Synopsis
Inspired by real places and events of WWII, Red Sky Over Hawaii immerses the reader in a time of American history full of suspicion and peril in this lush and poignant tale about the indisputable power of doing the right thing against all odds.
The attack on Pearl Harbor changes everything for Lana Hitchcock. Arriving home on the Big Island too late to reconcile with her estranged father, she is left alone to untangle the clues of his legacy, which lead to a secret property tucked away in the remote rain forest of Kilauea volcano. When the government starts taking away her neighbors as suspected sympathizers, Lana shelters two young German girls, a Japanese fisherman and his son. As tensions escalate, they are forced into hiding—only to discover the hideaway house is not what they expected.
When a detainment camp is established nearby, Lana struggles to keep the secrets of those in her care. Trust could have dangerous consequences. As their lives weave together, Lana begins to understand the true meaning of family and how the bonds of love carry us through the worst times.
Details
- Title: Red Sky Over Hawaii
My Thoughts
For me, the novel got off to a rough start with the first few chapters jumping back and forth between days.
- Chapters
- Chapter 1 December 8, 1941
- Chapter 2 December 5, 1941
- Chapter 3 December 8, 1941
- Chapter 4 December 6, 1941, Hilo
- Chapter 5 December 6, 1941, Hilo
Perhaps I was distracted when I started the book, but the back and forth left me a little lost, especially since I hadn’t had time to get to know the characters. However, after continuing to read I was able to piece things together. But the start didn’t immediately endear me to the story.
Though I’ve never stopped to wonder what it must have been like to live on the island after the bombing, Lana Hitchcock took me on just such a journey. She arrived on the Big Island to visit her estranged dad, but instead she got embroiled in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor bombing.
When Lana’s neighbors are suspected of being sympathizers and taken by the government, Lana decides to get involved with others who are apt to be discovered and taken as well.
The small band of neighbors that she is attempting to shelter make there way to a hideaway that her father had obtained. A secret property that should work perfectly to safely house the neighbors.
But when a nearby detainment camp is discovered, it becomes harder to keep everyone safe.
This is a story that intermingles details of WWII and Pearl Harbor with elements of trust, and caring for others.
What Concerned Me
While I was excited to have a WWII historical fiction revolve around the Pearl Harbor attack, and this did, it just didn’t quite click with me. The story itself didn’t cause me to turn pages and I didn’t have the interest that I’d hoped to have.
What I Liked Most
I did think the descriptions by Sara Ackerman were easy to visualize. I like that this novel took a different twist, even if it was one that may have disappointed me in some ways, and revolved more around people and the things that might have happened after the attack. And according to Ackerman, there is an old house at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that was built in 1941 as a hideaway in the event of a Japanese invasion. It was extremely interesting that this became a major part of her story.
It is with the author’s vision and imagination that she created this lovely story of brotherhood, community, and family.
My thanks to #netgalley and #harlequin for a copy of #redskyoverhawaii. All opinions in this review are entirely my own.
Rating
About the Author
Sara Ackerman writes books about love and life, and all of their messy and beautiful imperfections. She believes that the light is just as important as the dark, and that the world is in need of uplifting and heartwarming stories. Born and raised in Hawaii, she studied journalism and later earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese medicine. She blames Hawaii for her addiction to writing, and sees no end to its untapped stories.
