About This Book
Reach for this book when your teen is grappling with their place in the world or feeling a disconnect between their modern life and their family's heritage. It is a beautiful choice for young people who feel a deep, perhaps unexplainable, pull toward nature and are looking for stories that honor indigenous wisdom without being stuck in the past. The story follows sixteen-year-old Emma as she encounters a mysterious boy and rediscovers a hidden, spiritual dimension of Hawaii she once visited as a child. Through Emma's journey to protect the legendary Menehune people, the novel explores themes of environmental justice, the impact of tourism, and the vital importance of self-identification. It treats the transition from childhood wonder to adolescent responsibility with grace and a touch of romance. Parents will appreciate the way it balances lush, sensory fantasy with starkly realistic conversations about how we treat the land and its original inhabitants, making it a hopeful guide for teens seeking to reclaim their own histories.
