Reviews

Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn

hanabell's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

generousstray's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

4.0

marigarcia13's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad medium-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? Yes

4.25

aimeekline's review against another edition

emotional informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kdawn999's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

2.0

dkludt23's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

sherigodmother's review against another edition

Was reading for AAPINH month as  Native Hawaiian representation; after some digging, realized the author is not NH. Moved on to other books. 

harperphillips96's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

tarajoy90's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jon_thereader's review against another edition

3.75

This book is good. 
We follow a Hawaiian family of a mom, dad, two sons, and a daughter. Because of the failing sugar cane industry they have to move. They take a boat ride when their son, Nainoa, ends up overboard but is safely delivered back to the boat in the mouth of a shark. This sets the family down of path of familial rupturing in many facets. The story is told mainly through the perspectives of the three children and how they grow up with family expectations, pressures, or neglect and find their ways to themselves. 
This book wasn’t what I expected it to be in a good way. It was touching and thought-provoking for sure. But it was missing something. However, I definitely appreciated learning more about Hawaiian culture through this story.