
How did Hawaii become part of America? This story, inspired by true events suppressed for nearly 100 years, is the one James Michener never wrote. In 1886, Laura Jennings travels to Hawaii to live with missionary relatives. She imagines she'll live in a grass hut, ministering to savages. When she arrives in Honolulu, she's surprised to find her relatives are among the wealthy elite plotting to overthrow the Hawaiian monarchy. And, far from being savages, the Hawaiians have developed a charming and prosperous Victorian kingdom. To avoid her conniving uncle's control, Laura leaves to work for the royal family and learns her family's prejudices against them are false. The last Queen, Lili`uokalani, (prounounced Leelee-oo-oh-ka-lani)

wages a tragic struggle to save the Kingdom. Through choices she makes when every avenue is blocked, Laura sees the power that can restore the spirit of a people caught in a turbulent world and discovers how long-hidden secrets of her own family lead the way to reunion.
4 stars. The fiction part of the story (Laura's adventure) was only so-so. But the historical part of the story (the Hawai`i Overthrow) was fascinating. Manifest Desitny was a way for Rich White Christians to take over the world, destory peoples culture, lanuage, & way of life & do what they pleased all in the name of Civility & God!