Clairboyance

by Kristiana Kahakauwila

After accidentally wishing on a family heirloom to hear what boys are thinking, Clara wakes up the next day able to do just that. Every idea, every worry, every generous or petty thought crossing their minds—somehow, they now form a chorus of voices in hers.

But why couldn’t her newfound powers have arrived sooner? Then, maybe, she could have stopped her ex–best friend Leo from betraying her and ditching her for the more popular kids. At least her dad is open to the idea of moving her off O‘ahu and out to Arizona to be with him.

If Clara can use what she hears to solve her problems, then her powers might just be able to make up for lost time—but instead, she ends up making a bigger mess of everything! While scrambling to fix her mistakes, Clara must question old friendships, enter into new ones, and try to figure out what makes a home, and if she is willing to leave hers behind.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Fiction, Audiobook, Friendship, Childrens

288 pages, Hardcover

First published May 14, 2024

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clairboyance is a book that I've been excited to read since it was officially announced. There aren't a lot of middle grade books that take place in Hawaii from Native Hawaiian authors. It was great to be able to add this to my running list. CW: discussion of divorce, health issues experience by family member

Clairboyance follows main character Clara who is struggling with a host of problems. She's questioning whether to leave O'ahu and move to Arkansas to live with her dad, her mom is currently deployed in Alaska, she's recently lost her best friend, and she's having trouble making and maintaining friendships at school. In order to repair her relationship with her best friend, Clara makes a wish upon a family heirloom to hear what boys are thinking. Surprisingly her wish comes true and her new gift causes her more issues than expected.

What Worked: Oh goodness! There was so many great elements included in this book. I absolutely adored Clara as a character. It was wonderful to see a coming of age story, but from the perspective of a place and culture that often goes underrepresented in children's literature. Not only is Clara attempting to juggle the idea of leaving O'ahu, but she's attempting to figure out ways to repair her friendship with Leo. I was particularly nervous about Clara being able to hear what middle grade age boys were thinking; however, Kahakauwila handled it was such grace and class and in a way that captured the intricacies of friendships that so many of us experience at that age. Clara learns a lot through her gift and it takes her time to learn how to balance hearing people's thoughts and her inclinations to react and intervene on those thoughts. There were so many great culturally moments where Kahakauwila introduces readers to both Ōlelo Hawaiʻi and Hawaiian Pidgin which were both rewarding to listen to via audio. I highly recommend checking out the author's note at the end to learn more about the history of both languages. I also adored the relationship between Clara and Tūtū. The support, care, and love shared between them was felt in every interaction. I was glad to see Clara have Tūtū as a support system especially when she was attempting to navigate her friendships and when and how to use her voice in times of struggle/conflict.

What Did Not Work: I absolutely loved the familial connection to Clara's gift; however, it felt as though readers didn't get enough background information on it. I wanted to know more history related to it and the broader impact it had on the family.

Overall, this was good read. I'm appreciating all these middle grade books that are coming out that are detailing the impact of friendship break ups. I hope to see more from Kristiana Kahakauwila in the future!

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Kahakauwila crafts a love letter to Hawaiian culture, identity, and landscape and captures the uncertainty and confusion of navigating middle school, fashioning a heartfelt debut that emits positivity, optimism, and warm vibes." [Publishers Weekly]

[Malia Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED:
- This story is all about perspectives. Claire needs to understand the perspectives of her Tutu, her dad, her former bestie, her current friend, and her classmates.
- ALL THE HAWAIIAN REFERENCES!!

LIKED:
- The magical realism abilities! Sometimes they were confusing, but I loved that they were generational abilities.

MEH:
- The only thing of note is that there is a LOT of 'olelo Hawai'i (Hawaiian language) in this book without any translation or glossary. That means that there will be some readers left out of the dialogue. I grew up in Hawai'i and grew up around the language and I still had some challenges with understanding the context of some phrases.

[Megan Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fantastic. I love a story set in Hawaii that shows the real Hawaii and not the vacation version. This was such a beautiful story of the many forms of family and being happy with where you are with a touch of magical realism. So good.

[Kate M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

learned a lot about native Hawaiian culture. all the same, kind of predictable

[alicebme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for Sequim bingo, and it’s been a while since I’ve read a middle grade book. The voice and the topics are so naturally written. Just a great book!

[reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very sweet story with a lot of heart and a wonderful cast of characters. I loved Tutu and her silly personality. I felt the love she had for her family and land so strongly. Kumu Maka was a wonderful surprise and I loved that they were a part of this story.

There's a lot of culture shown in the book and it was great how prevalent it was with the story. But it gets overwhelming at times because the story is so dense with the language and cultural parts it was trying to teach readers that some of it doesn't stick unless you reread over and over again. The way nature is interweaved in the story was lovely and I loved learning about all the plants and animals. I could see the islands and the water while I was reading.

Almost deducted a star for the Taylor Swift reference and the strange normalization of the US government at parts. For example: Clara's mother being in the military and her chasing that dream and leaving the island and never coming back even for her family depicted as admirable.

This was a really heartwarming middlegrade with complex relationships written simply and with heart for children and adults alike.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Clara lives with her Tūtū (grandmother) on O'ahu, up in the mountains, where there is a small family farm. Her parents are divorced; her mother is with the army in Alaska and her father has moved to Arizona for his job, and has just gotten engaged to Steph, who is from Maui. Clara had been best friends with Leo for years, but after his father passed away, the two had a falling out that ended with him accidentally spilling milk on her sketchbook, ruining an entire summer of memories. Not only that, but mean boys in the class started calling her "Milky Mouse" that changed into "Baby Mouse". Clara has been trying to convince her father to let her move to Arizona so she can start over where people won't make fun of her. On the school bus the first day of 6th grade, she meets Pua, who is new to the area, and who is determined to befriend Clara despite her objections. Clara's father has sent her supplies for whittling, a hobby he enjoys, and while looking for something to create, she brings out the family's 'umeke, an heirloom bowl. While holding it, she wishes that she could understand boys. Soon, her head is loud with everything the boys around her are thinking! She tells Pua about this, and the two try to find a way that they can use this power against the boys, who are often mean to them. Clara has to work on a project for school with Titus and Denny, and finds out that Denny isn't as bad as she thinks. She also runs further afoul of Leo by throwing his hat out of the bus window when another classmate, Michelle, wants to get his attention. Clara can also experience the past of people when she touches objects belonging to them, and tries to do this with one of her father's shirts to find a way to convince him to let her move. When Tūtū has an asthma attack that lands her in the hospital, Clara's father comes home and plans to move her and Tūtū to Arizona very soon. After learning more about her family's past and her own gifts that connect her to her home, is this what Clara really wants?
Strengths: The thing I love most about reading books set in places I have never experienced is the small details; Clara has to ride the school bus for a long time and THEN has a two mile hike up the mountain to get home! I loved that, especially when contrasted with things like the dread group project that most students DO experience. There's plenty of friend and family drama, and Clara's determination to leave home so that Life Is Better is a universal feeling, captured best in Kavafy's THE CITY, one of my favorite poems. (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem...) The magical ability that her family has manifests itself in different ways in different members of her family; Tūtū hears plants and her father can hear the voices of those who want to fly away, which is hard to deal with at airports. The O'ahu setting is fascinating, and there are great descriptions of the landscape and plants, so reading this in January in Ohio was like a mini vacation!
Weaknesses: There were many words and phrases that weren't explained, and it would have been helpful to have a glossary of them in the back. In the E ARC, Tūtū appeared as T?t?, but I would hope that would be cleared up in the published e book.
What I really think: There are very few books set in Hawaii, but there are two other fantasies, Maunakea's Lei and the Fire Goddess in the setti(https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...) and Aslan's The Islands at the End of the World (https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...) Bustard's Anywhere But Paradise (https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...) is realistic fiction, but from the point of view of a white girl instead of an indigenous Hawaiian. I'd love to see more stories that showcase this area and its culture.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story opens during the daily hour-long school bus ride on the north shore of O'ahu, Hawaii, where sixth-grader Clara first meets Pua, a new girl in town, who is immediately subjected to the same cruel teasing that tormented Clara the year before. Clara is not only powerless to stop it, she is also barely able to offer Pua any solace of camaraderie, being unsure if showing her kindness would only make it worse.

That storyline continues in a predictable manner; her best friend (who is also her cousin) has shut her out, and they haven't spoken in months. A second thread quickly emerges of Clara wanting to "solve" this ostracism by leaving Hawaii to join her father in Arizona, and this becomes another repeated chorus.

Then meek, humbled Clara takes decisive action, using a family heirloom - an umeke, which is a carved wooden bowl with purported special communication powers - she asks, "Umeke, what are boys thinking?" and she asks it both in English and in Hawaiian 'olelo Hawai'i.

From that point on, she can hear boys' thoughts.

Which is an odd focus for the story, when the author specifically mentions the presence in Hawaiian culture of people who are neither all-boy nor all-girl. It only seems to work for boys close to her age - not adults nor teens...with an exception; if she is holding an object that was dear to a grown man when he was young, she "falls into" a vision of their childhood.

The thoughts create an overwhelming noise for Clara, and they are not particularly compelling, for the most part, which might explain why she is colossally BAD at guessing how she might use the knowledge and awareness she receives. After a short period of adjustment, Clara *tries* to use what she hears to help either herself or others, but she misunderstands, misjudges, jumps to conclusions, and makes bad guesses multiple times, even after she shares her secret with Pua and receives some advice from various people.

It is Clara's ordinary capabilities that help her save her grandma when there is a health emergency, and help her come up with a plan to gather people together as friends to break the petty cycle of verbal and physical abuse in her 6th-grade cohort. This crescendo of effective action finally clarifies what matters to her.

Little flaws in the book, which include an entire bus of 6th graders, no other grades; a bus driver who is hyper-sensitive on some days & totally clueless on the other days; dropped promises without repercussions (Clara never told her grandma to call her classmates' parents, but they showed up anyway; family disconnection that is instantly mended w/o any apology or explanation) are unlikely to detract from young readers appreciation of the catchy concept (hearing thoughts), the strong, detailed setting, and the authentic sample of Hawaiian island pride.

[T.J. Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Clairboyance" is a really sweet middle grade novel about friendships and family that managed to feel fresh to me even though it includes many of the typical themes and tropes of contemporary middle grade fiction, like bullying and struggles with identity. The unique setting and Clara's unconventional family structure added zest, and I love a strong, sassy grandma character. Tūtū was fantastic.

Premise:
Clara lives with her Tūtū on O'ahu, in the same small home where her father grew up. After moving around a lot for her mother's career, Clara had originally loved settling with family in her native Hawai'i, but it doesn't feel so welcoming anymore. Her best friend Leo has abandoned her; the other kids in her sixth grade class are calling her Baby Mouse, and she just wants to move to Arizona to live with her father and his girlfriend and start over. She wishes on a family heirloom to understand what boys are thinking and is shocked the next day to find out that her wish has come true: she is being bombarded by all the thoughts of the boys on her bus, in her classrooms, and in the hallways at school! Can she use this newfound power to fix her relationship with Leo and convince her father to let her move? Does she even really want to leave Hawai'i?

I really appreciated how Kahakauwila handled Clara's complicated family dynamic. She lives with her grandmother; her parents are divorced; her father announces he is engaged to his girlfriend; her mother lives in Alaska for her job. But they are still a strong, loving, connected family who take care of each other. Throughout the book, Clara frequently calls, texts, and video chats with her parents, and her father rushes to her side when things get rough. I also really loved learning more about Hawaiian culture, particularly the languages and the importance of the family taro plots and poi.

The magical elements of the plot were fun, although it did not end up playing out as humorously as I expected from the description. Clara can read boys' minds, but Kahakauwila doesn't make it silly. (I was expecting a lot more scatological humor. There was almost none.) Mostly, Clara learns that everyone experiences self-doubt and worries, and the realization increases her empathy and openness to new relationships. I did wish for a little more background about how this family magic came to be.

I thought the audiobook narrator did a great job with the accents and the Hawaiian pidgin, which was fun to be able to hear.

While "Clairboyance" is not groundbreaking, it was overall a very fun and heartwarming read. Easy on the ears, easy on the heart. I will recommend it to my 9yo daughter.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clara, who is indigenous Hawaiian, lives with her tutu on O'ahu. Her parents are divorced, with her mother now in Alaska, and her father in Arizona. This school year has been so rough on Clara--she lost her best friend when he betrayed her and joined the popular kids--that she's been begging her dad to let her come live in Arizona with him. At Tutu's house, there's a family artifact that apparently has special powers. While testing it to see if it will make her tutu and her dad argue less, Clara accidentally wishes she could hear what boys are thinking--and her wish is granted! It's...not as wonderful as she expected. She keeps thinking she can use her powers for good, but just messes things up more, both for herself and others. Maybe just talking to people would be better? As the fall progresses, Clara learns more about her family's connection to the land, and what it would mean to leave it for good--especially for Tutu. Maybe she was too hasty in wanting to leave?

I don't know that I've ever read a book from an indigenous Hawaiian perspective, so I really appreciated the representation here. And I'm always interested in peoples' connection to their homelands, so I loved seeing that be a big part of the story. I also appreciated that while reading boys' thoughts was sometimes helpful, often just talking and listening were more powerful tools for understanding. And boy am I glad Clara could only read surface thoughts, and that the boys are still pretty young! The descriptions were wonderful and built the world well. Lots of great info here about how to deal with friend drama, and how to look at the world from someone else's perspective.

[Dest · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the premise (a girl can suddenly hear boys' thoughts) I thought this would be funny or even bawdy (I mean, they are 6th graders). But it was actually very earnest and heartfelt in tone.

Because I love Oahu I enjoyed this a lot. I think it will mainly appeal to young readers who enjoy emotional, character-driven stories. The magical powers aspect reminded me a bit of Savvy. But a better overall read-alike is Merci Suárez Changes Gears. Both books have a very lovable grandparent in an important supporting role.

The main conflict is that Clara has had a falling out with her best friend that is so bad she wants to leave Hawaii and move to Arizona where he dad lives. Her journey is about reconnecting with her friend and appreciating her Hawaiian heritage.

I listened to the audiobook, which was 95% great. The narrator had to be able to speak Hawaiian and Pidgin, which she did well. But there was an Australian character in the book as well and the narrator's Aussie accent was truly terrible, like cockney mixed with New Zealand mixed with randomness.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The main character finds herself with the unexpected ability to read the minds of every boy around her after a wish on an item important to her native Hawaiian culture. (Unfortunately, I do not remember the name of this item or how to spell it because I read the book as an audiobook and never saw it written down.) This ability comes to her at a time of crossroads. She lives in Hawaii with her grandmother, having moved there with her father after her parents split. Her father now lives in Arizona because jobs on the mainland pay far more and the family needs that income to make ends meet on the island. The main character wants to move to Arizona to live with her father again and have a permanent home after years of moving around. (Her mother serves in the military so before her parents divorced, the family moved frequently.) She also wants a chance ot start over with friends because an incident at the start of the school year abruptly ended a super close friendship. Even though the main character can read minds, I do not really consider this a fantasy, primarily because this ability comes "naturally" from her native Hawaiian heritage. I found the story wholesome and quite enjoyable.

[Emily Haage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle school woes and changing family dynamics mix with magical realism in this engaging story.

