Poto is worried. She and her younger sister have been out flying and after returning to their whānau nest, discover it empty. Poto is supposed to be looking after her younger brother Ari, but she finds him annoying and boring. What she dreams about is leaving the valley, her moody sister Whetū, and strange brother Ari behind.

Her mother had taken Ari out for the day instead, to teach him how to hunt. He couldn’t even fly yet, unlike other fledglings around them, which used to infuriate their father. Now after waiting for hours, all Poto wants is for her mother and brother to return.

The sisters decide to set out and look for them. They squabble as usual, and at the sight of their mother lying on the ground far below, they know the worst has happened. But where is young Ari?

With the help of two Weka strangers, they find Ari and calm him. Their mother was slain before him by a group of Makipai (magpies). They need to get Ari home as soon as possible. But how, as even if he had learnt to fly, his wing is injured. They will have to walk.

What makes things worse is a warning from Poto’s best friend Nikau – also a hawk. He is a seer, seeing visions of the future. He has seen a great flood coming. It will be triggered by an earthquake.

A human’s huge dam is not far away, and if the water is released from behind, they all realise the valley of their home and every living thing in it will be swept away and drowned. They must get Ari home and to higher ground before that happens.

But a one-footed magpie bent on revenge stands in their way. Tū is all about power, control and vengeance for a lost loved one. He also likes the look of their valley, but has no idea what’s coming.

An exciting story which is hard not to line up with a similar story about a warren of rabbits fleeing control and looking for a new home. Watership Down is a classic and I can imagine Brave Kāhu and the Pōrangi Magpie following in its famous footsteps, but on Aotearoa’s shores.

The main characters of this purely New Zealand novel are NZ birds of prey Kāhu (hawk), Karearea (falcon) and ground dwelling birds (Weka, Kiwi). The villains are the sharp dressers in black and white Makipai (Magpie), who are led by a vengeance-filled leader, and vicious in obtaining their goals.

I much enjoyed learning the names of these birds, trees and other creatures in Māori from the glossary at the rear of the book, along with many other feelings, family names and more.

The quest to get home is never smooth, but the characters all transform in some way. From fearful to brave, selfish to understanding, and angry to confident.

This is a story about whānau (family), aroha (love) or hate, and the choices we make.

Author – Shelley Burne-Field

Age – 8+

(2024, Allen & Unwin, New Zealand, Animals, Adventure, Action, Revenge, Family, Conflict, Bullies, Courage, Love, Murder, Aroha, Magpie, Hawk, Weka, Kiwi, Makipai, Kāhu, Taniwha, Pouākai, Battle, Flying, Ground dwelling birds, Native NZ Birds, Aotearoa, Determination, Siblings, Pride, Selfish, Loss, Grief)