Maya and the Beast
Description
A fairy tale picture book of big waves and even bigger courage, inspired by the personal story of professional surfer Maya Gabeira, who smashed records and gender stereotypes. Young Maya is shy and often feels fragile and scared because of her asthma—except when she’s in the water. It’s the one place where she feels strong. While everyone else in her town is scared of “the Beast,” the giant wave heard all around the world as it crashes into the shoreline, Maya finds the noise comforting, the curves of the wave soothing. If she could only tame it, then everyone could see all the beauty it has to offer. With a pink surfboard and a determined heart, Maya will be the first girl to meet the Beast head-on. Professional surfer Maya Gabeira, known for surfing Guinness World Record–breaking big waves, shares her story of resilience, defying expectations of women in sports, and daring to achieve the impossible. Beautifully illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki, Maya and the Beast is an empowering reminder that every fear can be conquered, and every Beast can be tamed. “Both text and illustrations offer a stirring account of Maya’s journey to surfing mastery . . . A rallying cry for anyone looking for a strong example of perseverance.” —Kirkus Reviews “The frenetic energy of azure waves fill the pages of Kaulitzki’s digital illustrations, which make palpable the ebullience that tan-skinned Maya feels when surfing.” —Publishers Weekly
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Published Reviews
Booklist Review
Gabeira is renowned in the world of big-wave surfing as a record breaker and pioneer for women in the sport. Here she recounts how she came to surfing as a little girl. Fictional Maya had heard tell of The Beast, an enormous wave that is seen off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal. She had heard of its ferocity and felt its power as the windows in the village shook when it crashed ashore. So when she saw The Beast for herself, she was astounded by its beauty and the sense of calm it emanated. Moreover, Maya was fascinated by the sight of boys surfing in it. Filled with awe, she ran home to tell her father that she had discovered her dream: surfing. Fictional Maya taught herself to surf, but in the back matter, we learn that the real Gabeira took lessons at a school. Each endured sexism and relied on her father for a counter message. Bright and colorful illustrations mirror the text about bravery and determination. A lengthy author's note adds details.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Gabeira draws on her experiences as a professional surfer to craft this eager story about a child's beginnings in the sport. For its setting, the book takes Nazaré, Portugal--per an author's note, Gabeira's present residence and the location of her record-breaking surfs. Asthmatic child heroine Maya starts out "shy" and feeling "fragile and scared," but after witnessing surfers riding a massive wave dubbed the Beast, she's compelled to get on a board herself. At first, surfing seems like a boys' club, but encouragement comes from listening to a seashell, and daily practice soon has her feeling "resilient," "powerful," and "happy." The frenetic energy of azure waves fill the pages of Kaulitzki's digital illustrations, which make palpable the ebullience that tan-skinned Maya feels when surfing. In a lengthy author's note, Gabeira reflects on her own journey and the challenges faced by women and girls in a male-dominated sport. Ages 4--8. (Aug.)
Kirkus Book Review
Brazilian surfer Gabeira offers a fictionalized version of her childhood with this story of an adventurous young girl who overcomes sexism and self-doubt to become a great athlete. The inhabitants of the fishing village of Nazaré, Portugal, are in awe of a massive wave known as the Beast. A young villager named Maya has asthma and brings medicine with her wherever she goes; though shy, Maya finds fulfillment when moving her body during dancing, gymnastics, and swimming. Having grown up hearing about the Beast, she goes to see it for herself and is in awe of the massive wave, though she also notices boys surfing on it. Maya decides to try surfing, which her father encourages. The boys at the beach tell her surfing is no sport for girls, and she nearly believes them until a voice in a seashell tells her not to give up. Both text and illustrations offer a stirring account of Maya's journey to surfing mastery. The Beast begins as a spectacle from afar, filling the page with its sheer scope. Maya is often framed within or beneath its crest, including a wonderful scene of her would-be hecklers watching dumbfounded as she joyously surfs ahead of them. Maya and her family are brown-skinned; for the most part, other residents of Nazaré range in skin color from tan to brown. In an author's note, Gabeira describes growing up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and, in 2007, setting a Guinness record for the largest wave ever surfed at Praia de Norte in Nazaré. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A rallying cry for anyone looking for a strong example of perseverance. (Picture book. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Reviews
Gabeira is renowned in the world of big-wave surfing as a record breaker and pioneer for women in the sport. Here she recounts how she came to surfing as a little girl. Fictional Maya had heard tell of The Beast, an enormous wave that is seen off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal. She had heard of its ferocity and felt its power as the windows in the village shook when it crashed ashore. So when she saw The Beast for herself, she was astounded by its beauty and the sense of calm it emanated. Moreover, Maya was fascinated by the sight of boys surfing in it. Filled with awe, she ran home to tell her father that she had discovered her dream: surfing. Fictional Maya taught herself to surf, but in the back matter, we learn that the real Gabeira took lessons at a school. Each endured sexism and relied on her father for a counter message. Bright and colorful illustrations mirror the text about bravery and determination. A lengthy author's note adds details. Grades 1-3. Copyright 2022 Booklist Reviews.
Publishers Weekly Reviews
Gabeira draws on her experiences as a professional surfer to craft this eager story about a child's beginnings in the sport. For its setting, the book takes Nazaré, Portugal—per an author's note, Gabeira's present residence and the location of her record-breaking surfs. Asthmatic child heroine Maya starts out "shy" and feeling "fragile and scared," but after witnessing surfers riding a massive wave dubbed the Beast, she's compelled to get on a board herself. At first, surfing seems like a boys' club, but encouragement comes from listening to a seashell, and daily practice soon has her feeling "resilient," "powerful," and "happy." The frenetic energy of azure waves fill the pages of Kaulitzki's digital illustrations, which make palpable the ebullience that tan-skinned Maya feels when surfing. In a lengthy author's note, Gabeira reflects on her own journey and the challenges faced by women and girls in a male-dominated sport. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)
Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly.