(4) 4-6 Thirteen-year-old Kaya, a Chinese and Taiwanese American girl, grapples with hydrophobia and anxiety while navigating her ancestral roots and mysterious connections to a water goddess. Set in Hawaii, the novel weaves together Kaya's personal journey with historical flashbacks and family secrets. Huang’s atmospheric writing captures the archipelago’s beauty, complementing the story’s magical realism and Kaya’s emotional journey. Some unresolved plot points may leave readers wanting more, but the novel’s explorations of themes such as anxiety and identity are compelling.

Reviewer: Summer Edward