Alan Brennert

Moloka’i by Alan Brennert is a deeply engaging story about Rachel Kalama who in the late 1800s, at the young age of six, is diagnosed with leprosy. She is torn from her family in Honolulu and shipped to the leper colony of Kalaupapa on the island of Moloka’i to be raised by nuns. The impact of this destroys her parents’ marriage and leaves this little girl alone in the world.

The isolation and fear that the lepers received was quite simply heartbreaking. Rachel’s world has becomes the leper colony and she could very well be spending the rest of her life there. She does eventually form a family comprised of friends although many of her ‘found family’ die from the disease. She also meets the man that she will marry but the disease and the rules that society place on it’s victims mean that true happiness is elusive. Rachel matures into a strong young woman who learns to overcome the challenges in her life. Her fascinating story is set against a backdrop of 20th century events.

Moloka’i is a well written and informative work of historical fiction. The author draws the reader into Rachel’s world and we easily learn to care for her and the people around her. He also shows a great respect for Hawaiian culture, religion and history. This is a rich, complex story that pulls on the emotions as it tells of Rachel’s personal strength and bravery.… (altro)

Late in 19th century Hawaii, young Rachel Kalama is discovered to have a rose-colored mark on her skin and is soon taken from her family and moved to the island of Moloka'i, to the isolated and quarantined leprosy settlement of Kalaupapa. Though in many ways this seems like a death sentence and Rachel dearly misses her family, esp. her father, she eventually becomes part of a new family on Moloka'i.

I've had this book on my shelf for a long time. I'm not sure why I didn't get to it sooner, despite knowing it had a lot of great reviews. It's a very well-written novel of historical fiction, detailing a piece of history I really had virtually no knowledge of prior to reading. There is not a lot of what I'd call action in this novel, but it's hard not to get swept up in Rachel's world and in the lives of all the people around her. It's a coming-of-age novel, beginning with Rachel at 7 years old and continuing until the end of her life, with lots of bittersweet moments. Despite all that, I feel kind of bad not rating this higher, as many have. I think I went in with really high expectations, and though it was good, it didn't completely sweep me up like I'd hoped. But still an excellent story of an important time in Hawaii's history. It gives the reader a new and different perspective on the term "leprosy".… (altro)