The Thumbnail Book Reviews
by John Q McDonald --- 15 October 1999
by Lois-Ann Yamanaka
The cadence of Hawaiian pidgin (you may also want a Hawaiian dictionary at times) permeates this troubling tale of three Japanese-American children, on their own after their mother's death and father's grief-stricken witdrawal. The author, born on Moloka'i, sets this tale of grief and survival on her native island. Ivah, the oldest of the children finds herself responsible for the well-being of the other two, Blu and Maisie. A distant father, and an impovershed financial situation are compounded by the sometimes harsh environment in which they live. There are few supportive characters. And there are several disturbing and violent episodes in this book. It can be dark and sad as well as oddly comical and gentle. In this environment, it is all Ivah can do to keep her family alive. It is remarkable, though, the extent to which these three children pull together; their affection is touching. In an almost magical way, Yamanaka manages to convey an almost sweet evolution from loss and despair toward survival and individuality. This reader lived in Hawai'i only a short time, and much of this book left one feeling like he lived in an entirely alien world. There is insight here, though, a glimpse of the complicated multiracial world of Hawai'i.
(This book sparked controversy when a 1997 award was revoked upon protests by the Filipino community over the depiction of a Filipino child molester character. Though we certainly cannot speak for the sensibilities of the Filipino community, this reader did not come away with any feelings that this was a stereotypical character. A disturbing character, yes, but the character's behavior wasn't a result of his race, and wasn't depicted as such. Yet the author places sometimes shocking words in the mouths of the characters. There is an undercurrent of racial tension here. As in much of the USA, this is true in Hawai'i as well.)
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