March 1, 2023
Grades 4-6 Anna Leilani is sure there's no place in the modern world for the traditional lore and stories her Hawaiian tūtū (-grandmother) shares--right up to the moment she picks a flower associated with Pele the volcano goddess and a giant bird snatches away her best friend, Kaipo. That's only the first of a series of life-changing revelations, as her determined quest to rescue him leads to encounters with a snarky talking bat, a shape-changing boar, and other supernatural creatures, capped by a wild he'e hōlua, or sled race, down the rocky slopes of Mauna Kea against a mercurial deity with, as she puts it, "major trust and power issues." The author sensitively portrays the way her half-white protagonist wrestles with her identity, and establishes unusually immersive senses of place and culture by, for instance, stirring in references to local foods, tucking untranslated Hawaiian language and slang into the dialogue, and describing a hula Anna/Lei dances in terms of its deeper meaning and spirit. An exciting adventure in an uncommon, perceptively drawn setting.
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April 17, 2023
Twelve-year-old Anna Leilani Kama‘ehu, who is part white, usually loves spending her summers with her grandmother, Tu¯tu¯, in Volcano, a rainforest village in Hawaii. But her Boulder, Colo., classmates have started mocking her whenever she brings up Hawaiian stories such as Pele the Fire Goddess, prompting feelings of shame about her heritage. Now Anna isn’t looking forward to her trip at all; disinterested in listening to more stories about her culture, she instead wants to “come and visit like a tourist.” When Anna questions Pele’s existence, Tu¯tu¯ warns her that she’d best show respect, since she’s “on Pele’s land now.” Still disbelieving, Anna picks a sacred ‘o¯hi‘a lehua flower, a blasphemous act, resulting in Pele’s triggering earthquakes, sinkholes, and volcanic eruptions across the island and sending a giant hawk to kidnap Anna’s best friend, Kaipo. Accompanied by Ilikea, a talking bat, and Makani, the breeze, Anna must win back the goddess’s favor to save Kaipo and the rest of Hawaii. Scenes peppered with pidgin dialect, Hawaiian words, and descriptions of snacks such as li hing mui gummi bears establish a keen sense of place. Anna feels too Hawaiian to fit in at school, but too haole, or white, to feel at home in Hawaii—a struggle that aptly center themes of identity and connection in Maunakea’s energetic, adventuresome debut. Ages 8–12. Agent: Patrice Caldwell, New Leaf Literary.
Starred review from April 1, 2023
Anna comes face to face with the Hawaiian legends she doesn't want to believe are real. Ever since her family moved to Colorado seven years ago, 12-year-old Anna Leilani Kamaʻehu has been spending summers with her tūtū, or grandmother, learning the family's moʻolelo. Usually she enjoys these stories that connect her to her Native heritage. She also normally loves spending time with Kaipo, her best friend in Hawai'i, and eating li hing mui gummy bears, but this year is different: Kids at school are mocking her, and her Colorado best friend has left her for the popular crowd, leaving Anna feeling conflicted about her heritage. Now she refuses to believe in the Hawaiian gods and goddesses and tries to convince Tūtū to let her do touristy things. Then a frustrated Anna loses her temper, insults fire goddess Pele, and picks a sacred ʻōhiʻa lehua flower to prove her point. Pele, angered by her disrespect, causes two earthquakes, a lava flow heads toward Tūtū's house, and a giant hawk takes Kaipo away. To fix things, Anna must find herself and her Hawaiian roots. This exciting, fast-paced adventure is full of humor and action. Anna wrestles with friendships, being biracial (her mother is Polish American), figuring out where she belongs, and finding pride in her culture. Hawaiian cultural elements are seamlessly woven into the story, giving just enough context for those unfamiliar with them without taking away from the narrative. An exhilarating, adventure-filled celebration of Hawaiian culture. (Adventure. 8-12)
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November 3, 2023
Gr 4-6-Anna Leilani Kama'ehu, a 12-year-old girl who is part-Hawaiian and part-Polish American, finds herself in the adventure of a lifetime as she seeks to right wrongs and rediscover the strength of her Hawaiian roots. At school in Colorado, Anna struggles to balance her desire to fit in with her family obligation to remember her heritage, so, when she visits her beloved grandmother on Hawai'i Island, Anna lashes out and her disrespectful actions invite the wrath of Pele, the fire goddess. As an individual who is part-Hawaiian herself, Maunakea displays mastery in weaving Hawaiian words, mythological references, and legendary Hawaiian figures into her story in a manner that draws readers' attention to the richness of the traditions and beauty of Hawai'i. Bits of humor sparkle throughout the story but the general tone focuses on the significance of Anna's endeavors to connect with her Hawaiian culture and overcome obstacles to save her friend Kaipo with a seriousness that adventure readers will take to mean there is no time to waste, as each event rolls into another at a quick pace. Readers will rely heavily on Anna's outward observations of the rich descriptions of her surroundings and often draw their own conclusions about her emotions from her interactions with figures from legend, as the story's third-person perspective features a great deal of dialogue mixed with or leading up to the story's action. Anna's sullenness and uncertainty give way to a character fueled by wonder and confidence, a transformation that can be discussed in ELA classes as an example of how connections with legends and stories can enliven a sense of identity and inspire strength. VERDICT This story belongs in the hands of middle grade readers who love adventure fiction and mythological elements, as well as those who wish to find an example of rediscovering pride in one's culture and identity.-Rachel Mulligan
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