Lei and the Fire Goddess

Lei and the Legends #1

by Malia Maunakea

Malia Maunakea's thrilling Hawaiian debut—now in paperback!

Curses aren't real.

At least, that's what twelve-year-old, part-Hawaiian Anna Leilani Kamaʻehu thinks when she listens to her grandmother's folktales about sacred flowers and family guardians. Anna's friends back home in Colorado don't believe in legends, either. They're more interested in science and sports—real, tangible things that stand in total contrast to Anna’s family’s embarrassing stories.

So when Anna goes back to Hawaiʻi to visit her Tūtū, she has no interest in becoming the heir to her family’s history; she’s set on having a touristy, fun vacation. But when Anna accidentally insults Pele the fire goddess by destroying her lehua blossom, a giant hawk swoops in and kidnaps her best friend, and she quickly learns just how real these moʻolelo are. In order to save her friends and family, Anna must now battle mythical creatures, team up with demigods and talking bats, and evade the traps Pele hurls her way.

For if Anna hopes to undo the curse, she will have to dig deep into her Hawaiian roots and learn to embrace all of who she is.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mythology, Adventure, Fiction, Childrens, Indigenous

304 pages, Paperback

First published June 6, 2023

About the author

Malia Maunakea is a Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) writer who grew up in the rainforest of the Big Island before moving to a valley in Oʻahu in seventh grade to attend a school founded by a Hawaiian princess (Imua, Kamehameha!).

Though she relocated to Colorado for college, Hawaiʻi has remained in her heart. Now, instead of tromping through the rainforest, she roams the Rocky Mountains with her husband, two children, and rescue mutt, Peggy. 

Growing up with ADHD meant school could be tough, but Hawaiian legends managed to captivate Malia’s imagination and stuck. Her ever-whirring brain is excited to spin new tales for the next generation, especially when she can weave in a whisper of island lore.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book last year and never game back to it. I'm happy that I finally took the chance to pick up it again because it did not disappoint!

Lei and the Fire Goodess is perfect for middle grade readers who love any books that center/focus on mythology. It follows main character Lei who is spending the summer with her grandmother in Hawaiʻi and, to her dismay, has to learn more about her family's moʻolelo. Caught in an identity crisis, Lei insults the Fire Goddess, Pele, and causes a curse to be placed upon her family. It is up to Lei to figure out how to life the curse and save her family.

What Worked: This book was so rich in storytelling and the inclusion of Hawaiʻi myths, culture, and lore. Maunakea did a wonderful job capturing those middle grade struggles that I look for whenever I pick a up a book intended for this age group. She's at a crossroads with her identity that causes her to struggle with appreciating her family and culture. The story is definitely a journey of self-discovery and learning to be comfortable with who you are. It's fast paced and fully immerses the reader into the world of gods and goddesses that aren't often discussed as frequently as Greek, Roman, etc. I found the characters to be fun, yet serious enough that they hold Lei accountable to for her actions. The conclusion was great and it left the perfect amount of openness for the next book in the series.

Overall, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.

[Polynesianreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and I highly recommend everyone to read it! I got an arc early and I’m so glad I did because the story, the characters and plot were fantastic

[Anniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Give me a middlegrade mythology book and chances are HIGH that I'll enjoy it. This was such a lovely one, about Anna/Lei going on a quest on Hawaii and learning to embrace her culture and heritage. I do wish we'd seen more of her best friend - I get that her quest to save him means we wouldn't be able to see him much, but I just liked him so much as a character that I would have loved to see a little more from him. Otherwise this is super cute and fun!

[Stephanie Ridiculous · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, this was not it.

I read a fair amount of middle grade/books meant for younger audiences, and I try really hard to review them with an appropriate vigor, and let a lot slide that I wouldn't let slide in books targeted to adults.

That said, this book wasn't all that good. Aside from exposure to Hawaiian culture, which was cool, there isn't much going for it. This book needed another editing pass or two by someone with a great attention to detail, to start. So many physical actions didn't line up, like it specifying Lei put her second arm through the backpack straps and then her next action being putting more things in the backpack. It's over written, with many asides and backstories stuffed in all sorts of odd places, the MC is unbearably whiny, the first sidekick character we meet is incredibly rude and mean and it's only kind of addressed, and a lot of the dialogue writing is very awkward and feels pressed.

