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Isle of Tears
A vivid and compelling story of enduring love and divided families from one of our bestselling historical novelists.
When armed conflict drives a wedge between Maori and Pakeha, not everyone can choose sides easily. For Isla McKinnon, the choices are bitter. Taken in by local Maori when her parents are brutally murdered, she has grown to womanhood and taken a Maori husband. In a thrilling tale of love and loss from the land wars - when simmering tensions between Maori and the encroaching Pakeha settlements exploded into bloody warfare - love and trust are put cruelly to the test. Separated from her husband and her family and restored to Auckland society, Isla must learn to survive in both worlds. Inevitably, she must decide between them, and lose part of her heart forever.
When armed conflict drives a wedge between Maori and Pakeha, not everyone can choose sides easily. For Isla McKinnon, the choices are bitter. Taken in by local Maori when her parents are brutally murdered, she has grown to womanhood and taken a Maori husband. In a thrilling tale of love and loss from the land wars - when simmering tensions between Maori and the encroaching Pakeha settlements exploded into bloody warfare - love and trust are put cruelly to the test. Separated from her husband and her family and restored to Auckland society, Isla must learn to survive in both worlds. Inevitably, she must decide between them, and lose part of her heart forever.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
24 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Challinor
24 books250 followersBorn in Huntly, she holds a PhD in New Zealand history from the University of Waikato. Challinor has worked as a fulltime writer and historian since 2000.
Primarily known for her historical novels, Deborah Challinor’s first published books were non-fiction history books, including the best-selling Grey Ghosts: New Zealand Vietnam Vets Talk About Their War (Hodder Moa Beckett, 1998).
Her first historical novel, Tamar, was published in 2002 and has been reprinted six times. Tamar is set in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and South Africa and covers the period from 1879 until the Boer War. The series continues with White Feathers (2003) and Blue Smoke (2004).
Union Belle (2005) tells the love story of a young woman caught up in the 1951 waterfront strike, and Kitty (2006) is set in the Bay of Islands in nineteenth century New Zealand. Both novels have been at the top of the New Zealand fiction bestseller list.
Attention to historical detail is an important part of writing for Challinor. ‘I base my novels on actual historical events, and it’s very important to me to research those events in depth and to present them accurately,’ she says.
Reviewing Union Belle in North and South magazine in April 2005, Warwick Roger commented that: ‘You can smell the beer and cigarette smoke in the public bar of the Huntly Hotel, hear the band at the Saturday night dances at the miner’s hall … it’s a book I kept sneaking back to whenever I had a spare quarter hour, eager to advance the story.’
Fire (HarperCollins, 2007), Challinor's seventh novel, is set in Auckland during the hype leading up to the royal visit of 1953, but is based on the Ballantyne’s department store fire of 1947 in Christchurch. A powerful and dramatic story of passion, ambition and greed, it became a number one bestseller.
Amber, the sequel to Kitty, was published later in 2007 and also became a bestseller. Amber opens in New Zealand in 1945, on the eve of the Northern War in the Bay of Islands, in which Kitty is caught up. Sent to Auckland away from the fighting, Kitty encounters an orphaned part-Maori girl she names Amber. Together they return to the Bay of Islands, where both Kitty must risk her own life to save Amber’s.
Isle of Tears (HarperCollins NZ Ltd, 2009) is a story about 14-year-old Scottish immigrant Isla McKinnon and her younger brothers and sister. When they are orphaned they are adopted by Taranaki Maori and become caught up in the wars in Taranaki, the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.
A revised edition of Challinor’s Grey Ghosts (HarperCollins NZ) was published in 2009. This edition included a new chapter on how the New Zealand Vietnam veteran community has fared since the book was first published in 1998.
Primarily known for her historical novels, Deborah Challinor’s first published books were non-fiction history books, including the best-selling Grey Ghosts: New Zealand Vietnam Vets Talk About Their War (Hodder Moa Beckett, 1998).
Her first historical novel, Tamar, was published in 2002 and has been reprinted six times. Tamar is set in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and South Africa and covers the period from 1879 until the Boer War. The series continues with White Feathers (2003) and Blue Smoke (2004).
