Daughter of Moloka’i by Alan Brennert

Daughter of Moloka’i by Alan Brennert – 309 pages

ARC courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review

Book Blurb:

The book follows young Ruth from her arrival at the Kapi’olani Home for Girls in Honolulu, to her adoption by a Japanese couple who raise her on a farm in California, her marriage and unjust internment at Manzanar Relocation Camp during World War II—and then, after the war, to the life-altering day when she receives a letter from a woman who says she is Ruth’s birth mother, Rachel.
DAUGHTER OF MOLOKA′I expands upon Ruth and Rachel’s 22-year relationship, only hinted at in MOLOKA′I. It’s a richly emotional tale of two women—different in some ways, similar in others—who never expected to meet, much less come to love, one another. And for Ruth it is a story of discovery, the unfolding of a past she knew nothing about. 

My Review: 4 stars

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When I saw that Alan Brennert was writing Daughter of Moloka’i as a sequel to the beloved Moloka’i, I was beside myself with joy. It took much consideration to rate this book. The first and last third I adored and couldn’t put down, but the middle section seemed heavy handed in historical information. I actually skimmed a bit during these pages. Perhaps because it felt like an educational interruption or maybe because I just wanted to move forward with the story.

In this book we see some return characters as well as many new ones. Brennert has the pulse on familial love and creates great characters with considerable dimension. Although this book could easily stand alone, the return characters are rich with history from Moloka’i so I’d encourage reading that first if you have the time.

I found myself talking about things I learned from this book in common conversations. So much to discuss and wrap my head around! Let’s see, there was  abandonment, immigrants, trust, family feuds, family love, treatment of the Japanese, life in Hawaii, hard work, adoption, leprosy, guilt, forgiveness, mothers/daughter relationships and so much more. The book painfully portrayed internment camps that left me utterly ashamed about this time in our history.

Overall, a great sequel. This reader would be happy to see one more book about the next generation of this strong and determined family.

Quotes I liked:

People disappointed; animals never did.” 

-“Ruth marveled at how two souls— two completely different species— could make each other so happy. If you were kind to animals, they repaid that kindness a thousandfold.”

– “I am secure in the knowledge that I am the mother of your heart,” Etsuko said, smiling. “But she is the mother of your blood. She deserves to see what a fine woman you have become” 

– “There might be more to the universe than any one religion could explain.” 

– “I’m lucky, you see: I had two mothers. One gave life to me; one raised me. But they both loved me. You know, some people don’t even get that once… There’s only one disadvantage, really, to having two mothers. You know twice the love… but you grieve twice as much.”