The structure of the plot.
Whale Rider follows a cyclical narrative structure that may be likened to the hero's journey. Kahu is the chief protagonist of the story. She is a young girl with a strong and determined temperament and a soft and innocent heart. Her deepest wish is to please her great-grandfather, Koro--a struggle which spans the length of the book--and she remains dedicated to her Maori heritage and culture. We see Kahu follow each step of the classic hero's journey. You can check out the hero's journey below:
http://www.movieoutline.com/articles/the-hero-journey-mythic-structure-of-joseph-campbell-monomyth.html