Summary: "Sharks in the Time of Saviors is the story of a family, a people, and a legend, all wrapped in one. Faith and grief, rage and love, this book pulses with all of it. Kawai Strong Washburn makes his debut with a wealth of talent and a true artist's eye." --Victor LaValle, author of The ChangelingIn 1995 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on a rare family vacation, seven-year-old Nainoa Flores falls overboard a cruise ship into the Pacific Ocean. When a shiver of sharks appears in the water, everyone fears for the worst. But instead, Noa is gingerly delivered to his mother in the jaws of a shark, marking his story as the stuff of legends.
Nainoa's family, struggling amidst the collapse of the sugarcane industry, hails his rescue as a sign of favor from ancient Hawaiian gods--a belief that appears validated after he exhibits puzzling new abilities. But as time passes, this supposed divine favor begins to drive the family apart: Nainoa, working now as a paramedic on the streets of Portland, struggles to fathom the full measure of his expanding abilities; further north in Washington, his older brother Dean hurtles into the world of elite college athletics, obsessed with wealth and fame; while in California, risk-obsessed younger sister Kaui navigates an unforgiving academic workload in an attempt to forge her independence from the family's legacy.
When supernatural events revisit the Flores family in Hawai'i--with tragic consequences--they are all forced to reckon with the bonds of family, the meaning of heritage, and the cost of survival. (Summary and pic from goodreads.com)
I really enjoyed the magical realism in this book. It was the best kind of magical realism, I think, wherein it is almost excusable as just a person with extraordinary talents and abilities, and barely crosses the line where actual magic is performed. I like books about real magic, too, but it is fun to think that there are some things in the world that really are magical; that there are enough unexplained things that the world still holds some mystery and discovery yet to be had.
Washburn was not afraid to take on some difficult family relationships and issues. Even the most functional family still has issues to work through, right? Everyone has experienced some sort of trauma or difficulties, and this family certainly had its fair share. Washburn is able to help us understand each person’s troubles with the rotating narrator viewpoint, which I usually really enjoy. This was no exception. I like seeing what different characters are thinking and feeling, and this works especially well when the characters are in different geographical places.
This book had an interesting and powerful ending. I liked that it came full circle and resolved all the loose ends. Although it didn’t necessarily have the perfect happy ending, it definitely felt satisfying. This book was well-written. Washburn takes on a lot and delivers in the end.
My Rating: 4 Stars
For the sensitive
reader: There is language and some discussion of sex, including same-sex
relationships.
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