Moloka’i by Alan Brennert
Release date: 2003 / 384 pages
First line: “Later, when memory was all she had to sustain her, she would come to cherish it: Old Honolulu as it was then, as it would never be again.”
Synopsis (from book jacket): Young Rachel Kalama, growing up in idyllic Honolulu in the 1890s, is part of a big, loving Hawaiian family, and dreams of seeing the far-off lands that her father, a merchant seaman, often visits. But at the age of seven, Rachel and her dreams are shattered by the discovery that she has leprosy. Forcibly removed from her family, she is sent to Kalaupapa, the isolated leper colony on the island of Moloka’i.
Review: Overall, I enjoyed reading the journey of Rachel Kalama and certainly learned a LOT about leprosy — a subject I knew nothing about. I do not read a lot of historical fiction, but enjoyed learning about this history of Hawaii through the fictional story of Rachel. I had no idea that the island of Moloka’i was ever a leper colony and the enforced imprisonment of so many afflicted Hawaiians was shocking.
However, Rachel’s story is told without self-pity and she is able to create a new life filled with purpose, friendship, and love despite her affliction. I think this was my favorite aspect of the novel, in fact — witnessing how people are able to rise above adversity and create fulfilling, multi-facted lives that are not defined only by the negative or challenging.
The novel did feel a little long, but once I was able to devote three hours to reading the second half, the time flew by. Overall, I would recommend Moloka’i — especially if you are going on vacation and want an engaging character-driven narrative. I think you will enjoy the time you spend with Rachel!
I’m sorry that my review is a little skimpy… Please link to your review, if you’ve read this, too!
I received an e-mail from the author today saying that his newest book, Honolulu, is coming out in March 2009. More info here:
http://passionforthepage.blogspot.com/2008/07/new-book-from-author-of-molokai-coming.html
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Have you made Moloki into a kit?
Not yet! It does seem like a book club hit, though…