Two of the core aspects to the story also lack. (medium spoilers)

1) Lei is raised on the main land but a dad who failed to appease Tutu's astronomically high standards, so it's all put on Lei. This feels gross to me. Lei isn't engaged on how she wants to learn her culture; she's forced to learn it and engage with it how Tutu demands she do so, and her parents have abandoned her to this. Not only via doing literally nothing to support Lei in embracing her culture by not providing cultural resources while she's on the mainland (seriously, I am positive other Hawaiian or Pacific Islander people live in Colorado. She could have taken a hula class, or at least taken a language class online!) but by conditioning her to obey Tutu in all things and never upset her. If dad didn't pass the test on learning the family story why is it being thrust upon his young daughter who is so much more removed from the situation??

2) Lei is so obsessed with "getting" her friend back, but we've never met the friend, and all of Lei's accounts of Ridley suck, so we spent a good portion of the book with nothing tangible to connect to. I also seriously doubt that a 12 year old who is in literal imminent danger of losing her life is going to pause to think about if this situation would impress the popular girl back at school!

I'm also hugely against books that allow adults to be bad at being adults and rewards them for it. When Lei came back to warn Tutu about the lava and the situation Tutu sends her back out there??? to fight the fire goddess?? who is well known to be temperamental and willing to kill people?? alone?? are you kidding me???? SHE'S TWELVE.

I could go on. I'm so sad this wasn't better - I wanted to love it!

[Fanna]

➝ this mg fantasy sounds so good with cursing goddesses and hawaiian summers

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me feel like I had taken a vacation to Hawai'i. That's how rich the details of the setting were, how evocative Malia Maunakea's prose was, and how important the setting and culture was to the plot! I relished every little detail from the flavour of the guavas to the scent of the titular fire goddess, Pele! I loved the language details so much too!

It took a little bit to get started, but once it did, I was immediately immersed and invested in what happened to Anna Leilani. The pacing was great! And the little side quests naturally built towards that nail-biting climax! Makani would have to be my favourite of Anna Leilani's adventuring friends. I'm still in awe at the personality Maunakea was able to imbue Makani with, as Makani is literally the wind!

Anna does develop as a character symbolized in her going from being called Anna to being called Lei. I found this transformation kind of sudden and I can see why. Anna was going through a lot, so it must have been difficult to write in space for her to give thought to this change. Thematically I understand why, but I felt like it was less something Anna decided and more like something that happened to her and she just went along with it because of this.

Regardless, I enjoyed this book a lot and I am looking forward to reading more work from Malia Maunakea! I feel like there's a bit of a soft sequel prep built into the end too. Good stuff with a good message!

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for providing me an ARC!

[Malia Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED:
- the Rick-Riordanverse of Hawaiian mythology
- All the adventure, culture, mo'olelo, olelo Hawai'i, !!
- Lei was a character you wanted to root for the whole time. Her journey of accepting her cultural heritage was so relatable and I loved watching her confidence grow throughout the book
- the friendships!!!
- the GORGEOUS cover

LIKED:
- the humor was perfect
- the illustrations and chapter art by Punky Aloha were perfect
- the audiobook narrator was perfect

MEH:
- literally nothing!!!

SO SO SO excited for book 2! I got to hear the title at an event with the author and it is so good! We need more Pacific Islander rep in traditional kid lit!!!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was adorable and included super cool hawaiian mythology and conversation about embracing your roots. It was a little slow/repetitive for me at parts, but totally makes sense for the young audience it’s intended for.

YA class book #3: complete

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2023 Cybils Elementary Middle Grade Speculative Fiction nominee

This is a strong entry in the "middle school girl struggling with friend group issues has magical adventure and learns confidence" genre, but I had a few issues with it. I liked learning about Hawaiian legends and beliefs, and how the family worked to keep them alive. The magical friends were cool, from the boy down the street to the talking bat.

I found Lei's struggles with belief a little tedious, but I guess it was realistic. More importantly, I thought the goddess Pele was someone to placate, not worship or honor. She was capricious and often cruel. I guess it's a different religion, one I'm not used to. It's more like the Greek Gods -- you can bribe them, and you can be wary of them, but they aren't really admirable. And I felt the text expected Anna to learn to admire them.

And my last quibble is a very grown-up thought that won't register for kids. It's that the family expectations seemed unrealistic. Anna going back to Hawaii for three weeks a year is not really going to give her the experience of growing up there, and her grandmother being disappointed in her for not achieving that seems unfair. If it was really important, she should be there for at least the entire summer. Or more. Or doing Hawaiian things in Colorado -- do they have online hula classes? But the family is doing basically nothing and then telling Anna (well, the grandmother won't even call her by the name she uses) that she is a bad kid for failing to do all the traditional stuff that isn't part of her life. She doesn't speak Hawaiian. She doesn't shop in the stores. She lives in the haole world. The family can change that or accept that, but blaming her for not being what they aren't letting her experience seems unfair.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lei and the Fire Goddess is an engaging and empowering middle grade novel set in the Hawaiian Islands, and it is just the that book I needed! I can't think of any other middle grade fiction set in Hawaii that include mythical characters. In this story, Anna is Hawaiian born and lives in Colorado (just like the author!) She travels each summer to the small village of Volcano to visit her grandmother, who wants her to learn more about her Hawaiian heritage. Anna inadvertently angers the Fire Goddess, Pele, and sets off on a thrilling adventure. My favorite character to help her along the way was Makani, because who wouldn't want to be friends with the wind? This book will inspire readers to explore their own inner strength and discover their true identity.
Thank you to the author for sharing an ARC with #bookposse.

[mads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Just because you don’t remember hearing them doesn’t mean they’ve stopped talking. It means you’ve stopped listening.”

TW: blood, body horror (minor), bullying, colonization, death, excrement, fire/fire injury, injury/injury detail, kidnapping.

A super fun, imaginative MG with a focus on self-identity and a celebration of mythology/culture.

This would work so well as an animated TV show! I could visualize everything so vividly while reading and my brain kept translating it to a show. I loved the focus on Lei finding herself, feeling caught between worlds, as well as the fun of reconnecting with nature.

This is a very... solitary book, meaning that for most of the journey it is just the main character and a talking animal companion. That did lead to some parts of it feeling a bit sluggish, as the pacing was a bit off, which could be a struggle for certain younger readers but! I also appreciated that it gave us time for the main character to rediscover the world around her (mostly) on her own.

Overall, a fun time that would be good for fans of PJO or Aru Shah.

[Birte · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun story about Hawaiian mythology and living in the diaspora. I liked Lei's development and the various mythical beings that appeared in the stories, most of which I had never heard about. Also, I love it whenever gods appear and they act like spoiled kids cause that does make the most sense, but I also liked seeing them also as more humane and seeing some negative consequences of being so long-living.

[taylor takeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. As someone who left the islands for college and never really looked back, this book gave me such nostalgia. I found myself relating to Lei/Anna in ways I didn’t think I would. Between her feelings of never quite fitting in to where she was and just not feeling like enough of either of her identities, it was such a rush of understanding. Being able to read about mo’olelo I grew up hearing was also such a treat. These are stories that normally never hear the light of day when it comes to mainstream media and to see it printed and well integrated into the story? It was incredible. Every time something local was mentioned, from the food to the legends and characters, I found myself wishing I was home and thinking of times I brushed off certain things because I didn’t think it was “relevant” or “important” at the time. Hindsight really is 20/20, huh? Malia Maunakea did such a fantastic job with the first installment of Lei and I am so excited to see where this journey takes us!! More Hawaiian and Pacific Islander representation!!!!!

[Hoku Bovee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOOOVE seeing accurate Hawaiian culture in modern literature. This was an awesome adventure book that reminded me as hapa that I will always belong.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a great contemporary middle grade fantasy centering Hawaiian folklore. 12-year-old Anna/Leilani spends her summers with her grandmother, Tutu, in a small village near a volcano. Tutu teaches Anna Hawaiian folklore and language in the hopes that Anna will remember and carry her Hawaiian heritage proudly, but after a falling out with her best friend in Colorado, Anna believes that by embracing her Hawaiian heritage, she's separating herself from her friend. At first she tries to reject her Tutu's teachings, but when she picks the wrong flower in a fury, she triggers Pela's rage. The goddess kidnaps Anna's best friend in the village, and the only way she can save him is to remember the stories her Tutu has taught her and, most importantly, remember who she is, and honor that first.

There's a really great cast of characters, and Anna's growth from rejecting the stories to embracing them is believable. I loved the Hawaiian folklore and culture and I hope more books by indigenous Hawaiian authors will be published!!

I listened to this on audio narrated by Jennifer Robideau and enjoyed it.

[Wendelle]

This is a wonderful introduction to Hawaiian mythology and native biology. Anna is a recent middle-grade transplant to Colorado, where she struggles to fit in with her peers. Shipped to Hawaii to reunite with her grandmother for her 12th birthday and incredulous of local legends, Anna's only desire is to rekindle her friendship with Ridley despite her downgraded social status, and to do so by impressing her peers with her visits to more touristy places in Hawaii. Unfortunately, the island has other plans when Anna plucks a sacred flower in a fit of frustration. Her friend Kaipo is kidnapped by the vengeful island goddess Pele, and Anna must now come face-to-face with Hawaiian lore that comes alive, reminding her that local beliefs are not distant stories but a vital force. This is an enjoyable read through Anna's adventure. It is very descriptive, the reader is truly made to feel like she is present with Anna, scrambling over slippery ledges with her and stepping over rotten guavas and bat droppings with her.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was stunning. Beautifully written, and full of heart, growth, and culture. I loved every moment of Anna's journey and I can't wait to see what adventures await! Also, Pele was such a brilliantly complex goddess, I loved her too!

[Hailey Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really kicking myself for not reading this earlier.

(12-year-old Lei is forced to spend summers in Hawaiʻi with her grandma who is determined to make sure she knows all her family's moʻolelo—stories the kids back home donʻt care about or believe. But after insulting Pele, the Goddess of Fire, she learns just how real these legends are when the goddess takes her best friend and places a curse on her family—one that only Lei can lift.) ~ Blurb from Goodreads

Anna was an interesting character. Even though Colorado and Hawaii are completely different climates, she's still able to take the knowledge she's gained from living in Colorado (like wildlife facts, survival knowledge, and snowboarding) and cleverly utilize it on her quest in Hawaii. It shows quite a bit of intelligence on her part. I also like that her motivation for refusing to keep in touch with her Hawaiian heritage is very understandable, as whenever she tries to enthusiastically share it with other people, they see it as either something to be mocked or something to just dismiss. Also, because she doesn't have many genuine friends, it makes her motivation to rescue her best friend Kaipo all the more impactful and the stakes all the more meaningful.

I also liked how this novel conveys that both science and myth have value. I think this is best illustrated in the A Bad Plan and A Worse Plan chapter when Anna uses water to determine the elevation of a path and communicates with Makani (aka the sentient wind) to discover a way out of the lava tube. This novel could've easily went with "one is better than the other in every way", but I'm glad the novel decided to go with this more nuanced take on things.

The moment where Anna tells the mo'o a story was really clever. The story itself is about an ice girl who rejects a butterfly's promise to turn her into something different and forms a friendship with a fire girl. Not only was the story itself really well told, but there's a lot of great character development on display. For example, by telling this story, Anna starts to take the reins and become a storyteller like her grandmother when previously, Anna rejected the role. It's also here that Anna starts to question why she's even trying to impress a mean girl named Hennley. In other words, it's a great example of "Less is more."

I have to give credit where credit is due. Unlike something like Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of The Wind, this novel actually commits to its smaller scale premise. There's no tacked on "Save the World" plot or anything. It's just about a girl trying to save her friend and her village and that's it.

However, I'm split on the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. On the one hand, they're simple, but the style and theming really suit the Hawaiian setting. On the other hand, the novel just recycles the same few illustrations again and again, regardless if they relate to anything going on in the chapter or not and I really wish there was more variety.

Some of the twists were rather predictable too and no, I will not bother with spoiler tags here. For example, Anna meets a girl named 'Ula and based on the fact that 'Ula asked Anna if her phone takes pictures, how nothing touches Anna when she walks with 'Ula, how 'Ula knows about the mo'o, and so on, it's pretty obvious that 'Ula is Pele. I think the problem is that the novel gives way too many clues here and had at least one or two of them been cut, I actually think this twist would've been a bit more surprising without sacrificing too much setup. Also, this novel does the whole "Fake Death" thing where one character believes another character is dead only to find out that the other character is actually alive. Now I know that this is a middle grade novel, so it might seem like a weird complaint. However, The Evil Wizard Smallbone is also a middle grade novel and it still managed to have some legitimately great twists that were surprising in the moment, but logical in hindsight.

Overall, Lei and The Fire Goddess was a novel that really committed to its smaller scale premise and delivered something very clever and very emotionally compelling in spite of its issues. Looking forward to checking out the next installment.

Overall Grade: A-

[Thushanthi Ponweera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to be able to read an ARC of this wonderful book. Lei (Anna) is such a likeable character right from the start. She is smart, sassy, cute, and relatable. Her interactions with the other main characters were entertaining and helped highlight the different parts of her personality. Lei's courage in facing her fears, her strong loyalty and devotion to her loved ones, and her budding chemistry with Kaipo were what stood out to me.

The author convincingly weaves in Hawaiian language, culture, myths, and traditions throughout the story and it gave me possibly the first ever glimpse into life in Hawaii through a children's book. A perfect book to expand and enrich its reader's understanding of a beautiful country and its people!

[Daria Pipkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lei and the Fire Goddess is spot-on commercial middle grade fantasy with a fierce female lead, shapeshifting animal sidekicks (plus the wind!), and themes of friendship and identity, steeped in Hawaiian mo'olelo. Perfect for anyone who loves middle grade, action-packed adventures, and exploring vivid worlds.

I was lucky to read an ARC of this book. Add this to your list, and watch for the sequel too!

[Justine Winans · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging and adventurous debut with a great sense of humor and an even greater amount of heart, Lei and the Fire Goddess is nearly impossible to put down. It is a stunning work with rich detail and a loveable and complex cast of characters. Anna's journey throughout the book is lovely and as fierce and fun as it is emotional, with important themes of identity and culture that creates a must-read book for Middle Grade fiction lovers.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was enjoyable, despite needing some more editing. One more pass through with a good editor would have helped tighten things up and bring it from a 3 star read to a 4 star read. There was too much extraneous stuff that bogged down the main plot.

However, the kernels for greatness are definitely here! The Hawaiian mythology is fascinating and it was easy to picture the setting. I look forward to reading the next installment and seeing where the story goes.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every summer for the past seven years, Anna has made the trek across the ocean from her home in Boulder, Colorado to spend three weeks with her grandmother in Hawai’i. Now that she is twelve, however, several things have begun to change. At home, she is feeling ever more isolated because of her mixed heritage, and she is desperate to do whatever she can to assimilate to mainland American culture. But in Hawai’i, turning twelve means that Anna must embrace her role as the keeper of her family’s history, or mo’olelo. When the stories she has heard all her life reveal themselves as truths and her Hawai’ian best friend is kidnapped, Anna’s reality leads her on a dramatically different path than she ever expected.

This beautifully descriptive novel transports readers to the lesser-known side of Hawai’i, far from the tourists and postcard-worthy beaches. Readers are introduced to the cultural center of Hawai’i, the one that was nearly destroyed by the arrival of western settlers several decades ago. As the story progresses, Hawai’ian legends and folklore appear alongside the western identity that Anna now regards as her own, amplifying the complexity of feelings swarming inside of Anna’s head. Anna is rightfully part of both cultures, yet she feels as though she belongs in neither of them because of her mixed background. Like countless others her age, Anna battles with both the desire to assimilate and the expectation of preserving her family heritage.

Memorable characters and the beauty and majesty of Hawai’i enhance the storytelling and keep readers engaged in this novel from the very first pages. The pacing of the story is smooth and exciting, blending ample action sequences with thoughtful external—and internal—dialogue. Hawai’ian language is used throughout the novel, and even if readers do not recognize the words, their meaning is usually discernable. It would be helpful to have a glossary at the end, however, in order to help readers to more fully understand the meaning and pronunciation of potentially unfamiliar vocabulary. Family, friendship, and finding oneself amidst the chaos of a complicated world are central themes in this book, and readers will find themselves empathizing with Anna no matter their background. This is a heartfelt debut that will speak with particular strength to middle grade readers who have ever felt unsure about their own cultural identities, and it is poised for a sequel.

[Laila - Stories Steeped in Magic · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 4
An explosive (literally) mythological adventure full of Hawaiian gods, mythical creatures, and a girl learning to embrace her heritage.
Thank you Penguin Young Readers for providing an e-book copy through Edelweiss Plus.

