May 1, 2024
Lei and her companions travel to an invisible island from Hawaiian legend to find her best friend's stolen pendant in this thrilling sequel. Biracial (Hawaiian and Polish) Lei, who now goes by her Hawaiian name, wants a good rest after rescuing bestie Kaipo, who's also her ʻaumakua (or ancestral guardian) from fire goddess Pele. Unfortunately, Kaipo is missing his protective pendant, and without it, he'll become a troublemaker and then a kuewa, or wandering spirit. With help from Kaipo, shape-shifting bat friend Ilikea, and Ilikea's fashionista descendant, Kaukahi, Lei must travel to Kuaihelani, the invisible island of legend, to retrieve the pendant. Getting there won't be easy, especially with Kaipo's irritability, Kaukahi's stuck-up attitude, and Ili's overeagerness to impress Kaukahi. Facing dangerous challenges, such as sharks, and dogged by an unsettling feeling of being watched, the group travels across the ocean, through a jungle, and into a volcano. But all that pales by comparison once they discover the new evil they've accidentally unleashed. Equally as exciting as Lei and the Fire Goddess (2023), this fast-paced story is full of action and humor and enriched by Hawaiian cultural elements. Lei struggles with her friendships, identity, lingering guilt, self-forgiveness, mixed-up priorities, and selfishness. Diving even deeper into Native Hawaiian culture and language than the previous title, this book celebrates family, mythology, traditions, and connections to the Earth and its creatures. Another incredibly exhilarating adventure. (Adventure. 8-12)
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