On our last trip to Ohio, we stopped in a local bookstore, and I bought a few books to take back to Mexico. One of them was "Moloka'i" by Alan Brennert.
I had never heard of the author, but according to the back cover, he is an Emmy winning screenwriter. He had written a number of short stories, but "Moloka'i", published in 2001, was his first novel. It is a historical novel that takes place on the Hawaiian island of Moloka'i, the location of an infamous leper colony that operated in the 19th and 20th centuries. It tells the story of a seven year old Hawaiian girl who is torn from her family and sent to Moloka'i when she is diagnosed with leprosy. Although it is fiction, the author did meticulous research to portray the quarantined settlement and the lives of the people who were sent there. It was a fascinating story that is filled not only with tragedy, but also warmth, humor and memorable characters. Highly recommended!
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