AN EXPANSE OF BLUE

Aouli Smith, a Native Hawaiian 17-year-old, is growing up in a “run-of-the-mill / mostly white / middle-class / suburban / mehhole” just south of Seattle and grappling with turmoil in her relationships with family, friends, faith, and boys.

Aouli, whose name means “blue, sky, expanse,” lives in a small house with little privacy from her controlling, hot-tempered dad; devout, conciliatory mom (who’s cued part Japanese); and high-achieving sister, Kāia. Constantly scrutinized and critiqued, Aouli often feels like she can’t do anything right. When her best friend deserts her for a rich, popular girl from their Catholic church’s youth group and Aouli discovers that her dad is having an affair, she feels even more isolated. The one unambiguously bright spot is Aunty Ehu: Her warmhearted great-aunt’s house is “a beacon for Hawaiians / … / some of them family by blood, / others by the heart.” The arrival of handsome, kind Nalu (“Like the big blue sea?”), whose family is also from Kona, is a balm for her soul. The two fall hard for one another, but their relationship is haunted by secrets and things left unsaid. Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) debut novelist Adams makes strong use of the verse format, effectively utilizing layout to emphasize meaning in this culturally rich coming-of-age story. Aouli’s desperate yearning to be seen and valued for herself will resonate widely.

An emotionally raw, nuanced work from a new voice to watch.