Healing Water

by Joyce Moyer Hostetter

Nineteenth-century Hawai'i. Thirteen-year-old Pia's life is forever changed by leprosy. Pia has never known his real father. But Kamaka, a family friend, has taught him how to work, explore, and take on physical challenges. Pia believes Kamaka is fearless. He never suspects that a time will come when Kamaka could actually be afraid of him. Neither does he expect his own body to betray him, or his government to tear him from his family and send him into exile. When Pia finds himself abandoned on Moloka’i, in Hawai’i's leprosy settlement, he turns to the skills he learned from Kamaka to help him survive. But the conditions are harsh. Pia discovers that he must choose between lawlessness and aloha, revenge and forgiveness, his own willfulness and the example of someone worthy of being like a father. This fictional account was inspired by the experiences of the many Hawaiians who were sent to Moloka’is isolated Kalaupapa peninsula starting in 1866 and by the life of Father Damien deVeuster, who chose to live and work there in the late 1800s. The author conducted extensive research, working with experts and visiting the leprosy settlement.

Suddenly I felt my power. Kamaka wanted my friendship. But I did not want his.    I looked at him and smiled a slow, taunting smile. Then I poured the water down the side of the mountain and watched it turn into a cool stream. It rippled over the rocks like an old song. But it was not a happy sound.
"Swim by yourself, Kamaka," I said. "I will never swim with you again.
"The volcano erupted then and shook me awake.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical

217 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2008

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leprosy just isn't the hot topic of children's historical fiction it could be. I mean, walk up to a kid and ask them what their primary associations with leprosy (today called Hansen's Disease) are and if they mention anything it'll probably have to involve Jesus in some way. Historical fiction for kids based around diseases crop up, but somehow this topic has remained fairly untouched. I mean, yellow fever was in Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever 1793, and smallpox is written about with a fair amount of frequency. And of course there was the topic of polio in Joyce Moyer Hostetter's, Blue a couple years ago. Hostetter now turns her gaze to another disease, but with her primary focus on the island of Moloka'i and its Kalaupapa peninsula around the late 1800s. In a year when historical fiction for kids has been dominated by Jim Crow, Civil War, and World War II titles, it's a relief to read a book as simultaneously engrossing and well researched as Healing Water. The kind of realistic fiction that'll suck in the young readers the minute they start turning the pages.

Pia got off to a bad start, no question. If he hadn't gotten angry with his fellow passengers on the boat that stole him away from his family and sent him to the leper colony of Moloka'i it might have been okay. If he hadn't run away that first day and missed his initial rations it might have been okay. If he hadn't aligned himself with the island's most corrupt leader, if he hadn't done the man's bidding, if he hadn't turned off his own heart and conscience . . . . but he did. And why? Because the man he admired, the man who had helped raise him and love him, his best friend and father figure, Kamaka, betrayed him. When Pia got the first signs of leprosy, Kamaka disappeared from his life and it takes all the boy's will to forget him. Now Kamaka has reentered his life unexpectedly, and Pia must figure out whether or not to forgive this man's betrayal or to seek his protection on this strangely lawless island.

To place a story within the context of history isn't as straightforward as it sounds. To make it come together as a coherant tale you need to do what Healing Water has done here. This title works because if you set out to write a book about a historical moment and the main character walks around thinking, "Gee, what a significant time I live in," you have yourself a pretty dull piece of work. Healing Water, on the other hand, focuses on something a lot of kids can identify with; Friendship, betrayal, loneliness, and moral complicity. Ostensibly the focus of the piece is on Father Damien deVeuster, the man who spent his life dedicated to making a better life for the people sequestered on Moloka'i. But the relationships in this story are the glue.

It has never been easier to identify with a character either. When Pia gets angry with Kamaka you get angry right alongside him. You want to see that guy pay and pay hard. Heck, you may even think that Pia is letting Kamaka off too easily at times. I know that one of the themes of this book is forgiveness and what it means to forgive someone who has hurt you and feels bad about their own weaknesses. Still... the vindictive part of me wouldn't have minded if Kamaka suffered one little kick more.

So the story works, but so too does the writing. The fact that Hostetter can write a great descriptive sentence doesn't hurt matters any. I'm a sucker for lines like, "The ship pulled me away from our home, ripping me like bark from a tree." Or when Pia is in the hospital and is visited by Kamaka's tutu and she finds it hard to talk to him. "But Tutu, giver of hugs and playful swats on the bottom, could not speak without touching me. And touching she was not supposed to do."

Sometimes I'll start to read a work of historical fiction for kids and suddenly I'll think to myself, "Uh-oh. There better be some backmatter to look through here." It's a crapshoot if I find what I'm looking for at the book's end. More often than not I'll find a one page Author's Note with two or three websites included. Sometimes nothing will be there at all and I'll return to my reading, growling inaudibly. And sometimes I'll turn to the back and find a six-page historical note, a Timeline, notes that discuss things like the pronunciation of Hawaiian words, a Glossary, and a list of Resources including adult texts, suggested reading for kids, audiovisual references, websites, and places to visit to learn more. Honestly, it's pretty rare to find 14 pages worth of reference text in a middle grade children's novel. Would that it were more common. A reader knows to trust their author when they see that a little research has gone down.

Generally, when children read books in which a government agency has torn average citizens away from their loved ones and/or their home, it either involves the Jewish people during WWII or the American internment camps from the same time. Tearing away people from their families if they have leprosy is not unlike the Japanese-American interments if only because in both situations the government was acting out of fear. And fear, generally, is not a smart way to go about making decisions about people's lives. Fear is the omnipresent force at work in "Healing Water" too. Pia fears for his survival, fears the man he works for, and each fear is reliant upon the other. Healing Water offers an escape from that trap and that fear. I wouldn't call it an overtly religious book, but what it has to say about forgiving others as well as ourselves is a lesson worth reading and learning. Informative, touching, and hard to remove from your mind. A lesson in living life without pain.

Ages 10-14

[Atomicgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the rating system were changed, I would rate this with 3 1/2 stars.

Without including Lois Ann Yamanaka, there are not many books about Hawaii that I do like. Graham Salisbury has an authentic voice, but his stories are a bit lackluster. Chris Mckinney is great but the content and tone of his books are appropriate for an older audience.

Mainland writers will find it difficult to find a receptive audience to people born and raised in Hawaii. I, myself, am looking for mistakes about the culture or language. When (not if) I find errors, it's like fingernails being pulled down a chalkboard. The jarring sound leaves an indelible mark. Hostetter's research has enabled her to write a credible historical fiction about Hawaii, one that doesn't leave me yawning. It is not a great book, but it does better than most when compared to other writings.

[Jodysegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Pia's mother discovers her son has leprosy, she tries to hide him from authorities, but Pia, along with a boatload of other castoffs, is exiled to an inhospitable neighboring island where the state and church fail to provide even the most basic of care and safety. To survive, Pia lets himself fall under the thumb of a man who takes what he wants through dishonesty and brutality. Gradually Pia rediscovers both his own humanity and that of the other exiles.

What's most amazing about Hostetter's disturbing novel is that it's based on historical events and individuals. Hostetter uses extensive research into the history of leprosy in Hawaii and Hawaiian culture to create realistic and compelling characters, conflicts and above all, setting.

[Carol Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew nothing about leprosy and all of my knowledge about Hawaii was either from James Michener's book by the same name or from my daughter who just visited there. Joyce's book takes you to the island and you are in the middle of the sights & smells; fears & grief of the those who were banished to the leprosy settlement. Highly recommend it for 6th grade on up.

[PollyAnna Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much, Gracee, for sharing your copy of HEALING WATER with me!! One thing I will definitely miss about my students is sharing beloved books with one another. Joyce Moyer Hostetter is a beloved author in this area and she certainly does not disappoint with HEALING WATER. I always learn so many new things when I read Joyce's books. She knows how to weave history into a story in a way that only Andy Griffith ever did for me before. Or historical movies or historical fiction (well, historical romance, anyway). Fans of Joyce who have not read this one will not be disappointed. Those who have not been introduced to Joyce Moyer Hostetter, HEALING WATER would be a wonderful introduction to her!

[Tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in the fourth grade and it has stuck with me ever since. The tale of the boy and his survival is a heartbreaking one and will teach kids empathy and compassion. I would highly recommend this book for an easy read.

