A review by jonid
Daughter of Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

4.0

On a rainy night, a baby is brought to an orphanage with the hopes of a safe haven and a better life. Ruth is a determinedly upbeat girl, a lover of animals who can be crushed by loss but finds hope again and again. This is her story. And it’s the story of a half Japanese half Hawaiian girl who takes the reader from Hawaii to California. Again, the author has created a world that is both engaging and horrific. The racism on the west coast that finds a home after Pearl Harbor in the Japanese internment camps is a dismal chapter in our history. The Asian culture, the filial duty of Japanese children and the importance of honor in the Japanese culture clash how the US Japanese citizens were treated in the early 40’s. And the Hawaiian culture and outlook may prove to offer more comfort to Ruth once she and her family are released and she faces more. This book is both a follow up to Moloka’i and a continuation of Rachel’s story. It’s a story that it told with care and illuminates both cruelty and strength.