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A review by btwnprintedpgs
Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
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? No
4.5
A story full of Hawaiian culture, mythology, and joy! Anna goes on an adventure as she lands in her native home denying the existence of Pele, the Hawaiian fire goddess, after a mishap during her science class on the mainland. As she begins to reconnect with her roots and learn more about Pele and the other legends that exist on the islands, after her best friend is kidnapped, she finds herself embracing the part of her identity that she's long been denying.
This was a wild time and I really felt for Anna as she figured out who she was and who she wanted to be. There was a lot of reaching into her Hawaiian roots, but also acknowledging the hardships she's dealt with being biracial and not "enough" of either culture. I liked how she grew through the story and how her love for her friends and family shined through.
There was a weird bit of time and travel circling which I didn't love - she spent so much time getting somewhere only to loop back around in second and then loop around again I another second. Felt like an aside that didn't seem necessary, but it did show off the magic of the land, I guess.
I did like the overall message of the story, as well as Anna's growth through it all. Her understanding herself and what friendship is and means all came together at the end and what she grapple with helped through her final trials.
I'm curious to see what happens in her finals weeks of her summer vacation in Hawaii, and can't wait to dive back into their world of myth and magic again.
Rep: Biracial MC
TW: kidnapping, injury details, fire/fire injury, bullying, violence; mentions racism
ARC gifted by Penguin Teen Canada in exchange for an honest review.
This was a wild time and I really felt for Anna as she figured out who she was and who she wanted to be. There was a lot of reaching into her Hawaiian roots, but also acknowledging the hardships she's dealt with being biracial and not "enough" of either culture. I liked how she grew through the story and how her love for her friends and family shined through.
There was a weird bit of time and travel circling which I didn't love - she spent so much time getting somewhere only to loop back around in second and then loop around again I another second. Felt like an aside that didn't seem necessary, but it did show off the magic of the land, I guess.
I did like the overall message of the story, as well as Anna's growth through it all. Her understanding herself and what friendship is and means all came together at the end and what she grapple with helped through her final trials.
I'm curious to see what happens in her finals weeks of her summer vacation in Hawaii, and can't wait to dive back into their world of myth and magic again.
Rep: Biracial MC
TW: kidnapping, injury details, fire/fire injury, bullying, violence; mentions racism
ARC gifted by Penguin Teen Canada in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Racism