Maui Misadventures: True Tales of Chickens, a Cat, and Homeschooling Around the Island

by HS Moon, Sophia Davis (illustrator)

"Maui Chickens, a Cat, and Homeschooling Around the Island" is a delightful and heartwarming true story about a courageous mother's adventurous journey of homeschooling her two daughters on the breathtaking island of Maui. The narrative is brimming with unforgettable characters and humorous situations, offering an authentic glimpse into island life and the trials and triumphs of homeschooling—well, unschooling.

One day, a mysterious cat appears and takes command of their home with a regal air, bringing endless amusement and a fair share of confusion. When the husband introduces chickens into the household, the chaos reaches new heights as these feathered friends become part of the family, adding a unique twist to their daily escapades.

The most remarkable aspect of the story is the unexpected friendship between the cat and the chickens. Their quirky and charming interactions create some of the most comedic and memorable moments, adding a layer of enchantment to the tale.

We also witness the mom's valiant efforts at homeschooling as she embarks on daily field trips around the island with the intention of teaching multiplication tables later. More often than not, however, exhaustion prevails, and they all nap instead.

"Maui Misadventures" is a rollercoaster of laughter, learning, and love. It beautifully captures the delights and challenges of family life, the splendor of Maui, and the lessons gleaned from unexpected friendships. This hilarious and heartwarming adventure reminds us of life's wonderful madness and the unexpected joy it offers when we embrace the journey.

197 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 5, 2024

About the author

HS Moon is a whimsical storyteller who brings her more than a decade of life in Maui to the pages of her most recent memoir. Known for her humorous and silly writing style, she captures the joy and chaos of everyday life with a unique blend of wit and warmth. Currently, she is working on several other funny books, both memoirs and fiction, which reflect the delightful chaos that has become a new source of joy in her life. She assures us that we will eventually have the pleasure of reading these new works. She says, "Organization is not my forte."

Reviews

[Deborah Waite · Rating 5 out of 5]

relatable

Maui misadventures is a quirky fun read for everybody! It’s a compilation of short stories of a family‘s personal adventures on Maui. Really makes you want to go to Hawaii and experience all the fun things.

[Martin Herrmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not your typical travel guide

Life on a Hawaiian island, Maui, to be exact. A collection of very short stories about a family living in paradise. It did start off slow, talking cats and crazy chickens. Once the author started writing about destinations to visit, my ears perked up, and I found myself googling locations to learn more and see the beauty described. So, it's not your typical travelog but made for a quick, easy read .

[Chris Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

good old days

I wasn’t sure what kind of book I would be reading when I chose H.S. Moon’s Maui Misadventures. One hears the name Maui these days and images of the horrific Lahaina fire fill the mind. I discovered that Moon’s book was a historical novel. Written and first published in 2017, there are no references to the fire.
I loved certain parts of Maui Misadventures. When the author spins her stories about Rumba the cat, her husband and children, Honey the chicken, homeschooling and life in general on the lovely island of Maui, she is at her captivating best. Maui, 2017 was a heavenly place for those of us lucky enough to vacation there. Moon takes us inside that life, into the quirky world where the car always breaks down, chickens climb up mango trees, a traffic jam comes once a year and homeschooled children travel across the entire island in search of an education but most days end up at the local beach with a book in their hands.
I have to admit, I nearly turned the book back in for another one because as soon as I began to read, the fires that blew through Lahaina blew through my mind. I spent some good times in Lahaina in the 80s and 90s, with whales and surf and friendly faces to fill an album or two. And yet, the more I read Maui Misadventures, the more I said to myself, Maui was a damn good place to live, raise a family with Rhumba and kids of all ages and IT WILL BE AGAIN.
No fifth star here. The second half of the book is a page eating travelogue. Checking off places of interest without much interest. And the constant GPT4 geographical references were distracting at best.
And I love geckos.

[François G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is what is said straight from the introduction: "I read a few travel guides and history books about Maui and strongly depended on ChatGPT-4, but I found a number of mistakes with that hallucinating AI, so if you find more mistakes in the book, let’s just blame it on ChatGPT-4."

What a weird but honest way to introduce the book to its readers, that's what I thought.

Also, there is a section describing what the book/story is NOT, that is:
- it is not a travel guide
- it is not a consistent story

So what is this book?

It's like a logbook or journal describing the mundane events that occurred to the author while they were living as a family on the beautiful island of Maui. If you're curious about Hawaii, you might have fun reading it.

I went to Maui once in my life and that's why I decided to read this book, that is, to rekindle my memories in a simple, entertaining read. You'll find short one-page stories that are completely disconnected about their cat, their broken car, a chicken invasion, fish, the full moon, etc.

The book is quite unusual and written by an amateur who wrote with her heart while not trying to conform to the publishing industry standards.

[Melvin Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

HS Moon’s Maui Misadventures is an uproarious, page-turning chronicle of family life gone delightfully awry. The author’s candid portrayal of her family's escapades on the idyllic island of Maui is as refreshing as a trade wind. From the moment chickens invade their lives to the unexpected arrival of a stray cat, Moon's storytelling is a whirlwind of laughter and chaos. Her ability to find humor in the most ordinary (or extraordinary) situations is infectious.

The book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, or at least the Moon family’s. Their homeschooling adventures, while undoubtedly chaotic, are filled with heart and a love for learning that shines through the madness. It's a delightful blend of parenting, poultry, and pure pandemonium.

While the book is undeniably entertaining, a minor quibble is the author's occasional mention of ChatGPT. It's a distraction from the otherwise authentic and engaging narrative. Nonetheless, Maui Misadventures is a must-read for anyone in need of a good laugh and a reminder that life’s greatest adventures often happen unexpectedly.

