The novels main character is rachel, who is sent to kalaupapa as a. Taken from her home and family, rachel is sent to kalaupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of molokai. Molokai is the story of rachel kalama, a young native hawaiian girl growing up in honolulu at the end of the 19th century, who at age seven is diagnosed with hansens disease, taken from her family, and exiled to the leprosy settlement on a remote peninsula on the island of molokai. Molokai is an epic novel that tells much of the history of the leper.
Books for all ages new members save 20% off jigsaw. Then, ruth receives a letter from her birth mother, rachel. Growing up in idyllic honolulu in the 1890s, rachel is part of a big loving family until she is forcibly removed from her family and sent to the isolated leper colony on the island of molokai. Brennert excels in incorporating actual people and events into his stories.
A gritty story of love and survival in a hawaiian leper colony. When people were sent there they never returned to society unless their symptoms were eradicated. Molokai ebook chicago public library bibliocommons. By focusing on her and creating a character that encompasses the experiences of many, hes created a very readable book. Daughter of molokai is the followup to brennerts 2003 novel molokai, which tells the story. The story focuses on the life of rachel kalama and covers the course of her life. This novel is a lovely, heart warming story of the people who lived there, and their deep loves and tremendous losses. The novels main character is rachel, who is sent to.
Rachel s newfound family cares for her and loves her as a daughter but she is so lonely for her real family. Jan 07, 2010 in particular, this book is about the leper colony that was located in kalaupapa, on the hawaiian island of molokai. Molokai is an epic novel that tells much of the history of the leper settlement at kalaupapa on the hawaiian island molokai. This study guide consists of approximately 44 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of molokai. Rachel s daughter ruth, taken from her the day ruth was born, is the main character in this family tale that extends from hawaii to california to japanese internment camps and back to california. Daughter of molokai follows ruth, the daughter who rachel was forced to give upas all. Forcibly removed from her family, she is sent to kalaupapa, the. The book follows young ruth from her arrival at the kapiolani home for girls in. Sep 09, 2004 this is one of the most amazing books i have ever read. I cant discuss the plot without revealing at least one spoiler from the first book. Rachels daughter ruth, taken from her the day ruth was born, is the main character in this family tale that extends from hawaii to california to japanese internment camps and back to california. But i felt like everything in between was just fluff, or filler. The main character, a young girl sent off from her family at a very young age, and how this child found her way and became a strong leader in her on.
In particular, this book is about the leper colony that was located in kalaupapa, on the hawaiian island of molokai. I adored this book when i read it the first time, and just as much when i reread it recently with my book club. A novel book online at low prices in india molokai. The character of rachel i enjoyed through all phases of her story. Brother dutton, mother marianne, ambrose hutchison. Young rachel kalama, growing up in idyllic honolulu in the 1890s, is part of a big, loving hawaiian family, and dreams of seeing the faroff lands that her father, a merchant seaman, often visits. But at the age of seven, rachel and her dreams are shattered by the discovery that she has leprosy. Feb 19, 2019 i cant discuss the plot without revealing at least one spoiler from the first book. Rachel was a very genuine and profound main character managing to live a life. Brennerts love of hawaii and meticulous research are fully on display throughout the rich tale of rachel who, at the age of 7, is diagnosed with leprosy.
Rachel was a very genuine and profound main character managing to live a life full of pain but also full of hope and compassion. The shocking revelation that she has leprosy is even more frightening given her age, but it is here that rachel begins to demonstrate some. Many of the books supporting characters are actual people. View a free sample rachel aouli kalama utagawa rachel is the main character of the novel, and it is through the course of her lifetime that the book takes place. Molokai book san jose public library bibliocommons. Those impacted may experience the gradual loss of their extremities or even the amputation of. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Molokai book bellingham public library bibliocommons. I was not aware of the leper quarantine of molokai. Such is the warmth, humor, and compassion of this novel that few readers will remain unchanged by rachel s story. As was the tradition, she had to leave her family and go to a far away place called molokai. The novel molokai tells a story full of tragedy and hope that spans seventynine years of history. Molokai is one of the hawaiian islands that was used as a leper colony.
The novels main character is rachel, who is sent to kalaupapa as a young. Molokai book king county library system bibliocommons. Mar 26, 2015 throughout this book we see rachel grow up on molokai from the age of 7 all the way up to old age. Oct 04, 2004 molokai is the story of rachel kalama, a young native hawaiian girl growing up in honolulu at the end of the 19th century, who at age seven is diagnosed with hansens disease, taken from her family, and exiled to the leprosy settlement on a remote peninsula on the island of molokai.
She is only 5 years old when she is diagnosed and her family is devastated. Growing up in idyllic honolulu in the 1890s, rachel is part of a big loving family until she is forcibly removed from her family and sent to the. Brennert has done indepth research in the story about rachel kalama who was sent to the leper colony as a child. It stretches from the 1910s in hawaii, all the way to 1970s california. This book follows the life of a fictional character who lives the. In daughter of molokai by alan brennert, the main character is forcibly taken from her mother and put up for adoption because her mother was diagnosed with leprosy. True to historical accounts, rachel s life, though shadowed by disease, isolation and tragedy, is also one of joy, courage, and dignity. Brennerts compassion makes rachel a memorable character, and his smooth. Most of the novel takes place in the kalaupapa peninsula of the island of molokai, a place infamous for being the location of a settlement where people with leprosy were detained. We meet many vibrant characters on the island and watch rachel grow up i laughed and cried. Only consolation was the presence of her uncle pono at the island. Throughout this book we see rachel grow up on molokai from the age of 7 all the way up to old age. The book is about rachel, who contracts leprosy in the 1890s, and is exiled to the island of molokai. Also called hansens disease, leprosy affects a persons skin and peripheral nerves causing a loss of sensation and tissue degeneration.
Brennerts compassion makes rachel a memorable character, and his smooth storytelling vividly brings. Rachel kalama, the main character, is a typical 5yearold growing up in a loving family in honolulu when her mother first sees a sore on rachel s leg which will not heal. A novel and millions of other books are available for instant access. Taken from her home and family, rachel is sent to kalaupapa, the quarantined. Molokai is simply a beautiful story in which alan brennert features unforgettable characters. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book as you really connected and grew up with the character. However, she does find joy in meeting up with her uncle pono at the island and makes new friends. Even more disheartening is that children were treated the same as adults they were sent away too, torn away from their families. Then one day a rosecolored mark appears on her skin, and those dreams are stolen from her. Rachel is the main character of the novel, and it is through the course of her lifetime that the book takes place. It is the story of her life there, the friends who become her family, the man she falls in love with and.
Molokai one of the beautiful hawaiian islands, but in the late nineteenth century, a name synonymous with a desolate leper colony. Molokai book fraser valley regional library bibliocommons. The novel opens when rachel is a fun loving fiveyearold amid a lively and caring family. This book follows rachel as she comes to terms with her condition, how she deals with it and even how she tries to cure it. Rachel is entirely a fictional character, but the events and people that shape her life are inspired by actual people and events. Separated from everything dear to her, the heroine of this book, rachel, learns at a young age that life can still provide her with simple joysand profound fulfillment. Molokai is the story of people who had much taken from them but also gained an unexpected new family and. Fearing what this may mean, not just to rachel but to the rest of the family, she bandages it and makes rachel wear long skirts. The chronicle of leprosyinfected rachel kalama begins in 1891 in honolulu and ends in the late 1960s on isolated molokai, site of the kalaupapa leprosy settlement. Molokai ebook deschutes public library bibliocommons. Molokai ebook daniel boone regional library bibliocommons.
She has a happy childhood, surrounded by loving family. Rachel was a very genuine and profound main character managing to live a life full of pain but also full of. Rachel kalama, a spirited sevenyearold hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting faroff lands like her father, a merchant seaman. Molokai is a period book in hawaii set from the 1890s to 1970. I wish i had read this book before i had visited molokai. Daughter of molokai by alan brennert the long awaited sequel to molokai is here. The book follows the life of the main character, rachel kalama, who starts out as a very young child. Molokai book washington county cooperative library. I think i would have connected with the story more if it had been shorter and focused more on life on molokai as a leper. Rachel, in the beginning of the book as a child, and at the. I had never heard of the first book in this series, molokai, which follows rachel, the mother of the main character in daughter of molokai, ruth. People with disease were sent away to an island and that was their doomed, last destination since there were no effective treatments available.
With a vibrant cast of vividly realized characters, molokai is the truetolife chronicle of a people who embraced life in the face of death. I was watching a high speed car chase on television yesterday and some. Molokai book san mateo county libraries bibliocommons. The authors development of rachels character and of those who lived on the island with her is rich in the understanding of the life of one who suffers from such a debilitating illness. And while shes a main character, this time the author focuses on her daughter ruth. Severed from loved ones, initial days at molokai were very tough for her. Molokai book burlingame public library bibliocommons. Molokai by alan brennert book club discussion questions. Jan 11, 2004 rachel kalama, the main character, is a typical 5yearold growing up in a loving family in honolulu when her mother first sees a sore on rachel s leg which will not heal. I did feel somewhat of a connection to the protagonist, rachel, in the beginning of the book as a child, and at the end, as an elderly woman.
Molokai book contra costa county library bibliocommons. I am a huge historical fiction fan, so the idea of covering so much time in this book was incredibly appealing to me. This book drew me and and kept me rooting for the main character. Word of mouth is one of the most important market factors determining the popularity of a book. The main character is very real and she becomes someone you care about as the story progresses.
With the character of rachel kalama, the author takes the tragic, misunderstood population of the leper colony on molokai and turns them into sympathetic, relatable people who forged a satisfying life for themselves within the limits imposed on them. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. This book did a good job of shedding light on that piece of history and encouraged me to do some follow up research of my own. Rachel kalama, the main character, is a typical 5yearold growing up in a loving family in honolulu when her mother first sees a sore on. The story follows the life of rachel from her childhood, when she is separated from her family and taken to live in a residence hall on molokai. April, 2012 by book rags molokai is an epic novel that tells much of the history of the leper settlement at kalaupapa on the hawaiian island molokai. Brennerts compassion makes rachel a memorable character, and his.