Whale Rider (by Witi Ihimaera)

For the category of "#ownvoices book set in Oceania," I finally read Whale Rider, a book about the Maori people of New Zealand by a Maori author.

I'd seen the movie, and enjoyed it, but not read the book.  My knowledge of Maori culture is limited to general Polynesian awareness and having once seen Whale Rider.  Plus this is a female empowerment film, about a young girl who is destined for greatness and craves her grandfather's approval, but he only thinks a boy can lead her generation. Moana owes a lot to this story as well. Plus, whales! So of course I enjoyed it!