Kirjahaku

A fairy tale of big waves and even bigger courage, inspired by the personal story of professional surfer Maya Gabeira, who smashed records and gender stereotypesYoung 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.

Maya Makes Waves is a conservation-themed picture book about appreciating and protecting our oceans, by professional big wave surfer and UNESCO Champion of the Ocean and Youth, Maya GabeiraThere is nowhere Maya feels more happy and at home than in the sea. The water washes her worries away; there are countless wonders to experience and creatures to learn from. The dolphins show her how to be a stronger swimmer, the sea turtles make her feel calm, and the humpback whale inspires her to be mighty. But when Maya starts to notice plastic pollution and coral destruction, she realizes that her ocean home is in danger—and it’s up to her to take action. Professional surfer Maya Gabeira, known for surfing Guinness World Record–breaking big waves, shares a story—inspired by her own life—of finding the courage to speak up for the ocean. Beautifully illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki, Maya Makes Waves is both a celebration of our big blue world, and a call to protect and restore it.

In this YA memoir, pro surfer Maya Gabeira tells the awe-inspiring true story of her journey from unstoppable teenager to the Guinness World Record–holding legend she is todayWho am I, beyond the board? Surf legend Maya Gabeira is famous for her nerve. Her surfing journey began at the age of fourteen and reached a high when she set (and later broke) a Guinness World Record for highest wave conquered by any big wave surfer—man or woman—after bouncing back from a near-fatal accident. Gabeira has been heralded as one of the top surfers of her generation. But who is the ferocious personality beyond the board? What are the stories behind the relationships and challenges that shaped her into the indomitable surfer, women’s rights advocate, and champion for mental health awareness she is today? For the first time ever, Maya looks back on her formative years: the romances, career highs, vulnerabilities, and setbacks that defined her at an early age. At seventeen, she left her home in Rio de Janeiro in order to chase waves around the world, toting a single backpack and waiting tables to get by. Maya carved her own path as a teen, defining her own remarkable narrative: that of a vulnerable, passionate, and driven young woman who learned never to flinch—even in the face of death.