Loved:
-plot: girl wishes on a family heirloom to hear what boys are thinking; wish comes true!
-characters: protagonist Clara and her classmates/friends (especially Denny & Pua) and Clara’s Tutu were highlights
-representation: blended families, single parent families, LGBTQ+ characters, death of parent, families living apart, etc.
-setting: somehow I have never read a contemporary novel (for any age) set in O’ahu or any other Hawaiian island. Beautifully descriptive and so in tune with the natural surroundings.

This is probably a great book to listen to if you are unfamiliar with the Hawaiian language. I wish there had been definitions and pronunciation guides included, but I was definitely inspired to research the history of Hawai’i. Kids who are also unfamiliar with the language and culture may struggle a bit with the pidgin at times, but the story is compelling enough to keep them going.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since the beginning of this 6th grade year, Clara has felt like an outsider. Her drawings of her summer spent on the mainland with her father brought teasing from the popular girl, a mean nickname for Clara, and the loss of her best friend, Leo. She loves living in Hawaii with her grandmother Tūtū, but with no friends at school, she wishes her dad would just let her move in with him in Phoenix. Tired of the teasing of the bus, Clara tells a family heirloom she wished she knew what boys were thinking, suddenly, her wish is granted.

I was intrigued by the premise and expected Clairboyance to be funny. It's a serious story about family, culture, loss, grief and change. There were a lot of Hawaiian words and phrases, as well as English spoken in the Hawaiian dialect. With no glossary or help provided, it's certain Kahakauwila wrote Clairboyance for a Hawaiian reader. While I think the average student would enjoy the story, I struggled with the code switching and worry that young readers will too.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle grade friendships are hard. Lately I have been reading a slew of books about friend break ups and changing friend groups and this is another good one. Clara and her best friend Leo have been on the outs since the beginning of the school year. She feels like she doesn't have any friends left at school and wants to move out of Hawaii to the mainland to live with her dad in Arizona. Her mom is stationed in Alaska and Clara has been living with her grandmother. Clara starts to become friendly with new girl Pua, but still feels like she doesn't belong at school. When Clara makes a wish to know what boys are thinking, and then is bombarded by their thoughts, so hopes that she can use this new gift to improve things. But can she? Or will she just keep making a bigger mess of everything? Recommended for grades 4 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

[Rebecca Shelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Clairboyance" is a delightful middle-grade novel blending realistic fiction with a touch of magical realism. Clara’s accidental wish to hear boys' thoughts leads to unexpected challenges and heartfelt (sometimes funny) moments as she navigates the complexities of friendship, family, and identity.

The story shines with its rich portrayal of Hawaiian culture and life on O‘ahu, offering readers a vibrant and educational backdrop. The character development is well-crafted, with Clara’s journey of self-discovery and understanding adding emotional depth.

The audiobook format enhances the experience with authentic pronunciations and lyrical narration, making it an engaging and immersive read. A charming and thoughtful story, it earns a solid 4 out of 5 for its cultural richness and heartfelt writing.

[Melissa Nuland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I borrowed this because I needed something to listen to while catching up on chores & was pleasantly surprised with how good this middle grade novel was! The story follows Claira, a girl who gets powers that enable her to read the minds of the boys at her school. I enjoyed the message about friendship, talking about hard things, & actively listening to others rather than simply guessing or rushing to fix situations. The history and culture of the Hawaiian islands was really interesting too! I enjoyed how the author wove in the native language of indigenous peoples as well as dialects that have formed over decades. The connection to the land and the way people live in community were key themes as well.

