The Legend of the Shark Goddess: A Nanea Mystery

American Girl Mysteries

by Erin Falligant, Juliana Kolesova (Illustrator)

Ever since the war started, Nanea's done her best to follow all the new rules. When she meets a boy named Mano in her grandparents' market, Nanea is shocked to hear him admit to breaking some rules. And when things start to go missing from the market, Mano is the first person Nanea suspects. Nanea's determined to protect her grandparents, but Mano, whose name means "shark," seems to be hanging around the market more and more. What can Nanea do to keep her family safe from this dangerous boy?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Mystery, Historical, World War II, Mystery Thriller

224 pages, Paperback

First published February 19, 2018

About the author

As an American Girl author and editor, Erin Falligant has developed books across a number of series, including Angelina Ballerina, Hopscotch Hill School, and American Girls Short Stories. While writing Braving the Lake, a story with more than 20 endings, she had great fun imagining the many paths the story could take. She views the Innerstar University™ books as “wonderfully challenging to write and a great teaching tool for readers, who can read the stories again and again to find out how the decisions they make lead to different outcomes.” Ms. Falligant has a master's degree in child clinical psychology and coaches Girls on the Run, where she helps girls build self-confidence and create paths of their own near her home just outside of Madison, Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Xydel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not really meant to be a mystery. No one actually commits any crimes. I is more of a fable with the lesson, "Don't judge too quickly or start rumors." All the history makes up for the lack of mystery. For example, I never knew about an underground fuel tank that was secretly built during World War two. Ages 10+

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't really much of a mystery. Nanea is so focused on her initial impression of events that she doesn't do any actual sleuthing or clue collecting at any point in the story. She's also incredibly black and white in her thinking about following rules: you follow them all, or you're deeply bad. Mano says something about breaking curfew, therefore he must be a thief. There's a moral to the story, of course: don't judge based on first impressions, and don't jump to conclusions. And it's fine as far as that goes in a children's books, but there's a pretty serious gap at the end of the book when something ought to happen and just doesn't. Nanea discovers that Mano has been squatting on the beach by himself because his mother has died and his father is in a Japanese internment camp, but literally nothing is done about that. And yet, I did enjoy this book, just not quite as much as the regular Nanea books. The historical details are interesting, and a major subplot is built around a very little known aspect of World War II history. Falligant does a good job of showing the changes to Hawaii because of the war. And Nanea does have some real character growth over the course of the book, which is nice. An optional but nice extension of the series.

[Heather]

Returned it to the library. I didn’t like how the whole plot was building itself into “Why are their rules? Are the rules good or bad? Can we trust the govt? Can we trust each other?” Basically tearing down trust in authority. Not a fan. Maybe it has a redemptive ending? Don’t know.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last in the Nanea Trilogy. Teaching young people about the importance of not assuming things, and trusting others.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The great AG marathon continues. Again, reading for the first time as an adult, inspired by the American Girls podcast.

Where so many AG mysteries lean on a new setting or a new collection of supporting characters, this one keeps Nanea at home, surrounded by the friends and family we've gotten to know in her first two books. It doesn't always line up this way, but this is a case where those factors also allow for Nanea to get some character growth, which is always what I want most.

That aside, there's also a chunk in the middle of this book that had me gritting my teeth because it was so clear that everyone just needed to TALK to each other. But when it became clear that secrets and burdens and communicating the right way (offering help and sharing burdens rather than making accusations) was part of the intended theme, I started to cut the book a lot more slack.

Over the course of the book, it begins to seem that everyone has a secret, many of them related to the war effort. And for a time, Nanea fears that many of these secrets are because people are breaking the rules, something she gets very concerned about. In the end, all of these dark secrets turn out to be pretty harmless in a lovely, happy ending kind of way. Though I did wish Tutu had just explained about Mano to begin with when Nanea first worried he was stealing.

As an adult reader, the one element of the ending that doesn't quite stick the landing is that we leave Mano living in a cave with a bunch of other boys like a real world Peter Pan. He talks a big game about taking care of his family, but he's just a kid himself... seems like adults perhaps should be offering more help than just hiring him to paint fences.

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this mystery, Nanea plays detective when she thinks she witnesses a theft. Her grandparents (and later everyone) try to teach her the importance of not judging people, but judging people is Nanea’s jam.

I can relate. When I was Nanea’s age (ten, roughly), I wouldn’t tolerate any deviation from what was good, thinking “gray areas” were something bad people used to justify themselves. So this book brought back those cringey memories. Most of this book saw me rolling my eyes and muttering, “lighten up, Nanea!”

American Girl already released a similar story with Molly’s The Light in the Cellar. That story also deals with a possible theft and Molly trying to get to the bottom of it. While it read like a mystery geared toward kids, the characters didn’t come across as holier-than-thou.

I can’t fault the author for portraying Nanea as being so harsh. Kids that age (like me at the time) lack the world skills to understand life’s nuances, that someone might tell a lie or sneak around for a non-nefarious reason. I was hoping the “moral” at the end of the book would have something to do with “sometimes good people get involved in things that aren’t 100% above-board, but that doesn’t make them a bad person” but maybe that’s too much for a kid’s book.

This book could have been so much more, but I’m being overly picky. If you liked Nanea’s core series, you’ll like this mystery as well.

[Marian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nanea's mystery takes place not too long after her 'classic' stories. David's gone off to train for the war, Dad's still working overnights, and Nanea is still trying to convince her grandparents she's mature enough to run the cash register at their store.

Amidst all this, Nanea runs into a mysterious boy named Mano who always seems to show up right before things disappear, be it at her grandparent's market or even their home. When things of sentimental value disappear, Nanea decides to crack the case.

I'm not the market for the mysteries (or the regular books) but I enjoy reading them anyway. Nanea's is one of those where she'll wind up accusing just about everyone of something at some point, though to be fair she doesn't actually say so aloud to most of the suspects. Nanea learns to trust people again and that not all secrets are bad, even in war time.

[Janelle Hackbarth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last year, I found and fell in love with the Nanea series, which took place in my favorite historical era (the 1940s homefront), and in one of my favorite places in the world (Hawaii). When I found out that they were going to make a mystery book of this series, I knew I had to put it on my to-be-read list. And I'm glad I did.

This story felt real, like it really did happen in the early 1940s Hawaii. The story was so descriptive (without being too descriptive) that I felt like I was right there with Nanea, trying to figure out the answers to the mysteries that plagued her. I was a little disappointed when the story ended. This is like a 1940s Hawaiian Nancy Drew type book (and that's a compliment).

If you like the 1940s homefront, Hawaii, or children's mysteries,get this book.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nanea's anxiety about the war means she is obsessed with following the rules set down for everyone's safety, and is furious when she sees a boy deliberately breaking them. When things start going missing, she immediately suspects him of stealing. Honestly, this would have been such a different book if her grandfather had just explained what was happening instead of telling her to just be quiet and trust in the good in people, because she just needed to know what was happening. But the mystery was solid, it was good to see her learning to trust again, and I thought the setting and time period really came alive. Very enjoyable.

[Danielle T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure where the AG Mysteries go in number order, but this one is definitely not long after Nanea's second book ends. A middle grade take on the suspicions raised and trust learned during wartime stress, things go missing and some people don't give straight answers. While I'm sort of bothered that various threads ultimately didn't end up being tied together, I guess that was the lesson- making assumptions and seeing a large conspiracy makes an ass out of u and me.

The title refers to a story Tutu Kane tells Nanea at some point, not a supernatural being- this isn't a spooky story!

[Caity · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book it showcased the time period well and particularly did a good job of showing the often the difficult reality of living in Hawaii after Pearl Harbor. I also appreciated how Hawaiian culture was showcased though at times I thought they could have included more detail and Hawaiian history. The characters are well done and built the suspense of the mystery well. Overall this is a cool book and I think American Girl fans will enjoy it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

More History! And a lot more Hawaiian names to pronounce, but good to be progressing! Actually I liked this book for the moral lesson of "not judging", which takes us all by surprise. It was hard to know which sharks were bad. our own moral dilemma. And the reasons are the same ..protecting our friends and family from loss and harm.

[Erin Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book aloud with my daughters. We enjoyed learning about the Hawaiian culture and the historical fiction story set in the time just after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Nanae learned to judge less and trust more, even with so many government rules. It was applicable to today's current events.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yet another not-mystery that is nothing but letting your imagination run away with you. When Nanea tries to accuse Mano of acting suspicious, all she gets is a lecture on kindness. But she did NOT share the actual evidence she thought she'd seen. If she'd explained properly at the beginning, there'd be no story.

[irene del mar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nanea is very flawed in this book, but also very well intentioned and caring. She makes for a balanced protagonist. And the mystery is one that isn’t super straightforward, unlike some other mysteries for kids. Good read.

[Little Seal]

The book ended up being pretty decent, but Nanea felt pretty annoying for more than half the book about Mano. Granted, I think I would also be questioning him but it was every other word about how Mano was *the worst*.

[Eva Castellanos · Rating 4 out of 5]

When she heard about this boy named Mano "shark in Hawian" she'll do whatever she can to protect her grandparents.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not super mysterious, I liked this one. Nanea is very likeable, even though she jumps to conclusions.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical mystery with some suspense but not too much for younger children. I loved seeing Nanea and her friends help with WWII efforts and still be happy children.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The lowest stakes and the most ineffectual mystery solving of any AG mystery. Nanea girlie I love you but for a Nancy Drew fan I expected better.

[Karol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a “Who did it?”, but a “Why did they do it?”
A lesson learned for Nanea.

[Ellen DeMaio · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved it