Moloka’i

By: Alan Brennert

Narrated by: Anne Noelani Miyamoto

Length: 17 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

The powerful debut novel from Alan Brennert, Moloka’i tells the story of Rachel Kalama, a seven-year-old Hawaiian girl who contracts leprosy and is quarantined on the island of Moloka’i during the 1890s. Separated from her family and forced to grow up in the leper colony of Kalaupapa, Rachel experiences intense isolation. But she remains strong, finding moments of joy, and even love. Rich in Hawaiian history, this novel proves itself a stellar piece of historical fiction.

©2003 Alan Brennert (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“Compellingly original … Brennert’s compassion makes Rachel a memorable character, and his smooth storytelling vividly brings early twentieth-century Hawaii to life.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Excellent Historical fiction

I had never heard of the history of Moloka'i. it sounded just as a pretty Hawaiian word, yet it has such a deep feeling of loss and simultaneous growth to me now. Rachel Kalama will forever live in my heart. This book is wonderful at expressing emotions yet not clouding the reader's judgement. It is genuinely beautiful.

Engaging account with lush descriptions

The characters are alive in this historical novel describing the life of a woman first diagnosed and sent to a leper colony as a young girl. It spans the time from absolute repulsion at the diagnosis to treatment and return to society. Excellently narrated and connected to world events.

Best in a Long Time

Lately I have been going through a dry spell of books I have not really enjoyed. My book club chose this title and despite the good reviews, I was reluctant. The story was interesting from the start. Narration was superb with a talented inclusion of accents and differentiation between characters. We follow Rachel through the normal up's and down's of anyone's life. Hers were, of course, slightly different than usual but there is the story. She was separated from family at an early age but connected with others soon after. When that connection was lost, other loved ones filled her life. She had teenage rebelliousness. She sought out love an had some failures. She married and had a child. Her husband died. And she continued on to fulfill her dreams that she had held on to through it all. I didn't want it to end but when it did, I was satisfied. I look forward to reading additional works by Mr. Brennert.

Such an amazing read!

I ended up reading Moloka'i because my dad was reading it and it sounded interesting. I'm so glad I did. I have read over 250 books in the past year and this is right at the top. The story is so deep and rich and historically accurate and I truly cannot recommend it high enough. Moloka'i is well worth buying/using your credit to buy.

Good listen

A little long but very educational and enjoyable. I knew embarrassingly little about the leper colony in Hawaii or anywhere else.

One of my favorites

I read this book some time ago and had suggested it for my book club. Instead of reading I decided to listen to it instead. So glad I made that decision the book was even better narrated by a Hawaiian. The story is very moving and inspiring. I've now listened to the book multiple times and it is just as engrossing and enjoyable!

Beautiful story with remarkable characters!

What an amazing story with a believable protagonist. I enjoyed learning about this colony and felt like all of the main characters were well-developed. The Audible narrator was outstanding in her pronunciation of Hawaiian words and phrases and her conveying the right tones in the dialogues.

Lepers in Paradise

Loving everything Hawaiian as I do, this novel is a realistic ice wash for the romance associated with the islands. Following the experience of a Hawaiian girl who contracts leprosy in the late 19th century leading to her deportation to the isolated colony on Molokai, the author describes all things Hawaiian during the period from colonization to independence, then a territory and finally a state. The racial and religious tensions, prejudices, and acceptance are part of this engaging story. Written for a female audience interested in the emotional context of the personal and social tragedies associated with the disease, set in an exotic location during an amazing century, "Molokai" entertains, educates and enlightens the listener about many unfamiliar things. Now I'm going to do some research on leprosy...

Great story...

Loved listening to this book, I usually read but listening while working is a nice alternative. Can’t wait to hear the next one!

Brought me to tears

I spent the majority of my childhood on Oahu but I've largely been away since then. I grew up occasionally hearing anecdotes of the leper colony and of Father Damien, but I had never really learned much beyond those. This piece of historical fiction, which draws heavily on true accounts of the colony and of the people who lived there, was great for helping me develop a better understanding of how it came to be, how it was run, and how it affected the lives of those who went there as patients and caregivers.
And that's just the backdrop.
Now, let's talk about Rachel Kalama, whose life story is painted across that backdrop, from a very young age until the end of a full and amazing life. We meet her as a young child with a bit of a rebellious streak. We watch her rage against the terrible misfortune that befalls her, sink into despair as distance strains and even breaks her family ties, explore new surroundings, make new friends, find love, again experience tragedy, and ultimately find redemption and fullness in unexpected ways.
I cried at the end of this story, but only for a minute, because the truth is, most of us would be lucky to live a life as rich as the one this character makes for herself within such confines as Kalaupapa permits.
In short, this story is an epic portrayal of a life well lived against all odds. I absolutely loved it and I recommend it without hesitation to anyone.