The Whale Rider

A New Zealand novel written by the author Witi Ihimaera, which is a Maori. It also became a film. Basically, its the story of a Maori girl named Kahu who is destend to be The Whale Rider. (see Whale Rider). But Koro Apirana, her grandad wont let her, and is always trying to put her down because she's a woman, and he believes men are superior. So eventually Rawiri, the token dope smoking maori, teaches her to use the Tiaha (maori stick weapon) and to become a leader. Eventually Kahu gets strong enough, a bunch of whales get stranded, Kahu starts riding one and it flaps around then off into the sea it swims. Koro goes out on a boat to find her, where Kahu uses the whale to smash up his boat and the whale feroshusly eats him. So then Kahu became the LEADER! - of a small town with like 40 people, yea big wow, then they go claim some land.