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natattack51's review
4.0
Listened to this on audio. I enjoyed it but wanted more information on Hawaii
cherylzzzz's review
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Rape, and Panic attacks/disorders
zhelana's review
3.0
This book was advertised as being about identifying as a local in Hawaii, and claims it has a lot of information about Hawaiian culture and history in it. Neither of these things were true. For one thing, Jessica doesn't even end up going back to Hawaii, so it's really just like... she grew up there and left, and most of the story does not take place there. And while there are short sections of each chapter relating her life to the history of Hawaii (kind of) it doesn't feel integral to her, and feels sort of forced. The only typically Hawaiian thing about her story is being called "haole" in school one day. Overall this read like an incredibly typical and rather boring coming of age story in which the author drinks too much, screws too many random boys, gets a DUI, and has fights with her parents. It literally could have taken place anywhere, and the key moments don't even take place in Hawaii, but rather LA. I was really looking forward to this book, but in the end, it just wasn't very good.
lets_get_lost_in_reading's review
3.0
This memoir details what it’s like growing up in Hawaii and has the author’s personal history interwoven with Hawaiian history.
Themes:
Divorce/broken family
Trying to fit in
Honoring where you come from
Strained family relationships
Racial tension
Alcoholism
Moving away from home
Self image
Rape/consent
Importance of therapy!
The Hawaiian imagery is fantastic. Powerful beauty! I liked learning more about the history of Hawaii and the folklore.
I feel like the authors parallels to her own life sometimes worked and sometimes fell flat.
Themes:
Divorce/broken family
Trying to fit in
Honoring where you come from
Strained family relationships
Racial tension
Alcoholism
Moving away from home
Self image
Rape/consent
Importance of therapy!
The Hawaiian imagery is fantastic. Powerful beauty! I liked learning more about the history of Hawaii and the folklore.
I feel like the authors parallels to her own life sometimes worked and sometimes fell flat.
shannanh's review
5.0
Local tells the true story of the author, who was born in Hawaii, and has NH lineage through her father and his line. She talks about growing up in Hawaii with her parents, including her white born in the southern region of the US mother. The author gives us a glimpse into her upbringing as well as local history facts. I am definitely going to read the resources the author gives us in the book to learn more about the historical aspects of the area.