"Hawaiian Sunrise to Sunset: A Middle School Counselor’s Diary of a Working Day," by Randall Ng (Outskirts Press, $15.95; also e-book): Author Ng recounts working with kids in a low-income neighborhood. His students run the gamut from gifted to gang members, at-risk to motivated, and safe in loving families to abused by parents and caregivers.
"The Seagull’s Gardener," by Pam Chun (CreateSpace, $14; also e-book): A biography of the author’s Hawaii-born father, including archival photos and family recipes, and how Chun ended up being his caregiver.
"Buried in the Past," by Jim Iams (Amazon Digital Services, $2.99 e-book): The author, well known in local volleyball circles, has written a novel about two men wanting to make a fresh beginning after being away from the U.S. for more than 20 years. One is a decorated war hero with his sights on the White House; the other a former AWOL soldier. The two are thrust together to fight threats and suspicion fomented by a powerful politician.
"Hydrangea Waving: Journey of an American Boy Born in Yokohama and Living in Japan During WWII and Post War Years," by Joe Hale (Infinity Publishing, $13.95; also e-book): The autobiography elaborates on the author’s teen years in Japan, his move to Hawaii to attend Punahou and his work with Pan American World Airways and battle with cancer.
"Kauai Stories: Life on the Garden Island Told by Kauai’s People," by Pamela Varma Brown (Amazon Digital Services, $8.99 e-book): More than 50 personal stories are woven together to paint a picture of Kauai, including efforts to keep the ancient art of hula alive and growing up in multicultural plantation camps.
"Fortunate Son: A William Langdon Novel," by Stephen Fredrick (CreateSpace, $24.99; also e-book): The Maui author’s second novel in his series about a New Orleans private detective involves the rape and beating of a girl on the banks of the Mississippi River, discovered the morning after Mardi Gras.
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.
