This award-winning novel tells the chilling, hilarious and touching tale of Percy, a seven year old boy in pre-World War II Hawaii, who creates ingenious ways of deal-ing with his parents' divorce in the face of an ancient Hawaiian curse placed on his family. This coming-of-age odyssey reads like a Salingeresque thriller of 1941's world of Hawaii, Hollywood film stars, movies, and celebrities of the day. You'll fall in love with little Percy, laugh at his escapades and cry at his misfortunes as he shares his quest to remove the ancient curse that he believes has destroyed his family, culminating with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nick Twisp Revisited,
By Larry Silverman (Chapel Hill, NC USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: After the Ball (Paperback)
For those who enjoyed "Youth in Revolt", here's a pre-computer version that offers an unique blend of coming-of-age and historical relevance. Percy, the protagonist, serves as an excellent conduit for the author's remembrances of pre-WWII Oahu, with side trips to Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii. For those familiar with these islands, this book offers a chance to see Hawaii when it was a relatively unspoiled paradise. For those of us raised in "unconventional" families, Percy's search for answers will strike poignant chords.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must-buy book!,
By Kaua'i Girl (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: After the Ball (Paperback)
This book captures a child's life in Hawaii with a nostalgic preciseness that is rare to find. Penhallow has a knack for describing life through a child's eyes with exceptional precision and this is truly a gem to read.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Poignant, heartwarming rich characterization,
By "drlucy" (Lihue, HI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: After the Ball (Paperback)
A very special first-person childs-eye view of life in Hawaii in pre-Pearl Harbor Hawaii. It's a wonderful and unique story, sometimes very funny, rich in descriptions of places and people leading up to and during a highly dramatic historical event. I gave it only 4 stars because I prefer stories that are more tightly woven, and I felt that there were a few inconsistencies in the narrative. Still, 4 stars for a first novel is definitely well above average and a worth-while read for anyone who loves children and their views on life in a dysfunctional family. Add the settings of Hawaii in 1940-41, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and a child's loss of innocence to the mix, and, well, read it for yourself!
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