Union Belle (2005) tells the love story of a young woman caught up in the 1951 waterfront strike, and Kitty (2006) is set in the Bay of Islands in nineteenth century New Zealand. Both novels have been at the top of the New Zealand fiction bestseller list.
Attention to historical detail is an important part of writing for Challinor. ‘I base my novels on actual historical events, and it’s very important to me to research those events in depth and to present them accurately,’ she says.
Reviewing Union Belle in North and South magazine in April 2005, Warwick Roger commented that: ‘You can smell the beer and cigarette smoke in the public bar of the Huntly Hotel, hear the band at the Saturday night dances at the miner’s hall … it’s a book I kept sneaking back to whenever I had a spare quarter hour, eager to advance the story.’
Fire (HarperCollins, 2007), Challinor's seventh novel, is set in Auckland during the hype leading up to the royal visit of 1953, but is based on the Ballantyne’s department store fire of 1947 in Christchurch. A powerful and dramatic story of passion, ambition and greed, it became a number one bestseller.
Amber, the sequel to Kitty, was published later in 2007 and also became a bestseller. Amber opens in New Zealand in 1945, on the eve of the Northern War in the Bay of Islands, in which Kitty is caught up. Sent to Auckland away from the fighting, Kitty encounters an orphaned part-Maori girl she names Amber. Together they return to the Bay of Islands, where both Kitty must risk her own life to save Amber’s.
Isle of Tears (HarperCollins NZ Ltd, 2009) is a story about 14-year-old Scottish immigrant Isla McKinnon and her younger brothers and sister. When they are orphaned they are adopted by Taranaki Maori and become caught up in the wars in Taranaki, the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.
A revised edition of Challinor’s Grey Ghosts (HarperCollins NZ) was published in 2009. This edition included a new chapter on how the New Zealand Vietnam veteran community has fared since the book was first published in 1998.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 28, 2018
It was 1860 and Isla McKinnon, her brothers Niel and Jamie and sister Jean had a happy life. Living with their parents on their small farm in New Zealand, where they’d been since leaving Scotland, and then four years in Australia, they had little money, but the produce from their farm, and Rosie the cow who supplied them with milk, meant they were content. Until the day the children, and Laddie the dog, were herding Rosie home and heard gunfire; their lives were never the same.
The local Maori, the Ngati Pono tribe, were their saviors when they took the children in, raising them as part of their family. The two youngest, twins, were sheltered by the women while Niel was taught to fight, and Isla as the eldest, matured and blossomed under Mere’s guidance. Tai was an important part of the tribe and his interest in Isla was obvious from the start. But when war was declared between the Maori and the British Colony, lives would once again change irrevocably.
Isle of Tears by Aussie/New Zealand author Deborah Challinor is another fascinating historical fiction novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. Isla is an excellent character, feisty, tough and determined to keep her family safe, while Mere is a gentle woman with a strength of character that made her looked up to by her tribe. A wonderful story which I highly recommend.
The local Maori, the Ngati Pono tribe, were their saviors when they took the children in, raising them as part of their family. The two youngest, twins, were sheltered by the women while Niel was taught to fight, and Isla as the eldest, matured and blossomed under Mere’s guidance. Tai was an important part of the tribe and his interest in Isla was obvious from the start. But when war was declared between the Maori and the British Colony, lives would once again change irrevocably.
Isle of Tears by Aussie/New Zealand author Deborah Challinor is another fascinating historical fiction novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. Isla is an excellent character, feisty, tough and determined to keep her family safe, while Mere is a gentle woman with a strength of character that made her looked up to by her tribe. A wonderful story which I highly recommend.
December 15, 2020
I love New Zealand history and historical fiction and Deborah Challinor blends both as the queen of this genre
August 31, 2025
The ending felt a bit rushed but overall this was incredibly well written! I especially liked the history (of course).
May 26, 2020
I read this to complete a 2020 reading challenge to fulfill the 'read something local' category (and this is VERY local to me as the author is right here in the Waikato!). I admit readily that I approached it with reluctance and, er, extreme reluctance at that, but was quickly won over by the writing style and the stunning historicity that was laid out with loving care. I learned SO much about New Zealand's 19th century wars and wept for the devastation that occurred. A good book. I'm very pleased it was recommended to me by my favorite librarians who helped me with offering suggestions for my reading challenge.
April 20, 2011
What I love most about Deborah Challinor's writing, is her ability to tie in New Zealand's Maori heritage and early history of the English arrivals, with a really great story. I've learnt so much more than I ever did during Social Studies at school! : )
This book started so well and I was drawn into Isla's life from the very beginning, but then, close to the end, it sort of fizzled out. It was as if the author had too much to get through and had been told to condense it down 100 pages. Sadly, it affected the ending, making what could have been a great book into an okay one. At one stage, we'd left Isla who was in good health to take in another character's point of view, and the next time we saw her, she'd somehow broken her leg, but we hadn't been taken along on the journey to see how or even when exactly. The information came through a secondary character's point of view that she had hurt herself, so it came as a shock to the reader and I was left feeling disconnected to her situation.
Still - this was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to this author's next one that's sitting on my bedside table.
This book started so well and I was drawn into Isla's life from the very beginning, but then, close to the end, it sort of fizzled out. It was as if the author had too much to get through and had been told to condense it down 100 pages. Sadly, it affected the ending, making what could have been a great book into an okay one. At one stage, we'd left Isla who was in good health to take in another character's point of view, and the next time we saw her, she'd somehow broken her leg, but we hadn't been taken along on the journey to see how or even when exactly. The information came through a secondary character's point of view that she had hurt herself, so it came as a shock to the reader and I was left feeling disconnected to her situation.
Still - this was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to this author's next one that's sitting on my bedside table.
April 27, 2020
This book follows Isla over five turbulent years in her teens. We meet the family of Scottish immigrants settled clearing land for a farm in Taranaki, follow them through time living in a Maori village, and accompany them to the Battle of Gate Pa in the Bay of Plenty.
Challinor has researched the history well, and as always has populated the story with lovable and understandable people, full of courage, ingenuity and love.
This book would be beneficial for those who want to learn about New Zealand's history, and to understand the points of views from several sides.
I really enjoyed this book and would not hesitate to recommend it to my friends.
Challinor has researched the history well, and as always has populated the story with lovable and understandable people, full of courage, ingenuity and love.
This book would be beneficial for those who want to learn about New Zealand's history, and to understand the points of views from several sides.
I really enjoyed this book and would not hesitate to recommend it to my friends.
September 6, 2012
This was better than I expected - a good counterpoint to most European accounts of the New Zealand/Land/Maori Wars, and gave the impression that the author had done her research. I agree with the other reviewers who thought that the ending felt rushed, to be fair there was a lot of story to get resolved in there! Definitely an enjoyable read. I thought the cover art was very bland though - just a generic epic romance cover (big model head, vague scenery) with little sense of the cultural background that was so interesting in the book!
June 30, 2013
I really enjoyed this book and gave me a little insight to life in early NZ.
April 7, 2025
So excited to finally finish the back catalog of my fave NZ author but sadly this one wasn't a fave of hers. I love the NZ history focus (NZ land wars) and it was neat to see the Maori practices and similarities with Scottish clans. Unfortunately I felt with such a strong focus on historical events the plot was lacking a bit for me overall. Maybe I'm just picky but I hated trying to decipher the Scottish dialogue also!
Still love Deborah Challinor though, and loved so many of her other books so wll continue to read new releases.
Still love Deborah Challinor though, and loved so many of her other books so wll continue to read new releases.
June 6, 2019
Couldn’t finish the story... kept having to force myself to read further. It had a lot of potential; the writer clearly knew her history and had acceptable writing ability. But the story was ruined by cheesy lovemaking, poor character development and reasoning, and a plot that seemed to drive itself. Not engaging at all.
April 19, 2020
Enjoyed the history side of it as wanted to learn more about the maori wars. Did think the rest of it was a bit too far fetched for my liking, e.g. how could she know her way through heavy bush and get there so fast etc.? Maybe that's me just being a bit picky, but it just didn't really ring true and spoilt my overall enjoyment of the book. I guess that's why I usually go for non fiction!
March 15, 2023
Hard to put down. Isla’s story is tragic and, I would think, accurately describes the experiences of a young white girl, adopted by a Maori hapu after the murder of her parents, and then her experiences during the “Maori Wars” and her latter search for her siblings. Very sympathetic characterization and descriptions of the country at that time.
September 23, 2024
3.5 for this one
I was really enjoying it, learning some of the history of NZ (I am a Kiwi) in a fictional sense but then the end felt so rushed and unrealistic so was a bit let down.
I would have easily read another 100 pages to have a more in depth end as I wanted to know more.
Still a worthwhile read.
I was really enjoying it, learning some of the history of NZ (I am a Kiwi) in a fictional sense but then the end felt so rushed and unrealistic so was a bit let down.
I would have easily read another 100 pages to have a more in depth end as I wanted to know more.
Still a worthwhile read.
December 26, 2020
Another genuinely good read from Deborah Challinor. Glad to have stumbled across it at the library.
An interesting perspective on the time around the New Zealand Wars, with a point of view highly sympathetic to Maori (excellent).
Really loved Isla as a character.
An interesting perspective on the time around the New Zealand Wars, with a point of view highly sympathetic to Maori (excellent).
Really loved Isla as a character.
August 26, 2024
A quick read, but I better brush up on geography if I attempt to read it again in future..! I think a map would have been great to include. I really disliked the cover, it didn’t feel true to Isla’s character, or even her age.
October 13, 2018
AAA+++ What a fantastic book. It had everything - very moving
September 27, 2019
Another great read
January 25, 2020
Absolutely loved this book!
May 17, 2020
I absolutely loved this book!! What an author, first book I have read of hers, now I will hv to go and read all her others. Such a fast paced book, amazing characters & great History. Soo good.
August 17, 2023
An interesting and enjoyable book overall.
January 10, 2026
Een heerlijke historische roman uit Nieuw Zeeland met een vrouw in de hoofdrol. Deborah Challinor heeft veel boeken geschreven met dit thema en eigenlijk verveelt het nooit. Niet vernieuwend, niet mega bijzonder maar altijd verzekerd van een fijn en spannend verhaal.
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April 6, 2024
3.5⭐️ enjoyed the historical aspects of the book
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June 27, 2009I read this book while in the US visiting Ngaire Smith, my daughter. It seemed strange reading a NZ book in the States, but I thoroughly recommend it, tho I found the horrific beginning hard to take and couldn't "get into the book" for a while after that. I learnt more about the "Land Wars" between Maori and the British than I ever learnt at school!
April 11, 2013
Rolled along at a good pace, and was nice easy entertainment.
I feel I would have absolutely loved this book when I was about 16 years old, but my tastes have have changed a bit since then, and I found the substantial amounts of "tragedy" a little ho-hum Main character was likeable, but I didn't really connnect with her.
I feel I would have absolutely loved this book when I was about 16 years old, but my tastes have have changed a bit since then, and I found the substantial amounts of "tragedy" a little ho-hum Main character was likeable, but I didn't really connnect with her.
June 11, 2013
Very interesting historical novel about a scottish girl who's parents are killed (by pakeha) during the Maori land wars...adopted by a group of indigenous people she becomes pakeha-maori and as a consequence embroiled in wars that dominated New Zealand history in 1860s. A lot of factual information embedded into a story about tragedy and love in equal measure.
November 12, 2011
A well written book about a period of New Zealand history of particular interest to me. The only slightly jarring note, for me, is the odd inaccurate use of Te Reo but I am nit picking as most would miss what annoyed me.
I will keep on the look out for others by this author
I will keep on the look out for others by this author
January 9, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. It captivated me from the very first page and I loved the fact that it is based in New Zealand during the Maori land wars. Deborah Challinor is most definately my favourite NZ author.
June 16, 2009
The first half of this book is great. The second half was rushed and all over the place. But I loved Isla, and was pulling for her the whole time.
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February 11, 2011really good and moving book i really enjoyed it
January 15, 2012
I loved this book and could not put this down, a nice easy weekend read and beauitfully written piece of New Zealand history. I plan to read all the books from Deborah Challinor, Can't wait.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews