What do you think?
Rate this book
Running from Moloka`i
Hawaii, 1884. While the rest of the world is jubilantly expanding horizons, for Hawaiians it is the worst of times. Painful enough that they have already lost so much: their land, their rights — even their royalty are dying out. Now something else is taking the native population to the brink of collapse as another deadly disease — this, too brought by foreigners — is burning through the islands. Hawaiians and foreigners are divided to the core over what to do with those who, with no immunity, have contracted leprosy. Strangely enough, Hawaiians — in a manner almost unheard of around the world — don’t fear the disease like foreigners do. Instead, for the most part, they embrace those who have contracted the disease: “Our loved ones” they call them. Hawaiians typically want their lepers at home where they will be loved and can die with dignity. But foreigners make the laws in the late 1800’s in Hawaii, and they want the lepers gone — exiled to a small, remote peninsula on the island of Moloka’i. This is a gut-kick to the Hawaiians. Everything they cherish is slipping away, but this? Sick loved ones being torn from their arms? This they cannot bear.
Quietly, spoken only in whispers, something else, too, is happening on all the islands. Most with the disease are sent away — but not all. Almost no reference of it will be made in history books or in stacks of historical archives: on all the islands, wrapped in a protective silence, some of those with the disease are being hidden. Some in caves and cane fields, others in lava tunnels. Some in backyard sheds. It’s a quiet underground…of sorts. This loving veil of silence was the only protection from the health authorities and the sheriff. A ruthless bounty hunter was paid ten dollars per leper…enough to buy a good pair of boots.
In this painful and sadly true historical setting comes the tender fictional story of fifteen-year-old Mele Bennett, whose family must face their own heated conflict over this issue. Mele’s Hawaiian mother stands tall on the side of Hawaiians. “Without family,” she says,” we have nothing!” Mele’s white father is a physician who is adamant that “every last leper!” must be separated and sent to Moloka’i for the safety of the remaining Hawaiians: “If we don’t control this disease,” he says, “there won’t BE any families!”
Mele longs for a moment that will define her. She wants a shiny moment, like when the firebrand is tossed over the cliff and lights up the night sky! But her moment is not shiny. She could not have foreseen the power of greed or the tenacity of hatred; the anguished secret of Keahi, the island boy she has loved since childhood — one tiny patch of discolored skin on a shoulder, and your life is pau, finished.
The story of Mele and Keahi has as many facets as a gem, as many chambers as a heart. It is the story of young love, of a fragmented family finding itself anew even as betrayal nicks at its soul. Mele Bennett is the strong female character to step forward in such times. Her story reveals the best and the worst of humanity: our capacity for compassion and our penchant for cruelty.
“Unless your heart is made of ice,” writes a reviewer, “you will likely enjoy this story.” Step into the unfolding of her world as only Mele can tell it: rich and painful and life-giving in this extraordinary period in Hawaiian history. "Running from Moloka’i" tells the untold story. Suitable for YA or adults.
Quietly, spoken only in whispers, something else, too, is happening on all the islands. Most with the disease are sent away — but not all. Almost no reference of it will be made in history books or in stacks of historical archives: on all the islands, wrapped in a protective silence, some of those with the disease are being hidden. Some in caves and cane fields, others in lava tunnels. Some in backyard sheds. It’s a quiet underground…of sorts. This loving veil of silence was the only protection from the health authorities and the sheriff. A ruthless bounty hunter was paid ten dollars per leper…enough to buy a good pair of boots.
In this painful and sadly true historical setting comes the tender fictional story of fifteen-year-old Mele Bennett, whose family must face their own heated conflict over this issue. Mele’s Hawaiian mother stands tall on the side of Hawaiians. “Without family,” she says,” we have nothing!” Mele’s white father is a physician who is adamant that “every last leper!” must be separated and sent to Moloka’i for the safety of the remaining Hawaiians: “If we don’t control this disease,” he says, “there won’t BE any families!”
Mele longs for a moment that will define her. She wants a shiny moment, like when the firebrand is tossed over the cliff and lights up the night sky! But her moment is not shiny. She could not have foreseen the power of greed or the tenacity of hatred; the anguished secret of Keahi, the island boy she has loved since childhood — one tiny patch of discolored skin on a shoulder, and your life is pau, finished.
The story of Mele and Keahi has as many facets as a gem, as many chambers as a heart. It is the story of young love, of a fragmented family finding itself anew even as betrayal nicks at its soul. Mele Bennett is the strong female character to step forward in such times. Her story reveals the best and the worst of humanity: our capacity for compassion and our penchant for cruelty.
“Unless your heart is made of ice,” writes a reviewer, “you will likely enjoy this story.” Step into the unfolding of her world as only Mele can tell it: rich and painful and life-giving in this extraordinary period in Hawaiian history. "Running from Moloka’i" tells the untold story. Suitable for YA or adults.
