Debbie W.'s Reviews > Moloka'i
Moloka'i (Moloka'i, #1)
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Debbie W.'s review
bookshelves: american-hawaii, historical-fiction, 2020-reads, favorites, gorgeous-cover
Aug 25, 2020
bookshelves: american-hawaii, historical-fiction, 2020-reads, favorites, gorgeous-cover
Why did I give this story 4.5 (round up to 5) stars?
1. I learned that during the 19th and 20th centuries, hundreds of people - men, women and children - were tragically separated from their loved ones and sent to Kalaupapa, a leper colony on the Hawaiian island of Moloka'i to live out the rest of their days while suffering the debilitating effects of leprosy, as well as the ostracization from others, sometimes even from their own families.
2. My heart went out to the main character, Rachel, who as a 7-year old child, contracts leprosy and is forced to live on Moloka'i. I felt her confusion, her fears, and at times, her delights, over the many years that she lives on this island.
3. The story is told in 3rd person POV, not only from Rachel, but from several characters, adding to the richness and knowledge of this story.
4. My emotions for the characters were all over the place!
5. I learned a lot about the Hawaiian culture - its beliefs, traditions, food, language.
6. The inclusion of a map highlighting various communities on the Hawaiian islands as well as the Author's Note, was extremely beneficial.
7. I'm definitely looking forward to reading MOLOKA'I'S DAUGHTER!
Only one issue niggled at me - thoughts and dialogue sometimes sounded too 21st century (IMO).
Overall, if you are a fan of historical fiction and want to learn about an obscure and devastating piece of history, I recommend that you read this book!
1. I learned that during the 19th and 20th centuries, hundreds of people - men, women and children - were tragically separated from their loved ones and sent to Kalaupapa, a leper colony on the Hawaiian island of Moloka'i to live out the rest of their days while suffering the debilitating effects of leprosy, as well as the ostracization from others, sometimes even from their own families.
2. My heart went out to the main character, Rachel, who as a 7-year old child, contracts leprosy and is forced to live on Moloka'i. I felt her confusion, her fears, and at times, her delights, over the many years that she lives on this island.
3. The story is told in 3rd person POV, not only from Rachel, but from several characters, adding to the richness and knowledge of this story.
4. My emotions for the characters were all over the place!
5. I learned a lot about the Hawaiian culture - its beliefs, traditions, food, language.
6. The inclusion of a map highlighting various communities on the Hawaiian islands as well as the Author's Note, was extremely beneficial.
7. I'm definitely looking forward to reading MOLOKA'I'S DAUGHTER!
Only one issue niggled at me - thoughts and dialogue sometimes sounded too 21st century (IMO).
Overall, if you are a fan of historical fiction and want to learn about an obscure and devastating piece of history, I recommend that you read this book!
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Reading Progress
July 31, 2019
– Shelved
July 31, 2019
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 27, 2020
– Shelved as:
american-hawaii
August 18, 2020
–
Started Reading
August 18, 2020
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
August 25, 2020
–
Finished Reading
February 24, 2021
– Shelved as:
2020-reads
February 24, 2021
– Shelved as:
favorites
July 1, 2021
– Shelved as:
gorgeous-cover
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Jenna
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Aug 26, 2020 05:31AM
![Jenna ❤ ❀ ❤](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1535136437p1/3536004.jpg)
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![Debbie W.](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1594390250p1/41918078.jpg)
![Kathleen](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1495314753p1/39134508.jpg)
![Debbie W.](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1594390250p1/41918078.jpg)
Thanks, Kim! It definitely opened my eyes to this event in history! Have you read the sequel MOLOKA'I'S DAUGHTER yet?
![Debbie W.](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1594390250p1/41918078.jpg)
Thanks, Kathleen! It really tugged at my heartstrings!
![MarilynW](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1522535580p1/49815208.jpg)
![Debbie W.](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1594390250p1/41918078.jpg)
Thank you, Marilyn! I think I will have to sign out a copy of the following book from my local library very soon!
![Annette](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1576085017p1/13005524.jpg)
![Debbie W.](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1594390250p1/41918078.jpg)
Thanks, Annette! I learned so much while reading this novel! A mention of the island of Molokai is given in Robert Louis Stevenson's short story The Bottle Imp. If I hadn't read Moloka'i previously, I would have been totally ignorant about that place and time period!
Wonderful and interesting review, Debbie!