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alien_sneeze's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
7xav's review
4.5
’but i do know Noa will always be her favourite; it wasn’t even about Noa, really, or at least not just the person. for mom, Noa was a son but he was also the legends that came with him.’
this book tackles family. it tackles sibling rivalry, favouritism. it tackles what it means to be poor in modern hawai’i.
throughout the book, as it follows the Flores family, you receive five entirely different points-of-view: the changes in grammar & the details in language—a detail that often lacks in other books—was refreshing to experience.
i can’t really say much without possibly outing myself as an idiot; the details in this book were wonderful, and the prose was glorious.
miggyjane's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Phenomenal. Outstanding. A mix of the supernatural, a deep commentary on our connection to the natural world, folk tales, grief, the weight of failed dreams and how families are both the best and the worst.
nalinirp's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
angelenelittle's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
bc288's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rae5tar's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Didn’t love this book. I couldn’t tell what was supposed to be real and what was a metaphor or magic. Maybe that was the point but the ambiguity made it less enjoyable for me and the ending was confusing.
sopesock's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
HM. this was really good — i think ??
Nainoa was saved from drowning by sharks gently carrying him back to the boat, and since then the people of the island have seen him differently. there is something magical about the boy, no one can deny it, and as he gets older he even seems to develop healing abilities.
but all these big expectations are difficult to carry. and they put a strain on his siblings, who have to grow up in his shadow — We get to see the world through each main characters’ eyes, get to love and care for them and experience their unique struggles.
This is not Nainoas story. these are the stories of his entire family. they’re messy and complicated and at times frustrating.
The scenes set in Hawai’i felt so alive, vivid and colorful and meaningful. i enjoyed those moments the most, when you could feel the magic and mystery rising up from the soil beneath the characters’ feet and into the air they breathe. i loved getting little glimpses into hawaiian myths, and growing up with their family gave me an insight into how the land and its people have changed and suffered through the years.
another reviewer mentioned that, although written by a man, the female characters were written especially well and i have to agree !!!!!!!!!!! kaui’s perspective was my favourite.
i will say, from the three parts that the book is split up in, the last one made me struggle. the characters’ decisions were hard to follow and understand and i was growing a bit tired of all the loose ends. maybe if i had moved through the book a little more slowly, i could have appreciated it more. i did read the end at like 1 am, so i was not the most concentrated, to be fair.
Nainoa was saved from drowning by sharks gently carrying him back to the boat, and since then the people of the island have seen him differently. there is something magical about the boy, no one can deny it, and as he gets older he even seems to develop healing abilities.
but all these big expectations are difficult to carry. and they put a strain on his siblings, who have to grow up in his shadow — We get to see the world through each main characters’ eyes, get to love and care for them and experience their unique struggles.
This is not Nainoas story. these are the stories of his entire family. they’re messy and complicated and at times frustrating.
The scenes set in Hawai’i felt so alive, vivid and colorful and meaningful. i enjoyed those moments the most, when you could feel the magic and mystery rising up from the soil beneath the characters’ feet and into the air they breathe. i loved getting little glimpses into hawaiian myths, and growing up with their family gave me an insight into how the land and its people have changed and suffered through the years.
another reviewer mentioned that, although written by a man, the female characters were written especially well and i have to agree !!!!!!!!!!! kaui’s perspective was my favourite.
i will say, from the three parts that the book is split up in, the last one made me struggle. the characters’ decisions were hard to follow and understand and i was growing a bit tired of all the loose ends. maybe if i had moved through the book a little more slowly, i could have appreciated it more. i did read the end at like 1 am, so i was not the most concentrated, to be fair.