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Reviewed by:
  • Ho'onani: Hula Warrior by Heather Gale
  • Kiri Palm

Gale, Heather Ho'onani: Hula Warrior; illus. by Mika Song. Tundra, 2019 [40p] Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-7352-6449-6 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-7352-6450-2 $10.99 Reviewed from galleys M 5-8 yrs

Ho'onani doesn't think of herself as a boy or girl, but as someone "in the middle." While her parents and brothers have no issue with her gender expression, her older sister, Kana, is frustrated that Ho'onani won't act more like a girl. When Ho'onani's teacher, Kumu Hina, announces that she is forming an all-boys hula troop to perform in front of the school, Ho'onani decides to audition, and she is talented enough to be chosen as the troop's leader. Front matter explains that the story is based on the 2014 documentary A Place in the Middle, which is about a genderqueer Hawaiian child and her trans teacher, and briefly mentions ancient Hawaiians' acceptance of a third gender. However, there are no source notes in the book and there's no clear indication whether the real Ho'onani or Kumu Hina were consulted during writing. The story itself muddies the message on sexuality: the Hawaiian notion of "third gender" is never incorporated or explained, Ho'onani is sometimes framed as being neither boy nor girl and sometimes as both, and the plot treats Ho'onani as simply the first girl to perform a traditionally boyish activity. Framing this tale as a story of genderqueer representation therefore leads to confusion and disappointment; additionally, the sister-approval plot is clumsily predictable. Song's watercolor and ink illustrations have a gentle Saturday morning cartoon appeal and give Ho'onani a strong, purposeful appeal, but they can't redeem the jumbled message.

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