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In 1893, seven year old Rachel Kalama is enjoying life with her parents and three siblings. One day, her mother notices a rash on her leg and her life changes instantly. When the rash doesn't go away, her mother dresses her up in long skirts and shoes. A fight with her sister at school reveals the secret they have been trying to hide. Rachel has leprosy. Because Hawaiians were particularly susceptible to the disease, the government took drastic steps to contain it. Those infected were isolated f
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As amazing as I expected based on my experience with his other Hawaii History based novel.
I hadn't known about there being a "leper" colony in Hawaii. Probably because I was born after effective medicines were found to weaken the virus and allow people's immune systems to finish it off.
Thanks to Brennert's very detailed research (recounted at the end of the book, and obvious with the attention to details in the story), the reader is drawn into the setting and feels that they're right there wit ...more
I hadn't known about there being a "leper" colony in Hawaii. Probably because I was born after effective medicines were found to weaken the virus and allow people's immune systems to finish it off.
Thanks to Brennert's very detailed research (recounted at the end of the book, and obvious with the attention to details in the story), the reader is drawn into the setting and feels that they're right there wit ...more
4.5 heart-rending, deeply moving stars.
The exact definition of health, as per stated by the World Health Organisation is as such:
"Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of any disease or infirmity."
I used to ponder a lot on this very statement before; the physical and mental sections are something we can well relate to, but why does the broad definition include social well-being? Yeah, there is the prospect of untouchabi ...more
The exact definition of health, as per stated by the World Health Organisation is as such:
"Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of any disease or infirmity."
I used to ponder a lot on this very statement before; the physical and mental sections are something we can well relate to, but why does the broad definition include social well-being? Yeah, there is the prospect of untouchabi ...more
Excellent book, I learned, I cried and I cared about the unfortunate people who were sent to Moloka'i when the government found out that they had Leprosy or Hansen's Disease. Children seperated from parents and family, kept in poor conditions and dying with only fellow lepers and a few staff members for company.
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Apr 19, 2015
Chris Torretta
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Sushicat
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Jul 10, 2019
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