Mahina Rises

Editor's Pick Review by BookLife.com: 

Mahina Moemoea often dreams of flying towards her mother's voice—a mysterious force calling her to the lava tubes where her parents met their end during a hurricane 13 years ago. Tutu, her grandmother, remains tight-lipped about the tragedy, and when Mahina shares the thrill of her flying visions, Tutu's response is sharp: "The Moemoea dreams … are a curse," she warns, convinced that these dreams led to her daughter’s death. For Tutu, working in their ranch's rich and revitalizing soil is enough. She makes Mahina promise to ignore her dreams, fearing she might lose her granddaughter to the same fate.

Mahina, ever the dreamer, refuses to be tethered by fear and, though plagued with guilt, defies her Tutu. When a hurricane destroys Po'okela Academy, Mahina dares an idea inspired by her dreams—a fundraising concert to rebuild her school—and enlists the help of her best friend, Koa, and her supportive teacher, Ms. Reynolds. What unfolds is a dangerous yet soaring journey where Mahina discovers that the Moemoeas’s irresistible powers are far more than a curse, through secret trips to the lava tubes, bouts of sleepwalking and nightmares, and the growing realization that her visions might even hold the key to combating climate change.

Blending magical realism and Hawaiian lore, Blossom (author of Horse Boys) offers a timeless story, rich with Hawaiian culture, and implores readers to contemplate the power of dreams and the fears that often stifle them, with lovable characters who embody the courage of the next generation. Tutu's words, "the power is not in the dreams. It is in you," resonate throughout, a reminder that dreams mean nothing without action. Mahina Rises is a powerful call for guardians to nurture their children's dreams and for the young to believe they can make a difference in a world ravaged by greed. This is an urgent read on caring for our planet.

Takeaway: Soaring adventure of two kids who combat climate change.

Comparable Titles: Axie Oh's The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Peter Brown's The Wild Robot.

5-Star Review by K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite:

Mahina Rises by John Blossom is a young adult novel that blends a thrilling magical realism adventure with a powerful message of hope. The story follows thirteen-year-old Mahina Moemoea, who lives on a Hawaiian ranch and has extraordinary flying dreams. Her grandmother, Tutu, warns her against exploring the family's special powers, believing they caused Mahina's parents' deaths. However, when her mother's spirit leads her on a dangerous journey, Mahina must embrace her abilities to fulfill her family's destiny of spreading aloha and combating climate change.

Author John Blossom has created a beautifully family-centric story that combines effortless magical realism with environmental themes in a story that's both enchanting and deeply meaningful for its YA audience. The vivid descriptions bring the Hawaiian setting and its mystical elements to life, immersing readers in Mahina's world with multi-sensory details from the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures of the lush surroundings. This same treatment and level of atmospheric detail also extends into the character development, bringing each figure that Mahina meets into being as they leap off the page to greet you. Tutu was such a strong figure with a lot of different layers of protectiveness and tradition at play, and the dialogue around family superstitions and the environment was such a natural way of unveiling the upcoming plot. Blossom's exploration of generational conflict adds further emotional depth to a relatable and poignant struggle, but this is never too heavy or harmful, making the message of hope timely and inspiring. Overall, I would certainly recommend Mahina Rises to fans of immersive and heartfelt YA fiction that is perfectly pitched between fantasy and reality for its audience.

Unlike many climate change novels, Mahina Rises offers a vision of hope for humankind through a courageous story of a native Hawaiian family's recognition of the fulfilling and sufficient miracle of life itself. "To make the extraordinary ordinary so that ordinary has the chance to feel extraordinary again." 

The marketing plan is to attract reviewers, bloggers, and journalists to spread the word about this inspiring and engaging novel with a unique perspective on how to use dreams to solve the climate crisis. A love letter from Hawaii to the world.