While this might not become a classic, or even will be in my Top 10 favorites of this year, Maya and the Beast by Maya Gabeira is a book that was very enjoyable and needs at least a re-read or two. There is a lot going on and cannot be digested all at once. Story and art complement and support each other, allowing for busy pages and busy feeling to the overall tone.
It was a sweet story, about overcoming fears, limitations, and biases. And while we have seen this story done many times, the surfing aspect gives in a fresh starting point. May is a young girl who was told to fear The Beast, a giant wave that crashes on shore. But after seeing some boys surfing, she knows that no Beast will stop her. That includes the wave, the boys or the idea girls cannot surf.
Amazing illustrations by Ramona Kaulitzki show the beauty and fierceness of the waves. The colors pop, giving a flavor of the landscape, and the characters. The fact the book is not shaded in dark and/or shadows, even when things are bumpy, allows for the theme to be loud and clear and age appropriate. I am now curious about more works by Kaulitzki.
This book is an all-ages book but does work best for ages five and up. Working well for both one-on-one readers or the classroom, this book is great for women’s history, and sports history and of course women’s sports history.
This story is loosely based on the real Maya Gabeira. Gabeira has beaten several women surfing records, surfing records in general and even broken her own records. The afterwards by the real Maya is a nice touch at the end.
