Read on Twitter
I try to keep my discussions of this kind of thing off my main feed, but this oneâs a punch to the gut. My kids donât need this kind of story about themselves. Go read Makiia Lucierâs gorgeous novels instead while we continue to wait for stories that show some respect. https://twitter.com/fangirljeanne/status/1299393600984199168
(And believe me, wouldnât I love to point you to highly specific Pacific Islander stories by community, and differentiate by region, and offer you contemporaries alongside fantasy. Wouldnât I love to be able to do that, if the stories werenât so far and few between.)
You have a favorite? By all means, drop it here!
You want to know just how difficult it is, I still think about the time I went actively looking for stories for my family over a year ago and this was the most I found. https://twitter.com/laniwendtyoung/status/1112157655903006720
As one person said, âThis tweet got the opposite of ratioâed, and thatâs so much worse.â Yeah, no kidding.
For a contemporary in Hawaiâi, try SUMMER BIRD BLUE by Akemi Dawn Bowman if you havenât already. I loved this one. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35716237-summer-bird-blue
Have a look at Lani Youngâs Talesa series, fantasy based on Pacific mythology. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4353097.Lani_Wendt_Young
Also by Malulani Moreno, a contemporary set in Hawaiâi about two boys struggling with identity and loss in their community after other boys in their town go missing https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52459809-an-island-without-you
A 2018 list of books (mostly adult, not MG/YA, but still nice to see!): https://twitter.com/vickycbooks/status/1299758010659737600
An alternate-history graphic novel set in 1500s Pacific Islands! https://twitter.com/vickycbooks/status/1299759138830979072
A May 2019 list from Electric Lit including poetry from one of my personal favorite authors, repping the Marshall Islands, Kathy JetnÌil-Kijiner: https://electricliterature.com/13-books-by-pacific-islanders/
A December 2019 debut by Fijian author Paulini Turagabeci, who could use some love, about a grandfather fighting for custody of his infant grandson: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52764511-the-river
Several books by Samoan author Sia Figuel, with themes about living as girls and women in Samoa: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/224731.Sia_Figiel
Hanya Yanagihara, who grew up in Hawaiâi, is better known for her novel A LITTLE LIFE, but she also wrote a novel set in Micronesia called THE PEOPLE IN THE TREES. Not sure what Micronesian readers think about this one, but you can find it here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16126596-the-people-in-the-trees
Pubbed way back in 2010 but still possible to buy, a collection of short stories set in Guam, by Tanya Taimanglo https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9841605-attitude-13
No luck with novels from Kiribati.
No luck with novels from the Marshall Islands.
(At least, nothing beyond the anthropological bent.)
No luck with novels from the Marshall Islands.
(At least, nothing beyond the anthropological bent.)
Finding a couple Tongan poets (Mepa Taufa-Vuni, Karlo Mila) and a picture book author (Olina Fonua). No contemporary novelists, though it seems the community had a flurry of creative work in the 60s and 70s.
Goodreads List! https://twitter.com/fangirljeanne/status/1299798669852459008
A list of recent poetry collections from @craigsperez (who is a lovely person and shares links to lots of good academic content as well) https://twitter.com/craigsperez/status/1293312716015165445
