Lei and the Fire Goddess

"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

"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

"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

"Anna is brash and impulsive, traits that lead her into trouble but also give her the courage and creativity to find her way back out, and her struggles to reconcile her love for her grandma with her desire to fit in
back in Colorado are authentic. Maunakea elegantly folds in enough cultural details to orient readers while not interrupting the flow of the story, trusting the reader to use context with unfamiliar terms or to weave together the snippets of Hawaiian lore as they are offered." —Bulletin for the Center of Children Books