280 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2020
93 people are currently reading
2985 people want to read
About the author
Jill P. Anderson
2 books38 followersHome is the great Pacific Northwest. Because I love all things water, (nice because we do get rain!) it's a perfect place for creating, whether writing or doing digital art in Photoshop. My other interests include psychology, philosophy and natural approaches to healing. My favorite authors at the moment: Jojo Moyes, Barbara O'Neal, Kristin Hannah. Life paths not taken:
Landscape design, Architect, Naturopathic Medicine, Professional Ice Skater, Movie Director, Favorite sport: Pickleball. Favorite foods: Artichokes, ice cream, and remember that String Bean Casserole...?
Landscape design, Architect, Naturopathic Medicine, Professional Ice Skater, Movie Director, Favorite sport: Pickleball. Favorite foods: Artichokes, ice cream, and remember that String Bean Casserole...?
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 7, 2021
“At one moment we are being defined, and in the next moment we are defining.”
Honolulu, 1884. Mele has always believed her father, a white physician, can fix anything. When she starts public school, however, she sees the impact of a dreadful disease sweeping through her nation: leprosy. While her father’s blood gives her an immunity to the disease, Mele begins to question her father’s role in sending those affected by the disease to the Moloka’i leper colony. As families are ripped apart, children torn from their mothers’ arms, witnessing the fate of a boy she’s never met flips Mele’s sheltered world upside-down and calls her to take action.
Running from Moloka’i is the strongly felt coming-of-age story about Mele, a 15-year-old girl who faces hard truths about how her culture is being treated by men who look like her father. The main and side characters are all struggling with or affected by some aspect of this disease process, making each person an important and captivating piece of the overall narrative. Torn between a white father and a Hawaiian mother, Mele provides a compassionate narrative voice as she struggles to reconcile the part she should play in her dual world. The setting is charming and vivid. The narrative is pleasantly saturated with Hawaiian culture, particularly with regard to prose construction, illustrating a sublime respect for cultural rituals and ideals. Shining a light upon the injustices Hawaiian people suffered due to the leprosy outbreak and colonization, Anderson brings to life an emotional story of sacrifice, hope, and family. Highly recommended.
Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
Honolulu, 1884. Mele has always believed her father, a white physician, can fix anything. When she starts public school, however, she sees the impact of a dreadful disease sweeping through her nation: leprosy. While her father’s blood gives her an immunity to the disease, Mele begins to question her father’s role in sending those affected by the disease to the Moloka’i leper colony. As families are ripped apart, children torn from their mothers’ arms, witnessing the fate of a boy she’s never met flips Mele’s sheltered world upside-down and calls her to take action.
Running from Moloka’i is the strongly felt coming-of-age story about Mele, a 15-year-old girl who faces hard truths about how her culture is being treated by men who look like her father. The main and side characters are all struggling with or affected by some aspect of this disease process, making each person an important and captivating piece of the overall narrative. Torn between a white father and a Hawaiian mother, Mele provides a compassionate narrative voice as she struggles to reconcile the part she should play in her dual world. The setting is charming and vivid. The narrative is pleasantly saturated with Hawaiian culture, particularly with regard to prose construction, illustrating a sublime respect for cultural rituals and ideals. Shining a light upon the injustices Hawaiian people suffered due to the leprosy outbreak and colonization, Anderson brings to life an emotional story of sacrifice, hope, and family. Highly recommended.
Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
July 9, 2021
The coming of age story takes place during the 1880s when leprosy and other diseases wiped out countless Hawaiians after American, European, Asian, and other colonizers went to the islands and interfered with their culture, politics, history, and legislation. The main character, Mele, is hapa Haole, or half white; her father is a white American doctor who pledged his life to his wife, family, and the health of the Hawaiian people. The story is pretty honest about the effect colonizers had/have on Hawaiian culture and lifestyle and how they tried to convert natives to their religions, norms, and values, without honoring the customs of generations of local families. This book should be categorized as YA Historical Fiction.
November 23, 2023
Hawaii 1884
If you're looking for a book about the leper colony on Molokai, and there are many, this isn't it. But, this is a beautifully written book that illustrates how the policies for treating leprosy in Hawaii tore at the very soul of the Hawaiian people. The author's descriptions of the Hawaiian culture, flora and fauna, and traditions are exquisite. The fact that 90% of the Hawaiian population died from diseases brought by foreigners in less than a hundred years is incomprehensible. I felt their pain on each page. This book gives a rare look at Hawaii in 1884 and it was a privilege to read it.
"It is hard to say goodbye when you know you will never see someone again."
