Young Llama Thoughts
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Adventurous
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Christian Friendly
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Easy Reading
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Humerous
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Youth Appropriate
Overall
Review
Oh my stars is this book amazing!!!!! I just adored everything about it, from the cover to the story to the rich history of the Hawaiian Islands! If you love Disney’s Moana, you will love this book!
This novel is about Maile, the 2nd daughter of the royal chief of her island, a headstrong, confident young women who will do anything to protect her families honor. But when her fiance is killed by the very white men they thought to be gods, Maile panics and takes John Harbottle, the ships interpreter, and her lover’s killer captive. But John isn’t like the others, with a love for island and her people, he begins to build a bond with Maile. But she is hiding a secret, one that could kill her father. And one she isn’t willing to give up, not even for this handsome white man and his strange customs…
This book was stunning!!!!!!!!!!!! I am obsessed! I really enjoy novels based on history that may be fictional, but have interesting bits of truth in them. Every time I came upon a new fun fact of the Hawaiian people, I just had to share it! The culture was so interesting to read about; and the romance was sooooo cute! This would be a fantastic novel for ladies 16 and up!
Now there is some violence in the book. Mention of people dying, being shot, stabbed and clubbed. Some blood. Mention of the bodies being prepared for burial. Plus mention of the Hawaiian customs and how they used to treat the remains. If you didn’t know, the Hawaiian people would remove the skin and hair off of the body and keep the bones. They felt like they could draw power from the deceased life and would carve the bones and make something to honor them. Yes, it can be a bit gross to read about. (Especially if you don’t like blood like me!) However, nothing is described! Only the bones are brought up not the process.
There is also mention of the Hawaiian gods in the book. Since the novel is told primarily by a islander, it shows her understanding of the culture. The gods like Ku, Lono, Maui and Pele are brought up. Obviously they are false gods, and the book doesn’t make them out to be real either. What is mentioned are the idols and their temples because that is part of their culture. There is mention that some of the islands did human sacrifice at one time, but most don’t. (And Maile’s island doesn’t thankfully!)
Overall, I LOVE IT!!!! Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! What a thrilling, beautiful read about a gorgeous culture of Wayfinding and love. If you love reading clean, funny, very sweet fiction about other cultures, A Song for the Stars is the book for you! -The Young Llama Reader.
Pros
- An AMAZING story about love!
- Basically a Moana story for adults!!!
- Super interesting and very engaging!
Cons
- Mention of Island gods and rituals…
Inspired by a true story
Hawaiian Islands, 1779
As the second daughter of a royal chief, Maile will be permitted to marry for love. Her fiancé is the best navigator in Hawaii, and he taught her everything he knows how to feel the ocean, observe the winds, read the stars, and how to love.
But when sailors from a strange place called England arrive on her island, a misunderstanding ends in battle, and Maile is suddenly widowed before she is wed.
Finding herself in the middle of the battle and fearing for her life, Maile takes John Harbottle, the wounded man who killed her fiancé, prisoner, and though originally intending to let him die, she reluctantly heals him. And in the process, she discovers the man she thought was her enemy might be her ally instead.
John has been Captain James Cook’s translator for three voyages across the Pacific. He is kind and clearly fascinated with her homeland and her people and Maile herself. But guilt continues to drive a wedge between them: John’s guilt over the death he caused, and Maile’s guilt over the truth about what triggered the deadly battle a secret she’s kept hidden from everyone on the island.
When Maile is tasked with teaching John how to navigate using the stars so he can sail back to England, they must also navigate the challenges of being from very different cultures. In doing so, they might also find the peace that comes when two hearts become one.
