That Which Feeds Us: A ­Hawaiian Gothic

Gr 8 Up–Twin sisters Lehua and Ohia haven’t spoken in months when Ohia calls to let Lehua know she has left Phoenix to work in a remote resort on a Hawaiian ­island. Two weeks later, Lehua knows something has gone wrong, and the only solution she can think of is to follow in her sister’s footsteps. En route, she meets Melia, who, like Lehua’s sister, is also seeking a fresh start at the resort. Once there, Lehua immediately senses something is off with not only the resort staff but also the guests. As Melia and Lehua investigate the mystery surrounding Ohia, the ghostly presence on the island intensifies. This thriller is a slow burn: a substantial part of the beginning is getting to know ­Lehua, the more reserved twin, and Ohia, the outgoing one who excels at everything. By learning the girls’ ­personalities, readers are invited to delve deeper into the mystery of Ohia’s disappearance. Filled with the troubling history of the colonization of Hawaii as well as beautiful stories of ­Hawaiian culture, this tale is littered with jump scares and a fair amount of gore. ­Lehua and Ohia have trauma that stems from foster care, the death of their grandparents, and not knowing where their mother is. ­Alcohol use by a minor is implied, and there is a consensual physically intimate encounter between ­Melia and Lehua. Main characters are Hawaiian; antagonists are white. ­