Hulme’s depiction of cultural blending is believable and mostly well-executed. All of the main characters can speak (or write in Simon’s case) both languages although only Joe looks Māori on sight. Joe is full Māori and Simon is an orphan of European descent being raised in this blended Māori/European environment. Using a mixture of English and Māori language Hulme is able to show the culture of the area where Kerewin is living. Hulme draws from her own life as a New Zealander of Māori (the native peoples of the island) and European descent to craft the character of Kerewin. What will Kerewin do about the abuse? Will she cast aside her new friends just has she has alienated herself from her family? These answers and more are revealed in the wake of a terrible catastrophe that will test the mettle of Kerewin, Joe, and Simon. Interrupting her search for Simon’s past life, is the discovery that Joe has been physically abusing Simon. Simon and his adoptive father Joe become part of Kerewin’s life as she tries to figure out the mystery of Simon’s origin-nothing is known about his life before he was found washed up on a beach after a shipwreck. Set in New Zealand, Hulme’s story centers on Kerewin, a hermit living in a tower, whose life is disrupted by a 7-year-old mute boy, Simon, sneaking into her home. Click on the image to view the book on Amazon
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