CW: one bus driver used they/them pronouns & plays an important role in the story

[Dulcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Clairboyance by Kristiana Kahakauwila is a cute, fun story about a girl in Hawai’i who wishes she can read the minds of boys. She makes the wish on her grandmother’s ‘umeke and falls asleep. The next morning when she wakes up, she discovers her wish came true! Follow her escapades as she learns how to use her gift for good after a very rough start. This book is targeted towards upper elementary readers and introduces many Hawaiian phrases to the reader. I loved the way the author mixed traditional Hawaiian folklore about birds with a modern storyline.
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to write a review. Clairboyance is currently for sale at your favorite bookstore. #goodreads #harpercollins

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clara is having a miserable 6th grade. Her best friend spilled milk on her sketchbook and didn’t even apologize and now his friends are calling her mean names and making fun of her. She lives in Hawaii with her grandmother and just wants to move to Arizona to live with her Dad to get away from middle school drama. When she makes a wish on her grandmother’s umeke, a special wooden bowl, she discovers she can hear what boys are thinking and access their memories. When her grandmother has a medical crisis, Clara has to decide what she really wants. This is a story of family told with warmth and humor.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing it and because I remember it being featured during the YMAs, I probably would have liked to have the audiobook with so much native Hawaiian in it because I like to hear/pronounce the words correctly which I know I'm not doing when I read it on the page. Either way, it's a middle grade about navigating the ins and outs of friendships and what home means.

Of course "fixing" the problems gets Clara into more trouble however she moves through the situation with lessons learned (especially when she wishes to be able to hear what people are thinking and that's literally what's she's able to do with boys-- enter a dose of fun magical realism to be careful what you wish for!)

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clairboyance is a fun debut middle grade novel from native Hawaiian author Kristiana Kahakauwila. A quick and cute read, the book follows Clara after she develops the abilities to hear boys' thoughts. It includes important middle grade themes, such as navigating middle school social dynamics, friendship, family, and identity. I would recommend this to my students who enjoy realistic fiction (with a touch of magic).

[Jennybeast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous -- I love the seamless integration of languages, the Indigenous mindset of Land as Family at the heart of the story, and the emphasis on listening in many ways. Clara and her Tutu and her classmates are all great characters, and I love how the plotline makes it possible to see that most of the boys she 'overhears' are as human as anyone else and generally not as unkind as she thinks they are. Gentle and beautiful.

[Kauʻi Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first chapter book about the Native Hawaiian experience of its kind, loaded with heart and cultural authenticity. Most of the mainstream books set in Hawaiʻi focus on the settler experience and/or the settler perspective, even if the MCs are supposed to be Kānaka Maoli. This book is a gift to all of Hawai’i and the world at large. A great read for all ages, especially the upper elementary and middle grade crowds. Thank you for the dignified representation, Kristiana Kahakauwila! ❤️

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This MG novel is a beautiful representation of the Hawaiian people. It is rich in imagery, language, and culture. I think this is a great edition to any library! My only concern is that the dialogue was pretty tricky to read at times. The characters not only speak in traditional English, but ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and Pidgin as well. If you are not familiar with those languages, it can be difficult to read fluently and understand.

[Jen Nishi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this one. Excellent message about listening and communicating with our friends without it being preachy or didactic. It was funny and sweet and heartwarming all at once. I loved the pidgin Hawaiian Dialect that characters spoke in. Loved the indigenous Hawaiian language used throughout. We need more Hawaiian voices in kids lit.

[Geetha · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Kahakauwila’s book of short stories, I wanted more! A middle grades novel is definitely a different genre, but Kahakauwila still writes the same complexity, layers, thoughtfulness, and well-woven themes. She captures lots of themes of early adolescence while, at least for me as a non-Hawaiian, teaching me a lot.

[Rebecca Lowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Middle school appropriate. It was really neat to read about someone growing up part of the culture of Hawaii. The book was incredibly lush and rooted in the culture. It was beautiful and vivid. The sense of community was wonderful. A warm cozy read.

[Amber Wessies Owrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story about a girl who can hear boys' thoughts. However, it is deeper than that as Clara learns how to mend friendships, about her home and culture, how to listen, and speak up for herself.

I do wish there had been a glossary translating the 'Ōlelo Hawaiʻi.

[Marissa Spear · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars for sure. I really loved this MG contemporary with a fantasy twist from a Native Hawaiian author. Clara was messy and earnest in all the ways a middle schooler is and I couldn’t help but root for her to find her way.