canadajanes's review against another edition
3.0
Very enjoyable end of the world reading about a very unique place. Glad this book was written and that I read it!
bookcub's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
joolz_reads's review against another edition
5.0
***5 Stars***
Leilani Milton is a sixteen year old hapa girl living with her parents, brother, and grandfather in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai'i. She loves everything about her home-- the landscape, mythology, Hawaiian language, and surfing. However, she's an epileptic so she does have some disadvantages. At the beginning of the book, Lei and her father fly to the island of O'ahu so she can be tested for a new medication for her epilepsy, but not long after she is there, everything changes. Everything that runs on electricity stops, newer cars don't work, phones, laptops, and tvs have no service, and a huge tsunami hits the eastern coasts of the Hawaiian Islands. Oh, not to mention a giant green cloud, nicknamed the Emerald Orchid, now appears in the sky every night. Stuck on O'ahu, Lei and her father must find a way to get home to the Big Island. But the Emerald Orchid is causing chaos, and turning the islands, or world, into a real life Lord of the Flies and everyone is for themselves. Also, is the Emerald Orchid actually a cloud?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The idea is original and it's a definite page-turner. It's so easy to connect with Leilani. I haven't read many YA books with the protagonist having a disability, especially one that plays such a big part into the story. Not to mention Lei having a disability (epilepsy) makes her feel even more authentic. Aslan beautifully mixes the Hawaiian mythology and language along with modern technology and distopian situations into the book, making a refreshing new type of distopian YA. I can't wait to finish the sequel!
Hawai'i and it's culture has always intriqued me, and I would one day like to pay a respectful visit to the Islands. Reading this book has only sparked my interest even more. I feel like it helps show the true Hawai'i (besides trying to survive on the islands through an unexpected Apocalypse) to a limit, speaking of the mythology, culture, and language of the original people who inhabited the Islands. To me, this shows the amount of respect Aslan has for Hawai'i and it's people. Such an amazing book!
Note: on page 85 a character gets a nosebleed, and leans their head back. I'd just like to say not to do this if you ever get a nosebleed, as it will not help. Tilt your head foreward!
Leilani Milton is a sixteen year old hapa girl living with her parents, brother, and grandfather in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai'i. She loves everything about her home-- the landscape, mythology, Hawaiian language, and surfing. However, she's an epileptic so she does have some disadvantages. At the beginning of the book, Lei and her father fly to the island of O'ahu so she can be tested for a new medication for her epilepsy, but not long after she is there, everything changes. Everything that runs on electricity stops, newer cars don't work, phones, laptops, and tvs have no service, and a huge tsunami hits the eastern coasts of the Hawaiian Islands. Oh, not to mention a giant green cloud, nicknamed the Emerald Orchid, now appears in the sky every night. Stuck on O'ahu, Lei and her father must find a way to get home to the Big Island. But the Emerald Orchid is causing chaos, and turning the islands, or world, into a real life Lord of the Flies and everyone is for themselves. Also, is the Emerald Orchid actually a cloud?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The idea is original and it's a definite page-turner. It's so easy to connect with Leilani. I haven't read many YA books with the protagonist having a disability, especially one that plays such a big part into the story. Not to mention Lei having a disability (epilepsy) makes her feel even more authentic. Aslan beautifully mixes the Hawaiian mythology and language along with modern technology and distopian situations into the book, making a refreshing new type of distopian YA. I can't wait to finish the sequel!
Hawai'i and it's culture has always intriqued me, and I would one day like to pay a respectful visit to the Islands. Reading this book has only sparked my interest even more. I feel like it helps show the true Hawai'i (besides trying to survive on the islands through an unexpected Apocalypse) to a limit, speaking of the mythology, culture, and language of the original people who inhabited the Islands. To me, this shows the amount of respect Aslan has for Hawai'i and it's people. Such an amazing book!
Note: on page 85 a character gets a nosebleed, and leans their head back. I'd just like to say not to do this if you ever get a nosebleed, as it will not help. Tilt your head foreward!
clarakevek's review against another edition
3.0
More like a 3.5. Not bad. Not reviewing I'm too tired
rochelleisreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
5.0
cosmicpages's review against another edition
2.0
Warning. Review contains spoilers!
