ultimately makes it satisfying, is how it is written. Plain, bare, simple words and style are appropriately chosen to convey the harsh, elemental nature of Kamik's struggle and world. In this way, Markoosie has written a book rich in atmosphere.

Grim tale of survival in a harsh environment.

While I think this was a good book, I would caution people to read it before choosing it for young children. It is a realistic portrayal of life, and death, in an arctic environment. There are a number of fairly graphic descriptions of people and animals dying and a general attitude of despair. However, it is an authentic piece of Eskimo fiction describing life in the Canadian Arctic before the coming of the white man. I would recommend this book to people who want a more realistic depiction of life than what Disney provides.