[Zoe Ahl · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

"Leprosy was his enemy before I became his friend."

read this for my research project thingy and i was only going to skim and then i got caught up in the story and read the whole thing lol so if that doesnt say something about the book i dont know what does

[Kathleen McKim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this a while ago. It's a great story of courage and redemption, set against little-known Hawai'ian history.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Julie M. Prince for TeensReadToo.com

Things will never be the same for thirteen-year-old Pia, now that he has leprosy. He will be sent off to the island of Molokai to die with others who have the same condition, ripped from the arms of his ohana, his family. No more comfort from his mother and sister, nor from the only father figure he's ever known, Kamaka.

Since even Kamaka has shunned him, and because the island of outcasts is a place with no law, Pia quickly learns to harden his heart, and to do what he must to survive for as long as he can.

This is the story of the neglect and abandonment of people, the loss of a beloved culture, and the strength of a young boy facing extreme obstacles. But most of all, this is a story of forgiveness and hope.

Joyce Moyer Hostetter, author of BLUE, tells another historical tale of an epidemic that once clutched the very souls of the inflicted and spun their lives out of control. She shows the strength and determination that can rise from those tossed into the worst imaginable conditions and she doesn't hide the ugliness that unfolds with it. It's a balanced story that explores a specific time and place with obvious accuracy and integrity, and it's woven around the personal experiences of one brave but lost boy.

Strong writing and a uniquely captivating story!

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hawaii is a paradise right? Not when you have leprosy. In fact it can be a living hell, especially in the late 1800's when young Pia is sent to the leper collony off the coast of the big island where you steal, cheet, and grovel for your meals every day. Where you have now family. Where every man fends for himself.

This is the simple story of Pia and his developement with leprosy, his loss of his faith in God, his heros, and joy. He grows from young boy to man. We see his pain. He lived comfortably with his mother and his adoptive older brother who he admired like the sun until he betrayed him, became afraid of the leprosy he carried on his skin. Once a church is planted on the island, and Pia's forsaken mentor comes to the island with is wife who's skin is now covered with the same spots that made him fear Pia in the first place, he tries to bring Pia back to life as does the preist who comes to help the people of the island.

There was stark developement in the character as the hatred inside him began to melt and he begins to feel again. It's a good historical novel that informs us about the forgotten on that little rocky island so close to paradise, but it's inhabitant's so detatched from it. They were shunned, abused by eachother, used by eachother, and forgotten on that island, and now they're story is told and their legacy remembered.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

First-person YA story of Pia, a boy who catches leprosy and is sent to live in Kalawao on Moloka'i during the 1870s. The story is pretty good, deals with Pia's anger at his abandonment by his friend Kamaka when he finds out he has the disease. My main issues were w/ the writing itself. I didn't get the impression that Hostetter loves words or the weaving of stories. I didn't love Pia's voice, and most of the descriptions seemed cursory. It was set in HAWAII and Pia had LEPROSY, so I was disappointed that she didn't capitalize on the opportunities to wow me with sensory descriptions. I don't mean spectacle: she could have described both the setting and the appearances of the characters in original, compassionate ways. Also, I thought Hostetter tried to do too much in the last third of the book, w/ situating the story during Father Damien's ministry at the colony. The novel itself dragged for me during this part. However, the historical notes at the back of the book were very interesting and could have stood alone, without so much being shimmed into the novel.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised to find a young adult book set in Hawaii in the late 1800's about the leper colonies of Kalawao and Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai. The cause of leprosy, now called Hansen's disease, was unknown so people who were discovered to have the disease were forcefully sent to live in the settlement. This books talked a lot about the hardship these people endured as they left their families and friends behind. When the main character Pia, a 13 year old boy is first sent to the camp he is full of anger, which is mostly directed at his good friend Kamaka. Pia had always looked up to him like a big brother, but after being diagnosed with leprosy, Kamaka would have nothing to do with him. Pia thus resorts to living life recklessly in the colony, until he learns how to forgive and deal with his situation. The author did extensive research, even bringing Father Damien (the Catholic priest that devoted his life to helping those in the colony) into the story.

