Kona

by Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis

Soon to be a motion picture.
Novel coming February 1, 2021
As a childhood cancer survivor, Melanie has seen a few good years with no evidence of disease, but in the back of her mind, she is always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Being a normal teen is what she has always wanted, so when she’s offered a dream job at the Oasis Aquarium, she jumps at the chance.
No one has told Melanie about the gorgeous Chase MaKenzie she is paired to be working with, nor the new best friend she’ll find in the watery depths. Melanie’s world is about to change forever.
Heart touching, witty, and at times heartbreaking, Kona explores the depths of friendship and love.

292 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2021

About the author

🎬 Visionary Creator | Award-Winning Author & Screenwriter | Family & Animated Stories Seen Around the Globe | Championing Wildlife Conservation Through Storytelling

Reviews

[Serena Soape · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an emotional novel that I enjoyed from the very first page.
Kona was a dolphin that had an instant connection with Melanie and they worked through their issues.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Jessica Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Kona" is a heartwarming, heartbreaking, and inspirational story all wrapped into one story. It begins with Melanie who has been in remission from Leukemia for a few years. She has an older sister, and a younger sister. She lives with her mother and grandmother. Her father died when she was young. With her cancer in remission, she is able to start a job at the aquarium where her mother works. She always has a fear of her cancer returning, and she explains how it is very hard to always be looked at as a cancer kid, even in remission. She meets a co-worker, Chase, and she develops feelings for him and they eventually date. On her first day, a dolphin comes in as a rescue from the ocean where she was trapped in a ghost net. She is very angry that the dolphin almost died due to the negligence of fishermen leaving the net in the ocean. The dolphin is given the name Sandy, but she has a very hard time adjusting and won't interact with any of the workers. That is, until Melanie talks to the dolphin. Melanie doesn't think she looks like a Sandy and gives her the name Kona. The two form a very special bond which helps Kona adjust a little better. However, Melanie's cancer comes back and she cannot go to see Kona, which really affects the dolphin. Her boyfriend, Chase, signed up Melanie for a program to grant kids' wishes. Melanie's wish was for Kona to go back to the ocean. Although the two had to be separated because of the cancer, they still had a very special bond and kept each other going through their struggles. It is a very inspirational story to never give up and keep fighting, even when you are at your lowest and even when her friend died due to cancer. It is a very tear jerker story, so you better have tissues ready. It is hard to read if you've ever experienced cancer yourself or have known someone who has died from the disease. It is a good story for teenagers to read to teach them what others go through because Melanie has to deal with mean comments from other kids about her loss of hair. She actually handles it better than her younger sister handles the comments. There is at least one delicate topic mentioned within the book with a mother-daughter talk regarding a boyfriend.
The story has a very happy ending.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book through Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melanie Parker is a 16-year-old girl who has ambitious hopes and dreams of working with and rehabilitating sea creatures, yet is tied down by her experience battling childhood cancer. Still, her love of the ocean and sea animals lands her a job at the aquarium where her mom works. Here, she meets and makes lifelong friends, including Chase, the handsome boy she takes a liking to fairly quickly, and Kona, the sweet, isolated dolphin that she forms a bond with almost immediately.

Kona is a beautiful coming-of-age story written by Erik Daniel Shien and Melissa Davis that explores love, loss, and what it means to never give up no matter what life throws your way. Shien and Davis do a wonderful job of creating a story that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. It’s the type of story that readers of all ages can sit down and enjoy. It teaches about the importance of wildlife and shows what it means to be both selfless and someone who cares about the environment.

Between the stress and tension readers feel alongside Melanie due to the fear of her cancer potentially returning, and the beautiful prose, it’s a page turner that leaves readers hanging on every word. The relationships between Melanie and every character that readers encounter are beyond skin-deep and are a joy to follow; especially the bond that she’s formed with Kona. She finds herself connected to Kona through the overlapping struggles that they both face with their health situations and they become each other’s support.

Kona is an emotionally-resonant and uplifting story with the same emotional depth as John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, although not as tragic. Not only is it a sweet story that teaches important lessons, but the book also has a well-defined and inspiring narrative that makes this an enjoyable romance novel overall.

[Rebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kona is a deeply touching and inspirational story that reminds us of the healing power of nature, courage, and friendship. At the heart of the story is 17-year-old Melanie Akamu, a young girl facing a relentless cancer diagnosis who finds renewed strength and purpose in an unexpected bond with a wounded dolphin named Kona. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Hawaiian waters, this novel captures not only Melanie’s struggle but her resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.

What captivated me most was Melanie’s fierce determination, not just to fight for her own survival but to protect Kona and raise awareness about the environmental dangers threatening their ocean paradise. Her connection with Chase adds layers to the story, blending romance with shared purpose and highlighting the importance of having allies during life’s hardest battles. Chase’s complex past and his growing commitment to both Melanie and Kona lend a rich dynamic to the narrative, making the bond between these characters feel real and profound.

The authors skillfully weave themes of environmental activism into the plot, turning Melanie’s journey into a larger, universal call to action. The mission to save Kona from corporate greed is more than a side story—it’s a testament to the power of small actions to create ripples of change. This book delivers its message with raw emotion and a sense of urgency that feels both inspiring and heartbreakingly authentic.

Kona is a beautiful, emotional journey that will resonate with readers who love stories of hope, the human-animal bond, and the enduring impact one person’s bravery can have on a community. Melanie’s legacy is one that will stay with you long after the final page.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Melanie’s cancer goes into remission, she is able to get a job at an aquarium. She develops a bond with a rescued dolphin and the reader will experience this emotional story through their interactions. Melanie talks to the dolphin and renames her to Kona. Both Melanie and the dolphin get each other through the tough times, as love is a very powerful tool, even across species. The story line will get very emotional as this is a difficult subject to deal with when the cancer returns and Melanie is separated from Kona.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young woman struggling to fight against cancer finds herself entwined with a battle to save a gravely injured dolphin, and bring to light truths about corporate greed and threats to the oceans and island lives and homes

touching drama and action.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful characters with interesting dialogue and good interaction. Entertaining and enchanting story with great characters. Witty and charming story with some heartwarming parts as well. Good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Deb Akey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of hope

This book is a must read for anyone with a child battling cancer, or for friends of kids battling pretty much any terminal illness. It's a great young adult read, a tale of courage, determination, friendship, and hope.