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A review by joolz_reads
The Islands at the End of the World by Austin Aslan
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!