Call It Courage

Call It Courage is a timeless Newbery Medal-winning adventure story about Mafatu, a fifteen-year-old Polynesian boy who lives on an island where courage and seafaring are paramount. Unlike his brave father and people, Mafatu has a deep-seated fear of the sea, leading him to feel like an outsider and endure ridicule. Driven by a desire to prove his worth and conquer his fear, he paddles out into the ocean with only his dog, Uri, as a companion. His journey becomes a gripping tale of survival, self-reliance, and bravery as he faces storms, wild animals, and the vast wilderness of the Pacific. This book is ideal for children aged 8-12, offering powerful lessons on overcoming adversity, finding inner strength, and defining one's own identity.

Mafatu has been afraid of the sea for as long as he can remember. Though his father is the Great Chief of Hikueru - an island whose seafaring people worship courage - Mafatu feels like an outsider. All his life he has been teased, taunted, and even blamed for storms on the sea. Then at age fifteen, no longer willing to put up with the ridicule and jibes, Mafatu decides to take his fate into his own hands. With his dog, Uri, as his companion, Mafatu paddles out to sea, ready to face his fears. What he learns on his lonesome adventure will change him forever and make him a hero in the eyes of his people.