[Helga · Rating 4 out of 5]

The daily madness of a normal family

I picked up 'Maui Misadventures' expecting a light read, and it didn't disappoint. HS Moon's storytelling made me giggle often.
What struck me most was how Moon's writing felt like a casual conversation. It was as if I was sitting across from her, listening to her recount her adventures over a cup of coffee. She doesn't try to glamorise island life or homeschooling; instead, she shares the good, the bad, and the downright chicken-crazy moments with refreshing honesty.
The stories about her family's daily life, featuring a cat named Rumba and chickens obsessed with a roofless red Jeep, were particularly entertaining. While the book isn't a traditional travel guide, I found myself getting to know Maui's culture and scenery a bit more. Moon's descriptions painted a vivid picture of the island, minus the usual glossy brochure feel.
Overall, 'Maui Misadventures' was an easy, enjoyable read. If you're looking for a book that offers a peek into someone else's wonderfully messy life, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try.

[sureshot · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author sets a tone with an interesting self-disparaging style. The author starts with a story about her husband and kids. I think these would be cute stories to hear from a family member or a good friend. From a stranger, they’re okay, but I didn’t find myself laughing out loud. The next section is about the island. The description is good. The author paints a picture of life there. The author then gives a cute rendition of an island legend. She does a good job making it silly, while getting the story across. The story about the cat was also cute, but I think most people have a cat story or two, because cats are odd like that. The car story is a little better. How much her husband tolerates from old cars is kind of funny. Most of the book is like this. There is some mild entertainment to the stories. But there wasn’t anything hilarious. It’s mostly just someone talking about the funny things in their life. Maybe it would come across better on a state or with more grit. Still, it’s an okay read. If you like family humor, you might like it.

[Janet Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a charming peek into the life of the author and her family while living on the island of Maui. It perfectly describes the chaos of family life when having to cope with children, a cat, and a tribe of chickens - there are some very amusing anecdotes! The second half of the book is rather different and is more like a travel guide to different places on Maui, whilst also covering some of the culture and customs of Maui. For me this part was less interesting than the first half of the book, although Maui does sound like a delightful place to live.
One bonus is the rather cute pictures throughout the book. The writing style is witty and conversational, and you feel as if the writer is talking to you directly. She sounds like she would be a fun person to know. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.

[Margaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, a big thanks to the author, HS Moon, and Goodreads for the opportunity to be able to win this memoir/collection of stories in a giveaway. Maui Misadventures is a collection of short personal stories about the author's life and family which include the normal ups and downs. The author has some interesting and clever perspectives, and the book includes some illustrations every few pages to add a little extra imagery to the tale. It's fairly short, less than 200 pages. I think if you're interested in topics like unschooling, the island of Maui and living in Hawaii, or own chickens, this collection of essays/stories would be right up your alley. It wasn't what I would normally pick up, but I thought it was a unique take on a journal/diary/memoir.

[A.J. Llewellyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

disappointing

I couldn’t wait to snap up this book because I love everything about Hawaii particularly Maui. The cover looked fun, but the stories are very short and really not funny. I didn’t laugh once. I thought the fact that the author is so proud of having written it with AI a little alarming I got really fed up with reading her constant references to ChatGPT. I’ve no idea why she needed to keep referring to her AI husband as she called it, but it did not enhance her book at all. I wish these stories were a little more in depth and I really didn’t learn anything. What a shame

[Doodle Bug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful and charming!

Reading this book feels like stepping into the heart of a family's life on Maui, with all its joys, and challenges. The author’s storytelling is warm and full of humor, making you feel like you're right there with them—whether it’s dealing with the antics of chickens, the mysterious cat, or the unpredictable journey of homeschooling. The vivid descriptions of island life are captivating, and the unexpected friendships that form add a magical touch. It's a heartwarming and entertaining read that left me smiling and wanting to join in on their adventures. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a delightful escape.

[Sharon Bargel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed

Was expecting something entertaining that would hold my interest from beginning to end. Second half of book described visits to towns and sites around the island which was more interesting, but the writing style of the author had me rushing to get to the end. If she plans to write more books I wish her well. Grateful I got this at a bargain price but feel it was a waste of money.

[Venus · Rating 4 out of 5]

so much fun

This is a delightful read. And the fact that these are true tales makes this even better. Also, very educational and I love the homeschooling references.

Overall, this was quite the pleasing surprise

[Irina · Rating 5 out of 5]

definitely book i will reference once i go to Hawaii

Chaotic tour guide, definitely worth a read. Honest impressions of places to visit and heads up for tourist traps. Cant wait to go and reference this book in my own findings. Well written keep it up!!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A conversation with a cat, using umbrellas while riding in a car with a broken roof, and an ode to chickens. These are among the many hilarious moments in this book about living on a Hawaiian island. Each story is lighthearted. This book is a great choice for relaxing after a long, harried day.

[Kimberly Radice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this about a family living in Maui and their adventures.

[Erin Sands · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maui Sounds like a beautiful place to live.

Maui Misadventures are the inner ramblings of author HS Moon about her life in Maui with her husband and children. This book is the unedited version of say what you think, put it on the page and don’t worry if it doesn’t quite make sense to anyone but you. There was a reference to slavery and Thomas Jefferson that was a bit insensitive and tone deaf but the author comes across as someone not very mindful of social cues so you know immediately that no harm was meant. For the most part, Maui Misadventures is a free wheeling journey that has moments of humor and irony. If you’re up for reading the quirky ramblings of someone’s inner dialogue in real time, this books for you.