------------------------------
This book had so much potential! Gah. I loved it up until about Chapter 24 and then it just went all downhill for me. So disappointed. I really wanted to love this one. After chapter 24 I really had to force myself to get through to the end. I gave it 2 stars for the Hawaiian perspective and the focus on father/daughter relationship over romantic relationships... Wish I could have given it more, but that damn turtle stole the rest away.
PROS:
No love triangle
Strong father figure as male lead character
Focus on father/daughter relationship & how they survived together
Post apocalyptic event (I love dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels).
Post-apocalyptic Hawaii. (Great concept, we never get to know how any type of global crisis affects the islands in other novels)
Main character with a disability/medical condition - rarely see main characters in this genre that have to work with/overcome this issue while attempting to survive an apocalyptic event.
CONS:
"Alien" theories
A cosmic sea-turtle.... like really? What the hell?
A cosmic sea-turtle that eats radiation like candy, used the earth to give birth to another cosmic sea turtle..... and only Leilani can talk to it?
Really?
I don't forsee myself reading any more of this series unfortunately.
------------------------------
This book had so much potential! Gah. I loved it up until about Chapter 24 and then it just went all downhill for me. So disappointed. I really wanted to love this one. After chapter 24 I really had to force myself to get through to the end. I gave it 2 stars for the Hawaiian perspective and the focus on father/daughter relationship over romantic relationships... Wish I could have given it more, but that damn turtle stole the rest away.
PROS:
No love triangle
Strong father figure as male lead character
Focus on father/daughter relationship & how they survived together
Post apocalyptic event (I love dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels).
Post-apocalyptic Hawaii. (Great concept, we never get to know how any type of global crisis affects the islands in other novels)
Main character with a disability/medical condition - rarely see main characters in this genre that have to work with/overcome this issue while attempting to survive an apocalyptic event.
CONS:
"Alien" theories
A cosmic sea-turtle.... like really? What the hell?
A cosmic sea-turtle that eats radiation like candy, used the earth to give birth to another cosmic sea turtle..... and only Leilani can talk to it?
Really?
I don't forsee myself reading any more of this series unfortunately.
skywalkerem's review against another edition
1.0
Fast paced, crappy disaster movie kind of feel. So that bit was fun. The epilepsy representation starts off fine but turns into an absolute train wreck. This story is the definition of a supercrip narrative. I can’t speak to the Hawaiian rep.
Also, it’s EEG, not EKG. That would have taken two seconds of googling to find out. I know that’s a nitpick, but /come on/.
Also, it’s EEG, not EKG. That would have taken two seconds of googling to find out. I know that’s a nitpick, but /come on/.
msseviereads's review against another edition
5.0
This is my kind of book. End of the world, survival, unusual setting... love, love, love.
Can't wait for the next one -- there better be a next one!
Can't wait for the next one -- there better be a next one!
the_daily_orange's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointed.
The protagonist Leilani and her dad literally took turns to act idiotically throughout the book, displaying huge blind spots in their intelligence. This is definitely the case where readers are smarter than the characters and want to slap them constantly for their actions.
The whole thing with Emerald Orchid was just absolutely..... bullshit.
The protagonist Leilani and her dad literally took turns to act idiotically throughout the book, displaying huge blind spots in their intelligence. This is definitely the case where readers are smarter than the characters and want to slap them constantly for their actions.
The whole thing with Emerald Orchid was just absolutely..... bullshit.
torijo's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I'm going to admit it... I liked the gosh darn turtles! So sue me!
Overall an intriguing premise, well thought out enough that I didn't drop it when the ~turtles~ appeared. (My suspension of disbelief was also higher because I was 15 the first time.) As a piece of apocalyptic fiction the first part stands solid.
Caveats: I can't prove heck about the accuracy of the depiction of Hawai'i. Similarly can't prove anything about the depiction of epilepsy. Also quite iffy to tie unmedicated epileptic seizures to world saving telepathy :/
Overall an intriguing premise, well thought out enough that I didn't drop it when the ~turtles~ appeared. (My suspension of disbelief was also higher because I was 15 the first time.) As a piece of apocalyptic fiction the first part stands solid.
Caveats: I can't prove heck about the accuracy of the depiction of Hawai'i. Similarly can't prove anything about the depiction of epilepsy. Also quite iffy to tie unmedicated epileptic seizures to world saving telepathy :/