Daughter of Moloka'i

By: Alan Brennert

Narrated by: Tamlyn Tomita

Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

The highly anticipated sequel to Alan Brennert’s acclaimed book club favorite, and national best seller, Moloka'i

Alan Brennert’s beloved novel Moloka'i, currently has over 600,000 copies in print. This companion tale tells the story of Ruth, the daughter that Rachel Kalama - quarantined for most of her life at the isolated leprosy settlement of Kalaupapa - was forced to give up at birth.

The book follows young Ruth from her arrival at the Kapi'olani Home for Girls in Honolulu to her adoption by a Japanese couple who raise her on a strawberry and grape farm in California, her marriage and unjust internment at Manzanar Relocation Camp during World War II - and then, after the war, to the life-altering day when she receives a letter from a woman who says she is Ruth’s birth mother, Rachel.

Daughter of Moloka'i expands upon Ruth and Rachel’s 22-year relationship, only hinted at in Moloka'i. It’s a richly emotional tale of two women - different in some ways, similar in others - who never expected to meet, much less come to love, one another. And for Ruth, it is a story of discovery, the unfolding of a past she knew nothing about. Told in vivid, evocative prose that conjures up the beauty and history of both Hawaiian and Japanese cultures, it’s the powerful and poignant tale that listeners of Moloka'i have been awaiting for 15 years.

©2019 Alan Brennert (P)2019 Recorded Books

Good, but less so than the original

This is the sequel to Moloka'i, which I enjoyed. But this one seems to need a little editing. There are sometimes just too many details and too many people coming and going to have lunch with each other. It would have been great at about 2/3 the length. But with that said, it is interesting and captures a challenging period in US history. Narrator overdid the accents and some of the voices were a little strange.

great sequel

I was very happy to finally get all the details of Ruth life away from Rachel, and was so happy the found each other again

Historical fiction

This was interesting and a great perspective on relocation camps and adoption of a young girl.

A Remarkable Saga

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It's a story especially appreciated in audible format, because the narrator is so good at telling it! She has a lovely voice, with just the right tone, timbre, language and accent, to bring this remarkable family saga alive. What a time in American history.. quite apropos to read now, in light of the present turmoil over immigration. I couldn't put it down!

Absolutely Wonderful

A touching story that points to all that is real and true. Wonderfully written with a tender narration that’s adds so much.

Fan of Alan Brennart's Molokai

A fan of the author. Read Honolulu and Molakai when I was younger. This is Ruth's story from when she was in an orphanage, to her adoption, her life growing up with adopted Japanese parents, their move to America, love, how the war impacted the Japanese-Americans, reconnection with her birth mother, and lost of loved ones. This was alot to stake in and cover but I enjoyed listening to the story.

a good sequel

I would have given 5 stars if not for the final 2 chapters. too much syrup. excellent Hawaiian native culture references.

Absolutely perfect

I will treasure this book forever. An incredible follow-up to the first book Molokai. I was so happy to get to follow more of Rachel's life and family through Ruth. It also opened my eyes to a dark part of history regarding the Japanese internment camps. I have developed a new respect for the Hawaiian and Japanese cultures and what it means to be family. I thought the performance for the audible version was excellent. I highly recommend this series of books.

beautiful story

this is an excellent book. loved all the history of Hawaiians and Japanese. Great follow up to Molokai

Heart warming story!

This beautiful story completes the saga of Rachel and her daughter Ruth. An emotional read requiring a box of Kleenex handy as you experience the emotions between mother and daughter!