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challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I haven't read a book about Hawaii that I haven't enjoyed YET.
Books about family expectations and dynasties are my niche. Learning about Hawaiian history, whether through fiction or non-fiction, always hurts. My heart hurts for a people who can't control their land or government. I always reflect back on Hawaii and Puerto Rico to remind myself that the US is not a benevolent saviour but a colonising empire. The POVs that allowed readers to see the takeover of Hawaii from the point of the people, and the desire to keep Hawaiian culture alive made this book so so special.
The complicated mother-daughter relationship in the Naupka dynasty should be attractive to many readers. The backstory relationship between Hulali and Laka, when shown, is so so sad. Love is there but duty is more prevalent than love. Duty to help Hawaii and further the family line is so ingrained in Hulali from her matriarch that that's all she knows. All of the characters are real and complex. None of them shines out as "good" and "bad." They are all complicated. I understand Hi'i need to be accepted by her mother and grandmother. The drive to be accepted by her indigenous society though she appears like a colonizer is woven through the narrative.
The multiple POVs allow readers to see from all the women's points of view. I wished the backstory with Hulali and Laka was towards the beginning, as well as Hi'i's birth story. It would have helped my frustration between the characters and their actions, which were seemly stupid at times.
I enjoyed how Hakes shows that being Hawaiian does not necessarily mean you look fully Hawaiian. Seeing how miscegenation and blood quantum comes into play with the colonialization of Hawaii was fascinating. I'd never heard of the blood quantum laws in Hawaii before, so that was something new for me. The blood quantum conversation in the book made me want to study it more.
Hakes had a whole bibliography at the end which was incredible!! I love historical fiction with other sources/resources for you to read. There are numerous things in this novel that can be triggering like war, miscarriage, child abandonment, partner abuse, cancer, death of a spouse, incarceration etc so be wary.
Books about family expectations and dynasties are my niche. Learning about Hawaiian history, whether through fiction or non-fiction, always hurts. My heart hurts for a people who can't control their land or government. I always reflect back on Hawaii and Puerto Rico to remind myself that the US is not a benevolent saviour but a colonising empire. The POVs that allowed readers to see the takeover of Hawaii from the point of the people, and the desire to keep Hawaiian culture alive made this book so so special.
The complicated mother-daughter relationship in the Naupka dynasty should be attractive to many readers. The backstory relationship between Hulali and Laka, when shown, is so so sad. Love is there but duty is more prevalent than love. Duty to help Hawaii and further the family line is so ingrained in Hulali from her matriarch that that's all she knows. All of the characters are real and complex. None of them shines out as "good" and "bad." They are all complicated. I understand Hi'i need to be accepted by her mother and grandmother. The drive to be accepted by her indigenous society though she appears like a colonizer is woven through the narrative.
The multiple POVs allow readers to see from all the women's points of view. I wished the backstory with Hulali and Laka was towards the beginning, as well as Hi'i's birth story. It would have helped my frustration between the characters and their actions, which were seemly stupid at times.
I enjoyed how Hakes shows that being Hawaiian does not necessarily mean you look fully Hawaiian. Seeing how miscegenation and blood quantum comes into play with the colonialization of Hawaii was fascinating. I'd never heard of the blood quantum laws in Hawaii before, so that was something new for me. The blood quantum conversation in the book made me want to study it more.
Hakes had a whole bibliography at the end which was incredible!! I love historical fiction with other sources/resources for you to read. There are numerous things in this novel that can be triggering like war, miscarriage, child abandonment, partner abuse, cancer, death of a spouse, incarceration etc so be wary.