“A Trek Through Nepal,” by Max Nadiero (Dorrance Publishing, $12; also e-book): The Hawaii island writer relates his midlife adventure through the Himalayas as part of an eclectic group led by a British officer who usually travels to recruit mercenaries. Pushed out of his comfort zone, Nadiero becomes a better person because of the arduous trip.
“Lehua, Ka‘ao a Ka Wahine,” by Gene J. Parola (CreateSpace, $13): In this first part of a planned trilogy chronicling the coming of age of a fictious Hawaiian noblewoman, the protagonist struggles with her family over the ramifications of Queen Kaahumanu’s lifting of the sacred kapu system and her love for a Hawaiian-Chinese paniolo.
“Fifty-Fifty: The Clarity of Hindsight,” by Julie L. Kessler (Strategic Book Publishing, $16.95): The 50-year-old University of Hawaii graduate has compiled a like number of chapters that describe her travel, work and life adventures.
“Vibrational Passage,” by Jennifer Dustow and Kimberly Miyasaki Lee (CreateSpace, $9.99; also e-book): A doctor, who has cracked the DNA code of autistic children, mysteriously disappears during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A group looking into the disappearance happens on time-travel technology the military has kept secret. The authors said the books express their views and feelings caused by Lee losing her brother-in-law on 9/11 and Dustow’s “frustrations in the field of autism.”
“The Trivia Lover’s Guide to the World: Geography for the Lost and Found,” by Gary Fuller (Rowman & Littlefield, $16.95): Answer: Honolulu. Question: What U.S. county is well over 1,000 miles in length? The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands account for most of that distance — just one of the fun bits of geography and history in this engaging illustrated reference book by Fuller, a University of Hawaii professor emeritus of geography and former “Jeopardy!” winner.
“It’s Always Okay to Be Me: A Journey to Recovering Lost Hope,” by Danielle Marie Bergan (CreateSpace, $16.95): A transgendered Maui writer’s memoir, from her early years as Daniel, a budding poet and athlete, through her current search for meaning in her life.
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Page Turners highlights books by Hawaii authors and books about Hawaii or of interest to Hawaii readers. To submit a book for consideration, send a copy and information to Features Department, 500 Ala Moana Blvd. Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. For more information, email features@staradvertiser.com.
