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An Expanse of Blue
Not yet published
Expected 19 May 26Fans of The Poet X will fall for this powerful, romantic debut novel-in-verse about a Native Hawaiian girl's fight to find belonging in a fracturing family, sharing a message of love with resounding emotional truth.
Aouli Elizabeth Smith is adrift: unheard at home and an unbeliever at church, fighting her sister and losing her best friend. Overflowing with feeling, she pours her secrets and herself into her song journal when the world threatens to sweep her away. The one place she feels tied down to earth is at her Aunty Ehu’s house. Those joyous Saturdays with her extended Native Hawaiian community living in Western Washington are precious to her. Under the maple trees, the fragments of her life fit together, if only for an afternoon.
Then, an unspeakable truth about her father shatters this one perfect corner of her life.
As Aouli’s world constricts around what others wish she could be, language fails her. But when a new boy, Nalu, turns up with eyes that seem to pierce right into her soul, maybe it’s love that can give her the words to set herself free.
Aouli Elizabeth Smith is adrift: unheard at home and an unbeliever at church, fighting her sister and losing her best friend. Overflowing with feeling, she pours her secrets and herself into her song journal when the world threatens to sweep her away. The one place she feels tied down to earth is at her Aunty Ehu’s house. Those joyous Saturdays with her extended Native Hawaiian community living in Western Washington are precious to her. Under the maple trees, the fragments of her life fit together, if only for an afternoon.
Then, an unspeakable truth about her father shatters this one perfect corner of her life.
As Aouli’s world constricts around what others wish she could be, language fails her. But when a new boy, Nalu, turns up with eyes that seem to pierce right into her soul, maybe it’s love that can give her the words to set herself free.
464 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 19, 2026
2885 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh my goodness this book! First off, an immense thank you to Harper Collin’s Children’s Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
I’ve read a couple other novel-in-verse but this one is by far the best. This book is probably moving into my top five, all time. The artistry of the story told in this format was MAGICAL. There were times I simply felt myself tearing up from the beauty of the words and craft. And there were other times when I bawled.
I think so many of us can relate to being teenagers and having parents who don’t understand us, but what about when that involves religion, lies and deceit, verbal abuse…
I could go on and on. I want to share this book with everyone. And more importantly, I lived for the imagery created through Hawaiian culture. The cover and knowing this was a story from within a marginalized group was all I needed to pick it up, but everything inside was so much more than I could have anticipated.
If you love art, words, an emotional story, reflection, a BEAUTIFUL young romance, just read this book.
I’ve read a couple other novel-in-verse but this one is by far the best. This book is probably moving into my top five, all time. The artistry of the story told in this format was MAGICAL. There were times I simply felt myself tearing up from the beauty of the words and craft. And there were other times when I bawled.
I think so many of us can relate to being teenagers and having parents who don’t understand us, but what about when that involves religion, lies and deceit, verbal abuse…
I could go on and on. I want to share this book with everyone. And more importantly, I lived for the imagery created through Hawaiian culture. The cover and knowing this was a story from within a marginalized group was all I needed to pick it up, but everything inside was so much more than I could have anticipated.
If you love art, words, an emotional story, reflection, a BEAUTIFUL young romance, just read this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
There's something about a teen verse novel that I just really seem to love. This one is beautifully written and had me rooting so hard for Aouli to find her wings. It is a quick read- both because of the way it's written and because I didn't want to stop once I started! There is so much emotion packed into Adams' words and I could feel Aouli's heartbreak and pain and joy on every page.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews