The Whale Rider
Witi Ihimaera
Penguin NZ
First pub. 1987

‘By Māori custom, leadership was hereditary and normally the mantle of mana fell from eldest son to eldest son. Except that in this case, there was an eldest daughter.’

From the day she was born, Kahu has been scorned by her grandfather, Koro, for being a girl. Koro needs a boy, someone who’s ‘more appropriate to teach the traditions of the village to.’

On the other hand, Kahu adores her grandfather, and she will do anything to prove herself to him. But this is going be a hard task. No matter how well she shows Koro that she is worthy of being his successor, he cannot let go of tradition.  Read more