In the Shadow of The Pali: A STORY OF THE HAWAIIAN LEPER COLONY [Hardcover]

Lisa Cindrich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 10, 2002 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Liliha has promised herself she won't cry. If nothing else, the harsh words and slaps she received at the hand of her uncle taught her never to show her true feelings. It is his fault she has leprosy, and the anger in her heart makes her strong.

But she doesn't expect to find a place of anarchy, with no supervision and inadequate food and housing. "Haven't you heard about this place?" says one of the lepers. "In this place, there is no law."

Liliha will do what it takes to survive, even if it means a face-off with the violent woman who controls the rations. Even if she has to open her hardened heart to Manukekua, a boy her age, and Hana, a Christian woman who begins to teach her about forgiveness.

In this extraordinary first novel, Cindrich brings hope to horror, capturing a journey that teaches a lost girl more about love than she has ever known.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-In 1866, the legislature of the Hawaiian Islands established a colony to isolate the burgeoning number of island people inflicted with leprosy. Because of the horrible mutilation and the incurable nature of the disease, those afflicted were hunted down and taken to Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai. Cindrich takes these historical facts and weaves the story of Liliha, a 12-year-old girl who is sent there. The island is unpoliced and uncared for by the government, and it soon turns into a lawless, violent colony run by a drunken Captain and bullies who steal anything they can get their hands on. Liliha is forced to discover her own strength when the fiercest bully becomes her enemy, wrenching rations away from her and threatening her life. Fighting homesickness, fear, and her worsening symptoms, the child learns the value of friendship, the importance of her weaving and carving skills, and her strength when faced with incredible adversity. While the subject of leprosy may not be familiar to teens today, once they begin to read about the struggles of the residents of Kalaupapa, they may see many of their own challenges mirrored in Liliha's, and they will cheer for the girl as she refuses to be bullied. The details of the disease are not for the faint of heart, but they, too, work to build readers' sympathy and support for the characters.
Lynn Evarts, Sauk Prairie High School, Prairie du Sac, WI
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

This is Lisa Cindrich's first children's book.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (June 10, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399238557
• ISBN-13: 978-0399238550
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,339,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an excellent and absorbing book!, June 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: In the Shadow of The Pali: A STORY OF THE HAWAIIAN LEPER COLONY (Hardcover)

This was an excellent book. It vividly brings to life what it must have been like to have had leprosy and to have lived in this remote and lawless colony. The author doesn't ever flinch from describing the suffering and conditions of the colony, but the focus of the book is on Liliha's growth and maturation as a person. Liliha begins the book as a frightened and angry child, scheming to get her mother to come rescue her. She suffers in the colony, and does what she has to to survive. But she grows beyond her childishness and selfishness, and accepts her disease and her exile. She learns to rely on and care for her friends, and to become a responsible and caring person in return. The book is fascinating in its details of such a remote and difficult existance, while the characters and plot are deeply absorbing.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Middle School Historical Fiction, August 14, 2009

By 

Laree Ott (Kailua) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In the Shadow of The Pali: A STORY OF THE HAWAIIAN LEPER COLONY (Hardcover)

As an English teacher in Hawaii, I have been searching for good historical fiction to help my students understand the mission of Father Damien. Of the many books I've read, In the Shadow of the Pali is the best for middle school students. This book is set prior to Father Damien's arrival, but it paints vivid pictures of those who were exiled to Kalaupapa and their struggles for survival. I know this book will stay with my students long after they have left my classroom.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, July 9, 2008

By 

Karen "Twokeets" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Shadow of The Pali: A STORY OF THE HAWAIIAN LEPER COLONY (Hardcover)

I really loved this book. It is very descriptive, and you can imagine perfectly what the settings must have been like. It felt very realistic. It's pretty unrelentingly sad, but so are many other great young people's books. I am an adult with a particular interest in Hawaiian history and culture, and I really enjoyed reading this book.