[Lorriezm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This middle grade historical fiction is a beautiful story of friendship. The story takes place (mostly) in the Kalawao Settlement. Hawaiian people that developed leprosy were forced to leave their families and loved ones and spend the rest of the their lives in the settlement. There was not adequate food or shelter and no medical care for the people. Consequently, power struggles and chaos ensued. Father Damien was a Belgium missionary who volunteered to work in the settlement and brought hope and peace to the people who lived there.
This was an interesting and touching story and was beautifully written.

[Haylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this book was pretty good. A Hawaiin local, Pia, discovers he has leprosy and is sent to Molokai. During his sickness, his best friend,Kamaka, abandons him, hasn't even sent a letter. Pia's anger grows as the years go by, and then Kamaka comes to the leprosy settlement with his wife, who has leprosy. Kamaka wasn't really just a mean friend, he was just terrified of leprosy. All in all, a pretty good read. I have to admit, I cried at the part when Pia had to leave his family and friends and go to the Leprosy settlement. I enjoyed reading the facts at the back, too.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

although this book is fiction, it reads much like a non-fiction book. It is very informative about leper colonies in Hawaii in the 1870's. I have never read anything about lepers or forced colonization of lepers. It was a very interesting story, but I can see why my students are not racing to read it. It begins slowly and I needed to force myself to continue reading. The title Healing Water is not about miraculous healing water, but about spiritual healing from fear, hate, and intimidation. This book will need special "talking up" to go out much.

[Aletheia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story about the leper colony on Molokai. Seperated permanently from his family and abandoned by his best friend, when Pia comes to live on Molokai, he quickly submits to a living death, not caring about anything. Full of his anger and revenge, the first part of the book can be rather depressing. But don't despair, it gets so much better.

Very highly reccomended anytime, but especially now since the recent announcement of Father Damien's upcoming canonization.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was grabbed immediately by this book and could barely put it down. The characters were rich, the subject is fascinating to me and my experiences in Hawaii probably made it even more tangible for me. Although this story is set in Hawaii in the 1800's during the leprosy outbreak and colonization of the peninsula on Molokai, it's real-life struggles with forgiveness speak across oceans, cultures and generations.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good, moving story. Because it's juvenile fiction, it's a very easy read, but the author writes with a wonderful eloquence. Her descriptive passages are lovely, and her characters are well-done. As she did with "Blue," Hostetter taught me about a piece of history I didn't know much about (in this case, the leprosy settlement Moloka'i in Hawaii) before reading her book.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story of Moloka'i and the life of people sent/imprisoned there for having leprosy in the 1870s. This book plodded along for me, especially the dialogue but I enjoyed reading about this dismal part of Hawaiian history. I'll recommend it to teens who need to read historical fiction in school because of the unique leprosy angle.

[Mindy Thierolf]

Taken back to the days of Leprosy in Hawaii, the story follows one young boy's account of being placed on an island that the government forces the diseased to go. Ripped from his family and everyone he knows he is forced to come to terms with his own mortality and spirituality while trying to survive on a godless piece of paradise.

[Emily Beeson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't written up my full review of this for Deliciously Clean Reads yet, but for now I'll just say that Joyce Moyer Hostetter is an amazing writer of teen historical fiction. She brings you to the past and allows you to live it.

[Kathy Erskine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Open your mind and your world to something completely different. Joyce Hostetter will take you back to a place and time and event that you may think you want to avoid--but don't. You'll learn a lot about yourself and others by reading this book.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting story - told from the view point of a preteen boy. Made me cry a couple of times. This would be a great story to incorporate into a lesson for older students. I spent a lot of time researching leporsy while reading this book.

[Wendy Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its heartbreaking and inspiring. A book about friendship, courage, and forgiveness.

[Clay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sluggish beginning, compelling middle, then ends abruptly.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book. Shows how people with disease and sicknesses were cast out of their community and forced to survive in any way they could.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good Hawaiian story of forgiveness and what St. Fr. damien was able to do with the leper colony of Molokai. Interesting reading told from a resident of the colony.

[Anita Ledonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting subject matter. Well researched. To me the ending was incomplete. It seemed like the book didn't finish its story.

[Olivia Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a good story. A sweet friendship.