The Uncle's Story

by Witi Ihimaera

Book Overview

Michael Mahana's personal disclosure to his parents leads to the uncovering of another family secret-about his uncle, Sam, who had fought in the Vietnam War. Now, armed with his uncle's diary, Michael goes searching for the truth about his uncle, about the secret the Mahana family has kept hidden for over thirty years, and what happened to Sam. A powerful love story set in the war-torn jungles of Vietnam and in present-day New Zealand and North America,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0824825764
• ISBN13: 9780824825768
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
• Length: 373 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Book Review

The book arrived quickly and was in the shape that it was described. It is also a wonderful book.

a beautiful love story

Witi Ihimaera is on of my favourite authors and this book does not disappoint. OK, so perhaps it is a little sterotypical and a little dramatic in places but it grips you. Sam and Cliff are vibrant characters and I empathize with them completely. The backdrop of the Vietnam war is a fitting context and the battle scences detailed. I really enjoyed this book, Witi Ihimaera is a master storyteller. If you liked this, you may wnat to read "Nights in the Garden on Spain" also by Witi. Also very very good.

Brilliant & Captivating... Equal or Better than Whale Rider!

The opening pages of Uncle's Story suggest a twist that the reader may guess.. but after the first few pages, all bets are off... as Witi Ihimaera takes the reader on a wild and action-packed ride of plot twists and character development. Similar to Whale Rider, in that it's a coming of age (coming out of the closet?) story of a young Maori fighting against the bias and proud traditions of one's tribal family. Uncle's Story has additional drama with it's backdrop being the Vietnam War.If you saw the movie Whale Rider and loved it, then you owe it to yourself to read Uncle's Story. You won't be disappointed!!!