The Mango Queen of Waikiki

Out of the fear and chaos following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, emerges an evocative story of one family and how they cope with tragedy and loss, and how their labors and loves alternately bind and sunder them. The choices they make, often without sufficient knowledge, affect them for generations. Their adventures, romances, friendships and relationships are told with tenderness, humor and sometimes anger by Melba, the Mango Queen, who sits in judgement. Most of what is written about Pearl Harbor concerns military actions and military personnel. This is a deeply personal story of people who rarely make the news, but who lead lives of desperate endurance and quiet courage. It explores Japanese culture in Hawaii and the sometimes shocking reactions to the war. It's the kind of book that stays with you long after the last page has been read.