Escape to Molokai

by Spike Brown, S.D. Brown

The year, 1946. The place, Maui. Thirteen-year-old George Kahula's carefree life is ruined when his best friend is arrested as a leper and deported to Kalaupapa. Now the authorities are looking for George. He runs from the police and sneaks home only to find his grandparents missing. George realizes his only hope is to get to the neighboring island of Molokai and find his birth parents. But can he do it without drawing the attention of the authorities? It won't be easy. He's penniless, alone, and there's no one he can trust. George's determination to find a place where he belongs will change his life forever. ESCAPE TO MOLOKAI is a middle grade novel about a time in recent history that shattered the lives of those forced to experience the devastating effects of Hansen's Disease, more commonly known as leprosy. In Hawaii, more than 7,000 people died at Kalaupapa before a cure was discovered in 1946.

Genres: Fiction

Kindle Edition

First published June 20, 2011

Reviews

[Stjepan Cobets · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating 4.7

The Book "Escape to Molokai" by Spike Brown, S.D. Brown has a great and historical story about Hawaii's past. Although this is a story for children, this book is about a very serious Hansen disease that still persists in some parts of the world today. It is also unfortunate that in addition to the rise in medicine, this disease is still occurring in poorer parts of the world. Most of the rich world is more concerned with investing money in weapons than in dealing with hunger and disease in the world. The story takes place in Hawaii in 1946 after World War II and the main character is thirteen-year-old George Kahula. George lives with his grandparents. His parents and his younger sister live on Molokai Island and it is not clear to him why he does not live with them. But when his grandparents disappear at sea during the storm and his best friend took the police he goes in search of a friend and parents. His parents are on Molokai Island where was deported his best friend to isolated settlement Kalaupapa. George goes on the adventure of his life to find his parents and friends. The book is very well written and follows George's adventure. I would recommend it to YA book lovers and anyone who loves good books.

[Gareth Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape to Molokai by Spike Brown is a real find. Set in Hawaii in 1946, this YA novel is fast-paced, never letting up as it takes the reader from one adventurous incident to another. Behind its hurtling narrative, providing the book with real grit and purpose, is the historical reality of leprosy (aka Hansen’s Disease) in Hawaii. Since the 19th century the authorities had enforced a policy of the separation of its victims from the rest of the community, which resulted in the break-up of families, as infected members were removed to the leper colony on the island of Molokai. Never too slow or ponderous to appeal to its core audience of young readers, the novel is an adventure story with its feet set firmly in hard historical reality.
At the story’s centre is George Kahula – a modern-day Davie Balfour of Kidnapped renown. With his grandparents presumed lost in a storm at sea and with the authorities on his tail, George sets off from Maui determined to reunite with his parents. He knows they are to be found on the island of Molokai, but that’s all he knows. Without giving any spoilers away, in the course of his perilous journey George meets with a colourful parade of characters and challenges, all of which are realised with a sure touch. Among the characters are those he meets on a cane plantation and a doctor shipwrecked on the Molokai coast. The plucky George escapes from police custody in one scene; in another he rides a tidal wave.
In a summary of this kind it is hard to do justice to the book’s crisp writing and narrative pace and colour. A highly recommended YA novel with a strong and fully-realised historical setting.

[E.M. Swift-Hook · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping adventure in 1940s Hawaii

George had grown up with his grandparents having been separated from his parents by the Second World War, or so he was told. Then in one night he loses his grandparents who vanish in a terrible storm and sees his best friend Jonathan being carried off by the police. Although only thirteen George sets out to find a way to the island of Molokai where he knows his parents are.

What I enjoyed:
The characters. The author has a way of getting into the head of a young teenage boy and makes George very convincing. But all the characters are very well drawn from the grumpy neighbour to a nun not wanting to see her charges being used as human lab rats.
The response to challenge. George’s resilience is a key feature of the book for me. He doggedly overcomes aver issue no matter what it takes and if he loses heart it is only for the moment before he picks himself up and carries on.
The setting and history. This is a book that manages to convey a sense of period and place in many ways, but keeps the relatability high, which can be a challenge in such books aimed at younger readers. I did wonder if the tidal wave scene could actually have happened, but the way it was written it was certainly believable in context.
The pace. As ever the author manages to create and maintain a stonking pace in this book. Each new challenge seems to lead to another and the reader wants to find out what is going to happen next.

What I struggled with:
The supernatural element. There were a couple of points in the book where it was implied that something supernatural was going on and, for me, that detracted from the otherwise very believable, historically based, portrayal of events.

Overall thoughts.
I really enjoyed this book, which I read through KU. A great read from Spike Brown, particularly for pre-teens and early teenage boys, although I am sure girls would enjoy it too.

[D. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, how many ways can I write the word "excellent"? Escape to Molokai is an excellent novel in so many ways, it’s hard to know where to begin.
I particularly enjoy fiction with lots of tension, and this novel has plenty. No sooner has one tense moment, in many cases a life-threatening crisis, been resolved than the reader is confronted with a new one. This book also involves a journey, which is one of my favorite plotlines. Add to that suspense, as the reader is confronted with the mystery of George’s lost immediate family (parents and sister), which isn’t fully resolved until the end.
Many writers who are strong with plotlines are weak with descriptions, but that is not the case here. The descriptions are rich and vivid but not overdone, providing the reader with the sights, sounds, smells, tastes of the environment in which the story takes place.
And what a place. This may be the first story I have read that transpires on the Hawaiian Islands. Escape to Molokai is historical fiction set in 1946, just after World War II. Historical fiction can be tricky as too often, authors introduce something that simply didn’t exist in that era, but I couldn’t detect anything in the story that would have been out of place in 1946.
What makes this story really stand out is the sensitive theme of leprosy. For centuries, this scourge on humanity devastated lives, slowly destroying its victims’ bodies as well as their sense of self-worth, as they were pushed to the outer bounds of society and basically left there to die. The reader can feel the tension of being slapped with this death sentence, especially early on when George’s best friend, Jonathan, is taken away by the authorities. In a very personal way, through the experiences and adventures of one teen boy, we learn how what is now called Hansen’s Disease was finally defeated by modern science in the late ‘40s. The last time I recall reading fiction with a focus on the topic of leprosy was The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, a fantasy series by Stephen Donaldson. It’s not a topic many writers tackle, but possibly more should. How many of us identify with the leper, cast out from the crowd for one reason or another? And how many of us feel the pain of that exclusion, especially teens? Although not diagnosed with leprosy himself, George feels the stigma in an indirect way as he grows up separated from his parents without knowing the true reason why. Did they simply not want him? How would that make a young boy feel about himself?
The novel is polished with few typos or plot inconsistencies. (Alice is described as both Jonathan’s cousin and sister, but I figured out that she was his cousin.) I quite enjoyed learning more about life on the Hawaiian Islands – culture, religious beliefs, customs, occupations and history. There is a subtle Christian message at the end, as we see Catholic nuns, priests and medical staff portrayed in a positive light as caregivers and friends to those forsaken by the rest of the world. George asks that popular question, “If God exists, how could He allow so much suffering?” With the help of his friend, Jonathan, and a nun, he finds an answer – kind of – and experiences a divine miracle of sorts.
Overall, I would enthusiastically recommend this book to young and old readers alike. I think my main beef is with the Kindle subtitle “American History for Kids”. This gave me a completely different expectation than what I eventually found in the book itself. I expected a somewhat dry, semifictional account of events in history aimed at middle-grade kids. But this story is much more than that. It is a lesson on life – on loving and showing compassion to all human beings, regardless of their beliefs, physical appearances or circumstances. And beyond that, it really is a compelling story that is hard to put down.

[Margaret Standafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape to Molokai is the fast-paced story of George, a young teen living in Hawaii in the 1940s. George is a wise-beyond-his-years boy who, after losing his grandparents, sets out on a quest to find his parents on the island of Molokai. Unbeknownst to George, Molokai is home to a settlement for those banished because of leprosy, and his journey will be fraught with more dangers than he could ever anticipate.

An engaging main character, a brilliant cast of supporting characters, a perilous journey, and a valuable history lesson that hardly seems like one, combine to make Escape to Molokai a perfect book for young readers. From the very start, George takes one risk after another with at times disastrous, at times rewarding, and at times heartbreaking results. As is often true of boys his age, he doesn’t always think before acting, but his heart is always in the right place. The conclusion is satisfying, and I appreciated the brief appendix detailing some of the important events in the fight against leprosy in Hawaii.

I recommend this book to young readers looking for an adventure story. It would also be an excellent choice for parents and children to read together as it should spur lot of questions and opportunities for further research.

[J.E. Rowney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immersive and exciting

I have to be honest. At the start of the book I wasn’t sure that I was going to like it. Reading a novel about leprosy didn’t really appeal to me. I have recently read Sweet Bean Paste, which also features Hansen’s disease, and I enjoyed that, so I was hopeful, despite my reservations. I need not have worried. This book is not really about leprosy at all. It’s a story about one boy’s struggles and determination, and I found it fascinating and extremely interesting. The setting brought depth and I felt like I was immersed in the culture, which was well fleshed out by the author. I haven’t read many books set in this part of the world or in a Hawaiian culture, so it was new and exciting for me. The author’s writing style really helped to bring it to life, and I enjoyed every page. Would recommend. 4.5 stars.

[Ann Birdgenaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape to Molokai is a riveting historical fiction account of the little known leprosy outbreak in Hawaii in 1946. Told from the perspective of George, a 13 year-old boy, who lives with his grandparents in Maui but misses his parents who work on Molokai. When his best friend disappears and his grandparents fail to return from a fishing trip, George takes matters into his own hands. He will make the journey to find his parents and his friend, who has been sent to quarantine in the Leprosy colony in Kalaupapa, George faces many death-defying moments in his perilous quest to survive and reach his family. A coming –of-age story with exciting, actual events to overcome. Highly recommended and educational, middle-grade reading.

[I.M. Redwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

The setting of this story really caught my attention, the story takes place in Hawaii 1946, a period in which these islands were suffering a leprosy pandemic. We get to know George, a teen boy who is in search for his parents, a mission which will lead to live an enticing adventure.

Loved George, well built character, I was able to share his pain, worries, and anxiety for finding his parent. The cast of characters in this story is quite memorable, while the plot is fast paced, never losing its rhytm.

I found the story to be well researched, George's story was a great way to getting to know a bit more about how people coped with such a disease in the late 40s. And the last pages with a summary containing lot of notes of how the leper was fought in Hawaii was a great addition.

[Dorothy Mbori · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I enjoyed reading this book. The determination that George had to find his parents despite all the roadblocks thrown his way was very inspiring. I never knew about the story about leprosy in Hawaii. I like that I got to learn something new as I read the book. I would recommend this book for middle schoolers and above. People from all age groups, including adults, can enjoy the book.

[G.J. Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is both intriguing and shocking. I learned a lot about a situation that occurred in Hawaii just after World War 2, which, I would imagine, will surprise most people. The author uses George, a young teenage boy, as the messenger for readers to find out about Hansen’s Disease which is more commonly called leprosy. George is involved in a madcap dash between the Hawaiian islands of Molokai and Maui, when he is desperately trying to find his parents and his best friend Jonathan. The pace of the story is almost breath-taking and the number of different people he encounters, young and old, good and bad, can leave your head spinning. George rides a Tsunami and even learns how to cut sugar cane when he is desperate to earn money. All of this action is suitably gripping as are the conversations between characters for a story aimed at children who are around the same age as George, 13 years old. Having said that, the book is equally gripping for anyone unaware of the terrible restrictions that were imposed on the unfortunate population, and who had to live with the disease at that time. I particularly liked the meetings between George and Jonathan as the author’s skilful writing had the language and banter just about right. But while this adventure story is exciting it is also very sad, with some important educational points.

The story has a satisfying ending. It also includes some factual details about the disease and a historical context to add to the information in a kind of simple appendix. Unfortunately, there were a couple of glaring editing errors that should have been spotted before publication. One in particular was the wrong year on the Civil Arrest Warrant for Jonathan and Alice Napua: it wrongly said 1846 rather than 1946. Notwithstanding this I can highly recommend Escape to Molokai to youngsters who like a fast paced adventure story with lots of excitement.

[Mary Elizabeth Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spike Brown draws on historical events and situations as the background for this fast-paced mid-grade novel. Escape to Molokai is set in 1946 Hawaii, although the immediate post-war era does not play any special role. A severe weather event which actually took place on April 1st that year does have a major impact on the story.

Thirteen year old George is the immensely likeable protagonist, mature and responsible beyond his years. He is also persistent and not averse to taking risks. George lives with his grandparents and when they do not return from a fishing trip, he sets out to find his family. Escape to Molokai is a quest novel, and as with many such novels, new dangers and opportunities lurk at practically every page turn.

The leper colony on the island of Molokai that is at the heart of the story was a real and terrible place, an isolated community where victims of Hansen's Disease were sent until the 1960s. Often those people were forcibly removed from their homes and taken to the colony to live out their days. George's best friend is one such case. “Escape to Molokai” is an ironic title, as it's more likely that people would want to escape. We only see the colony through George's adolescent eyes, so the scope of the community is not clear. It seemed curious that there were vehicles there, when presumably there was no place to go.

Interestingly the site is now Kalaupapa National Park, a scenic place that preserves the historical leper colonies.

Spike Brown has considerable sympathy for the residents and their keepers, but does not minimize their plight. Yet the overall atmosphere is fairly upbeat. The story moves along briskly from one cliff hanging adventure to another. It's lively, engaging and polished and an excellent tale for anyone over the age of ten.

[Dave Saari · Rating 4 out of 5]

American History for Kids, and a Quick Read for Adults

“Escape to Molokai” by Spike Brown, tells the story of George Kahula, a thirteen-year-old boy living in Maui in 1946 with his grandparents. He receives letters from his parents on Molokai, but he doesn’t understand why he can’t be with them. George’s best friend is arrested because he has contracted Hansen’s Disease, known at the time as leprosy, and his grandparents have seemingly disappeared in a storm. With nowhere else to go, George decides to go on his own to Molokai to find his parents. Thus begins an exciting journey during which George must overcome multiple obstacles.

George and all the characters are interesting and well developed by the author. The vivid descriptions of Hawaii are also very well done. The book does an excellent job of telling the history of Hansen’s disease in Hawaii while maintaining interest for the target YA audience by describing George’s fascinating journey with all its trials and tribulations.

I would have rated the book more highly except for a couple of things that diminished my enjoyment. First, some of the events seemed to happen too quickly – for example, I found it hard to believe that George would develop such strong muscles in just a few weeks working on a sugar plantation. Also, some of the descriptions of events did not seem realistic, such as the tidal wave scene.

However, all in all, this book is well worth a read and I give it a four-star rating.

[Brian Michaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape to Molokai is the story of a young boy (George) who braves the strain of work on a sugar cane plantation, canoeing the dangerous straits between the Hawaiian Islands, and chance meetings with friendly and dangerous (even crazy) strangers, all to find his long-lost parents—parents who he thought had abandoned him but, in reality, had been forced to give him up because they lived in a leprosy camp.
The story is gripping and moves at a satisfying pace, neither too fast nor too slow. The dialogue flows nicely and is believable. The characters are all unique and entertaining. My two favorite supporting characters are the mysterious woman George meets on the beach and Larry Lee.
I love a book that not only entertains but also teaches something. Throughout the reading of this book, I found myself looking up information on the history, customs, and geography of Hawaii. I also greatly appreciated the timeline that Brown gives the reader at the end of the book that helped me understand more fully how this story fits in the larger historical picture. Spike Brown takes on a heavy topic—how lepers in Hawaii suffered from isolation and government control—and tells the story is such a way that this reader, though halfway around the world from where the events happened, felt connected with the characters (both real and imaginary) and shared in their joys and sadness.

[Bianca Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Fast paced, adventure story about a boy on a quest to find his parents. I have to give Brown props for choosing a topic that is little known about and even less written about. I really appreciated the time table in the back and additional information about the illness this book is based around. The story kept my interest and never dragged.

I think what Brown has written is very important, but the simplicity of the story telling and the flat characters made the reading experience less for me. I didn't connect with the main character (or any character) and was never really rooting for him. He pretty much does whatever he wants and everything works out for him in the end. At 13, he is doing a lot of grown up things like working in the cane fields, canoeing between islands, calculating tides, but he he won't take a flashlight to help him navigate in the dark? So some of the story telling didn't make sense to me.

High marks for historical elements, setting, culture. I loved all that.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escape to Molokai, by Spike Brown, is a middle-grade novella based on real, historical events in Hawaii in the 1940s. An action-packed adventure with likable, relatable characters - it's the second book in Brown's 'Escape' series to keep me turning its pages.

When thirteen-year-old George's grandparents go missing on a fishing trip, George goes searching for them. His hunt to find them is fast-paced, dangerous - and delves into the troubling history of the leper colony on the island of Molokai. A story of high-stakes adventure and interesting history, this novella is the gripping, emotional experience of a young teen who is brave, resilient - and willing to risk his life to get his family back.

A fast-paced historical adventure that entertains and informs, Escape to Molokai is a solid addition to the 'Escape' series for young readers.

[Loralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape to Molokai is a gripping book for young readers. George, a young boy living in the mid 1940s sets off on a daring mission to get to his parents and best friend who have been isolated from the rest of society because of leprosy. The story is not just entertaining, but it also educates the reader, teaching it audience about the devastating impact Hansen's Disease, more commonly known as leprosy, had on so many people affected by it in Hawaii. A young reader probably wouldn't be aware of the history lesson being taught in the story, and would be more concerned about George as he helps a girl outrun a killer wave, escapes a crazy man named Larry Lee, and struggles to find his parents and best friend, so that he can help heal them. I enjoyed the book, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good historical adventure.

[Stephanie Ward]

With non-stop action, a vast cast of characters and a resourceful protagonist, Escape to Molokai immerses readers in the history of Hawaii circa 1946. With leprosy on the rise and no cure available, those ill with the disease were quarantined on the island of Molokai. This little-known piece of American history is explored from the perspective of a boy who desperately tries to save his family.

The vivid setting -- from Maui to Molokai -- along with thoughtful back matter, including a historical timeline and facts about Hansen's disease, add relevancy to this story. Many of the trials faced by the characters are based on actual occurrences during that timeframe making the story seem even more vivid.

This is a heart-breaking, but ultimately uplifting story that will grip young readers and bring American history to life through an engaging adventure.

[Seth Hobbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely a refreshing and unusual read, from the massive amount of YA books out there on the market. In this tale, I learned a great deal about leprosy and I had no idea that it was encountered in more modern times on the island of Hawaii. There were, apparently, forced separations of people and families, and the whole affair was quite tragic and painful. George is trying to find his parents and learn more about the epidemic, while swimming, evading authorities, and dealing with a plethora of exciting twists and adventures. It seems a good deal of historical research and thought was put into this book, and it is definitely a fresh avenue and historical side note that most people would not even be aware of, fleshed out by a talented author. Kids and adults alike can enjoy this fast-paced read.

[Sinmisola · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a read!!! In the story, a young man named George goes out to search for his parents in a narrative full of twists that make you want to keep reading. For someone who has never visited Hawaii, I got fascinating glimpses of Hawaii immediately after the war, including the cruel sugar cane business, the poverty and kindness of the Hawaiian people, and their ongoing struggle with tragic natural catastrophes.

The story is good for young readers as it leaves one with a richer understanding of one of humanity's most horrifying diseases, the bravery of those who cared for its victims, and the bravery and suffering of those who got the sickness. It reads like an adventure story. Highly recommended.

[K.A. Burgess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel handles a little known and poorly understood chapter of history - the fate of people suffering Hansen's Disease, formerly known as Leprosy, in Hawaii in the 1940s, from the point of view of 13 yr old George. The author handles the topic with sensitivity, accuracy and a point of view children in the target age range can understand and empathise with.
The writing is descriptive and exciting, the characters vivid and interesting. The plot uses historical events to create dynamic adventures. It's never boring. I did find the religious elements historically relevant, but the religious message not to my liking. That is my only criticism. This is a fine piece of historical fiction, enjoyable for adults as well as children.

[Emily Uhlig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escape to Molokai is an entertaining introduction to Hawaiian 1940s history appropriate for elementary school aged children. Through an adventure that includes capsized boats, a tsunami, a crazy medicine thief Brown manages to fit in a lot of history in a mostly seamless way, though some of the dialogue does read more like a history lesson than a conversation. George is a fully realized character and I thoroughly enjoyed the Hawaiian setting. The leper colony on Molokai is a fascinating topic too.

[Florian Armas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost alone and separated by the sea from his parents, George must find his way. It’s not an easy one. Having got leprosy, his friends are sent into a leprosery, and he is quarantined by the police. George manages to escape and embarks in an adventure to reach his parents. From their last letter, he knew them working on Molokai, but they are hiding a dark secret, which will change his life. He makes friends on the trail and learn many new things, and we learn more about Hawaii in the aftermath of the Second World War.

[Salmon Family · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning while having fun

I learned some things I never knew while having fun with the story. George has some difficult issues to deal with. He doesn't give up and accomplishes what he set out to do. Fast pace and never a dull moment.
I recommend this book.

[Alison]

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