Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publish Date: October 21, 2003
Format: Kobo ereader
Pages: - 
ISBN:

This richly imagined novel, set in Hawai’i more than a century ago, is an extraordinary epic of a little-known time and place – and a deeply moving testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Rachel Kalama, a spirited seven-year-old Hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting far-off lands like her father, a merchant seaman.  Then one day a rose-coloured mark appears on her skin, and those dreams are stolen from her.  Taken from her home and family, Rachel is sent to Kalaupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka’i.  Here her life is supposed to end – but instead she discovers it is only just beginning.  With a vibrant cast of vividly realized characters, Moloka’i is the true-to-life chronicle of a people who embraced life in the face of death.

My Thoughts

Wowza...what a roller coaster of a story.  Moloka'i is the fictional story of events that are very true.  As I was reading I found myself constantly doing research and wanting to find out more information about a time and events I didn't even know existed.  

This story is so full of emotion.  Such a heartbreaking tale of probably the most courageous fictional character I have ever read about.  There is so much death and despair that there were times I didn't think I would be able to keep going.  

"God didn't give man wings; he have him the brain and the spirit to give himself wings.  Just as He gave us the capacity to laugh when we hurt, or to struggle on when we feel like giving up."

I felt an emotional connection to every character - Rachel, Henry, Kenji, Sister Catherine and even Dorothy and eventually Ruth.  There are a few points of view in which the story is told, mainly women - and I had to keep reminding myself that this novel was written by a male, not a female.  Brennert knows how to tap into the hearts of his readers and delivers such a beautiful story.

This is a novel that will stay with me for a very long time and will always keep me wondering, where they better off on the island than part of society?  Highly recommended!

My Rating: «««««

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The reviews made here are my personal opinion. I’m not being paid to review any of these books. I am by no means a professional book reviewer or editor.  I do this for the love of books.