If you're looking for a book about the leper colony on Molokai, and there are many, this isn't it. But, this is a beautifully written book that illustrates how the policies for treating leprosy in Hawaii tore at the very soul of the Hawaiian people. The author's descriptions of the Hawaiian culture, flora and fauna, and traditions are exquisite. The fact that 90% of the Hawaiian population died from diseases brought by foreigners in less than a hundred years is incomprehensible. I felt their pain on each page. This book gives a rare look at Hawaii in 1884 and it was a privilege to read it.
"It is hard to say goodbye when you know you will never see someone again."
April 26, 2022
At first the book was confusing to follow with the narrator but I got use to it as I enjoyed the story and have little knowledge of this time frame and events/pandemic in Hawaii. Some parts make more since of why the characters were brought in when I read that some are actual historical figures in this history of events. The author could have done a better job of moving into different parts of the story like the arrival of keahi was confusing to me and the shooting was a little confusing of the event. Some better details I think would have helped in certain areas of the story. But overall I enjoyed the story and the history.
May 17, 2021
Well researched and well written
I lived on Oahu for three years, just like the author of this book. I have felt nostalgic for it ever since. I highly enjoyed being able to travel not only back to the island that I love, but also back in time. I did not know a lot about Moloka'i or leprosy before reading this story. I love learning something new without it taking away from the drama between the characters. I will be looking forward to reading more from this author. I hope she continues to set her stories in Hawai'i.
I lived on Oahu for three years, just like the author of this book. I have felt nostalgic for it ever since. I highly enjoyed being able to travel not only back to the island that I love, but also back in time. I did not know a lot about Moloka'i or leprosy before reading this story. I love learning something new without it taking away from the drama between the characters. I will be looking forward to reading more from this author. I hope she continues to set her stories in Hawai'i.
October 21, 2023
What was it like?
I was once asked why I had read a book with a very dark subject. My answer: I wondered what it was like to be that person. This is the sixth book I’ve read on experiences with leprosy, one set in the US, one in Norway, four about Moloka’i, including a biography of Fr Damien. This story of a young person, half white, half Hawaiian, illuminates the differences between cultures, the strain of living in both, of coming to terms with what is and how to respond with integrity.
I was once asked why I had read a book with a very dark subject. My answer: I wondered what it was like to be that person. This is the sixth book I’ve read on experiences with leprosy, one set in the US, one in Norway, four about Moloka’i, including a biography of Fr Damien. This story of a young person, half white, half Hawaiian, illuminates the differences between cultures, the strain of living in both, of coming to terms with what is and how to respond with integrity.
May 28, 2021
Won ARC through Goodreads. This book is set in the 1800’s. It moved a little slow for me but I also couldn’t put it down either. Shared this book with my Mom who is almost 90 and she said she really liked it.
July 4, 2021
I truly enjoyed the story. I felt like I was there with this family. Kept me wanting more and I love that it was set in such a different time than most historical fiction. I am looking forward to reading another book by J Anderson!
February 22, 2023
This had a good start but the ending was unsatisfying and a bit mystifying. I'm glad that someone is writing fiction about this phase of the epidemic, the early years of banishment and ghastly conditions at Kalaupapa. I wish Anderson had dug more deeply into what was going on in Moloka'i.
March 28, 2021
Wonderful historical novel dealing with a health crisis amidst a culture clash in a lush tropical setting.
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
July 31, 2022
Educational and entertaining
I throughly enjoyed reading this book, and learned more about leprosy than I thought I would. All in all, it was time well spent
I throughly enjoyed reading this book, and learned more about leprosy than I thought I would. All in all, it was time well spent
May 6, 2024
Honestly, I got pretty bored reading this book. I could not finish it.
May 23, 2022
I am not normally a historical fiction person but this book interested me because I absolutely adore Hawaii. I thought that this was an interesting story with a background that I didn’t know much about. Anderson wrote this book with a little bit of everything - historical facts, beautiful landscape, young adult themes and a little romance.
I enjoyed the characters and the coming-of-age drama that came alongside a pandemic in Hawaii. I thought that it was well written but at sometimes was a little confusing to follow along with.
Overall, I really loved the description of the landscape and the characters themselves. This was easily a 4-star read for me and I would recommend this indie book to others.
I enjoyed the characters and the coming-of-age drama that came alongside a pandemic in Hawaii. I thought that it was well written but at sometimes was a little confusing to follow along with.
Overall, I really loved the description of the landscape and the characters themselves. This was easily a 4-star read for me and I would recommend this indie book to others.
October 23, 2021
I am a huge fan of historical fiction and this novel held my attention from beginning to end. Ms. Anderson's descriptive writing style deftly captured the colorful, tropical island setting while sharply contrasting the struggles and sorrows faced by the Hawaiian people as seen through the eyes and experiences of young Mele. The fictional characters were very relatable and strong, and accepted the consequences of the choices they made. Thoughtful read for young and old alike.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews