Lei and the Fire Goddess, Malia Maunakea
Lei and the Fire Goddess, Malia Maunakea
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Lei and the Fire Goddess

Author: Malia Maunakea

Narrator: Jennifer Robideau

Unabridged: 7 hr 51 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/06/2023


Synopsis

"Lei and the Fire Goddess blends preteen angst and beloved Hawaiian moʻolelo in a way that hasn't been done before." —Auliʻi Cravalho, actress and voice of Disney's Princess Moana

Curses aren't real.

At least, that's what twelve-year-old, part-Hawaiian Anna Leilani Kamaʻehu thinks when she listens to her grandmother's folktales about sacred flowers and family guardians. Anna's friends back home in Colorado don't believe in legends, either. They're more interested in science and sports—real, tangible things that stand in total contrast to Anna’s family’s embarrassing stories.

So when Anna goes back to Hawaiʻi to visit her Tūtū, she has no interest in becoming the heir to her family’s history; she’s set on having a touristy, fun vacation. But when Anna accidentally insults Pele the fire goddess by destroying her lehua blossom, a giant hawk swoops in and kidnaps her best friend, and she quickly learns just how real these moʻolelo are. In order to save her friends and family, Anna must now battle mythical creatures, team up with demigods and talking bats, and evade the traps Pele hurls her way.

For if Anna hopes to undo the curse, she will have to dig deep into her Hawaiian roots and learn to embrace all of who she is.

About The Author

Malia Maunakea is a part-Hawaiian writer who grew up in the rainforest on the Big Island before moving to a valley on Oʻahu in seventh grade. She relocated to the continent for college, and when she isn’t writing can be found roaming the Colorado Rocky Mountains with her husband, their two children, and a rescue mutt named Peggy. You can find Malia online at maliamaunakea.com and @MaliaMaunakea on Twitter.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Bookishrealm on July 02, 2024

I started this book last year and never game back to it. I'm happy that I finally took the chance to pick up it again because it did not disappoint! Lei and the Fire Goodess is perfect for middle grade readers who love any books that center/focus on mythology. It follows main character Lei who is spe......more

Goodreads review by Polynesianreader on January 09, 2023

I absolutely loved this book and I highly recommend everyone to read it! I got an arc early and I’m so glad I did because the story, the characters and plot were fantastic......more

Goodreads review by Anniek on May 27, 2024

Give me a middlegrade mythology book and chances are HIGH that I'll enjoy it. This was such a lovely one, about Anna/Lei going on a quest on Hawaii and learning to embrace her culture and heritage. I do wish we'd seen more of her best friend - I get that her quest to save him means we wouldn't be ab......more

Goodreads review by Jasmine on May 23, 2023

This book made me feel like I had taken a vacation to Hawai'i. That's how rich the details of the setting were, how evocative Malia Maunakea's prose was, and how important the setting and culture was to the plot! I relished every little detail from the flavour of the guavas to the scent of the titul......more

Goodreads review by Malia on August 26, 2024

LOVED: - the Rick-Riordanverse of Hawaiian mythology - All the adventure, culture, mo'olelo, olelo Hawai'i, !! - Lei was a character you wanted to root for the whole time. Her journey of accepting her cultural heritage was so relatable and I loved watching her confidence grow throughout the book - the f......more


Quotes

*Featured on the TODAY Show!*
2024 International Literacy Association Children’s and Young Adult Book Award Honor
An Amazon Best Book of the Month
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Book of the Year
A YALSA Best Audiobook of the Year
The Week Jr. Read Across America Title
2025 Nēnē Award Children's Book Award Winner
A Crystal Kite Honor Book for the Southwest Region

A Common Sense Media Selection


"This exciting, fast-paced adventure is full of humor and action. Hawaiian cultural elements are seamlessly woven into the story, giving just enough context for those unfamiliar with them without taking away from the narrative. An exhilarating, adventure-filled celebration of Hawaiian culture." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Maunakea displays mastery in weaving Hawaiian words, mythological references, and legendary Hawaiian figures into her story in a manner that draws readers’ attention to the richness of the traditions and beauty of Hawai’i. . .this story belongs in the hands of middle grade readers who love adventure fiction and mythological elements, as well as those who wish to find an example of rediscovering pride in one’s culture and identity." —School Library Journal

"Anna feels too Hawaiian to fit in at school, but too haole, or white, to feel at home in Hawaii—a struggle that aptly center themes of identity and connection in Maunakea’s energetic, adventuresome debut." —Publishers Weekly

"The author sensitively portrays the way her half-white protagonist wrestles with her identity . . . an exciting adventure in an uncommon, perceptively drawn setting." —Booklist