Synopsis:
Anna Leilani Kama’ehu just wants a normal summer vacation in Hawaii, aka, a touristy one. Ever since her best friend Ripley ditched her for the more popular girl, Anna is trying everything to prove she is just as cool, if not cooler, as everyone else. And that means no more embarrassing Hawaiian stories that are definitely not real. Despite her pleas to explore the shopping centers and hotels worthy of Instagram photos, her tutu (grandmother) puts her foot down, insisting that Anna become the family’s keeper of the mo’olelo, memorizing her family’s folktales, history, and stories so they are not forgotten. But Anna doesn’t want all that, because, in her opinion, the stories are less important than science and real-life facts. To prove this, Anna rips out the sacred lehua blossom, the flower of the fire goddess Pele. Her best friend, Kaipo, tries to stop her, but it’s too late. Pele, beyond offended at the insult, kidnaps Kaipo with a giant hawk and threatens to destroy Tutu's village with lava. Desperate to undo the damage she caused, Anna ventures off to find Pele and beg forgiveness, hopefully rescuing Kaipo and her tutu. She must befriend bats and sentient winds, bargain with Hawaiian gods, and traverse the dangerous jungles and lava formations set with Pele’s traps. But to do this, Anna must come to terms with her heritage, embracing Hawaiian folklore and history and realizing that her family’s stories are the most important treasures of all.

What I Liked:
A fun and high-stakes adventure with Hawaiian mythology and storytelling? Sign me up! Lei and the Fire Goddess focuses on the importance of cultural folklore, history, and story preservation, and why young people should help keep those stories alive. Anna is a fiery, stubborn, and courageous protagonist who, despite making a grave mistake, takes responsibility and is willing to make sacrifices for her actions. The secondary characters and mythological beings she meets along the way are entertaining and supportive of Anna, even if they don’t show it at first. Pele’s antagonistic personality and unique depiction serves as a good driving force for Anna to keep going. Manuakea brings the world of Hawaiian mo’olelo to life in the pages in a compelling and enjoyable adventure. Anna is half-Hawaiian, with her father sharing the same heritage and her mother is white. All other characters are Hawaiian.

What I Didn’t Like:
Anna’s point of view can be childish/obvious sometimes, with readers thinking “well, duh” or “just believe already!” as she struggles with the journey. But many middle grade novels are like this, so I don’t necessarily see it as a bad thing.

Who Would I Recommend This To: Kids who love mythology based fantasy adventures and want to read about different cultures. Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind by Misa Suguira, Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse, and Marikit and the Ocean of Stars by Caris Avendano Cruz are all good read-alikes.

Review Date: June 30, 2023

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, the cover art is awesome. The art heading each chapter is also fantastic.

I was so excited to read a middle grade book based on Hawaiian mythology. There is such a rich cultural heritage there that I know very little about, and I couldn't wait to learn. This book was okay, but it wasn't the immersive, culturally rich experience I was looking for. I loved the setting and the Hawaiian words and lore, but I had issues with the characterization.

First, I thought Anna's family was terrible. She had all the pressure put on her to keep her families memories because her father couldn't (and I guess that was okay for him?) yet her parents didn't do anything to support this for 49 weeks out of the year, so that when this poor child went to Hawaii for 3 weeks she felt like a disappointment to her grandmother.

Second, I get that friend groups and cliques and all of that are of utmost importance in middle school. I was a middle school girl. I had daughters. I taught middle school for over a decade. I just don't think that in the middle of a life or death experience, with things that they never thought could be real, most middle schoolers would stop and think about the girls back at school, or make a gigantic leap that maybe the mean girl is like the Goddess who just tried to burn me with lava and I have a plan to deal with her when I go back. Seriously, what 12-year-old would be thinking like that after days in the jungle, burnt and sore and on the edge of being killed? That just didn't make sense and pulled me out of the story.

I will say that I like Kaipo, the wind, and the other gods and that scale was pretty cool.

I would say this book is geared a for kids a bit younger, so a 4th or 5th grader would probably like it much more than a 7th or 8th grader would.

I won an ARC of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

[AK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real Rating: 4.5 stars

A story full of Hawaiian culture, mythology, and joy! Anna goes on an adventure as she lands in her native home denying the existence of Pele, the Hawaiian fire goddess, after a mishap during her science class on the mainland. As she begins to reconnect with her roots and learn more about Pele and the other legends that exist on the islands, after her best friend is kidnapped, she finds herself embracing the part of her identity that she's long been denying.

This was a wild time and I really felt for Anna as she figured out who she was and who she wanted to be. There was a lot of reaching into her Hawaiian roots, but also acknowledging the hardships she's dealt with being biracial and not "enough" of either culture. I liked how she grew through the story and how her love for her friends and family shined through.

There was a weird bit of time and travel circling which I didn't love - she spent so much time getting somewhere only to loop back around in second and then loop around again I another second. Felt like an aside that didn't seem necessary, but it did show off the magic of the land, I guess.

I did like the overall message of the story, as well as Anna's growth through it all. Her understanding herself and what friendship is and means all came together at the end and what she grapple with helped through her final trials.

I'm curious to see what happens in her finals weeks of her summer vacation in Hawaii, and can't wait to dive back into their world of myth and magic again.

Rep: Biracial MC

TW: kidnapping, injury details, fire/fire injury, bullying, violence; mentions racism

ARC gifted by Penguin Teen Canada in exchange for an honest review.

[seasalted.citrus (Topaz, Oliver) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars! I can see kids that are fans of Percy Jackson and other mythology-focused action-packed stories really liking this. I loved the authentic and fun way Hawaiian mythos inspired and made the plot, there were several companions (or foes) that I enjoyed reading about. Kamapua’a, the mo’o, and Makani (my beloved, friendly genderless wind) were my personal favorites.

I’m also Coloradan, so although the references were to already well-known places, I appreciated them nonetheless. This isn’t my first time reading a local author, but it was my first time reading a diaspora story with a character living pretty close to me. I will admit, though, that the Gen Z lingo and pop culture references were a bit too much for me at times. (But. Specifically the lingo wasn’t nearly as pandering as some YA books I’ve read.) This, consequently, made Ilikei a very annoying character for the first quarter or half, especially when she was Anna/Lei’s only companion. Or maybe I just thought that because I dislike comic relief characters?

Also, the open-ended but still optimistic outlook on the Ripley side plot bothered me. She doesn’t seem like a good friend to Anna, I don’t see why she would try to gain back her approval. (I hope this will be addressed in the next book.)

But overall, I still enjoyed this (and I am sure the actual target demographic will enjoy it even more). Anna’s self-acceptance was very well-paced, and I will definitely be picking up the sequel to see how her, Kaipo and Ilikea’s future unfolds. Hopefully her Tūtū can have more story involvement?

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anna Leilani has been dreading going back to visit her Tutu (grandmother) in Hawaii for the summer. She is sick of hearing Tutu's mythological stories, feeling pressure to live up to her Hawaiian roots, and not quite fitting in anywhere - not in her native Hawaii, and not in her new home state, Denver. So when she gets off the plane in Hawaii, she's in a pretty bad mood. Even seeing her best friend Kaipo again doesn't cheer her up.

When she loses her temper on a walk with Kaipo, plucking a forbidden blossom, Anna angers the goddess Pele with her disrespect and disbelief. To teach Anna a lesson, Pele kidnaps Kaipo and makes a volcano erupt, sending a flow of lava straight towards Tutu's house! Anna must draw on the stories she has been told throughout her life to outwit the gods, make alliances, and save the people she loves.

This fast-paced, quest-style adventure encourages readers to respect and embrace all aspects of their heritage while showcasing Hawaiian culture and mythology.

Recommended by publishers for ages 10-12, and grades 3rd-7th.

[SS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna Leilani wishes she could be like every other sixth grader. She wishes she could sit with the cool kids, like her former best friend has started to do. She wishes she didn’t have to sit by the trash cans every day for lunch. And she especially wishes that she could spend a month in Hawaii doing actual tourist stuff instead of spending the whole month with her grandmother, trying to learn her family’s stories. What do these stories matter, anyway? She can always Google them later, right? They’re not real. But at least Anna will have her Hawaiian best friend, Kaipo, there with her.

In an attempt to prove that the stories aren’t real and don’t matter, Anna picks a flower belonging to none other than Pele, the fire goddess. Now, Kaipo has been kidnapped by the goddess, and lava is slowly trickling down the volcano to destroy her grandmother’s home. It’s up to Anna to make things right, and learn to use the stories she doesn’t believe in to formulate a plan to save everyone.

I received an advanced reading copy of Lei and the Fire Goddess in exchange for an honest review. To read my full review, visit my blog here: https://stephsstoryspace.wordpress.co...

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hawaiʻi raised author, Malia Maunakea, adds to local Hawaiʻi centered upper elementary, middle level options for readers with her new book Lei and the Fire Goddess. Hawaiʻi students will understand from the cover picture that the fire goddess is Pele and that this will be about a contemporary encounter with Pele in Hawaiʻi. It takes the legends, the moʻolelo of Hawaiʻi and puts it into a contemporary story similar to the action, adventures in the vein of Percy Jackson and the Rick Riordan presents authors who use their own cultural legends and mythology to tell a current story.