Alan Brennert

Alan Brennert

   I really enjoy the novels of this author.  He is able to describe big historical events  using intimate family stories. Click here to read about two of them: "Moloka'i" and "Honolulu". 
   "Moloka'i" was written in 2004 and was very popular, but it was 15 years before Alan Brennert followed up with "Daughter of Moloka'i", and I was delighted to find it on the library shelves.

   "Moloka'i" is the story of Rachel Kalama, who grew up in a leprosy colony in Hawaii, gave birth to a baby girl, who was taken from her at birth and isolated for a year to see if she carried leprosy.  Since she was a healthy baby, she was moved to an orphanage, where she was adopted by loving Japanese parents.
  She grew up with three brothers and hard-working parents.  However, during World War II, they were interned at Manzanar Relocation Camp.
   There is great detail about this camp.  There is also an understanding of Japanese culture throughout this book, based strongly in 'honour'.  Fascinating characters!
   The book follows this baby, Ruth, who had been born in the leprosy colony.  In middle age, she discovered not only her birth mother, but a part of her heritage.
   Because of the love developed throughout the story, there are bound to be tears- of joy, of sadness.  There is a lot of emotion in this book and I enjoyed it!