Whale Rider, The

A wonderful blend of reality and myth, this novel relays the Maori creation story of the Whale Rider. Kahu is the rightful heir to the title of Whale Rider, but her great-grandfather refuses to acknowledge this because she is female. Even though she possesses the right qualities to become the Whale Rider, she is overlooked and must fight to claim her destiny. This coming-of-age story reveals insights into the Maori culture and presents themes such as racism, prejudice and social injustice.