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.
"As the Phoenix Flies," by E.C. Ho (CreateSpace, $12.99; also e-book): A dry recitation of the story of two Chinese immigrant families to Hawaii told through the lives of a young man and the child he watches over, and how they adapted to the island way of life.
"The Coral Carrier," by Binion Amerson (Binion Amerson Books, $25): A scholarly history of the isolated French Frigate Shoals atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands that includes studies of bird populations and the personal communications of past commanding officers, enlisted men and researchers connected with the Coast Guard, Navy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Tern Island Research Station.
"The Last Atoll: Exploring Hawai‘i’s Endangered Ecosystems," by Pamela Frierson (Trinity University Press, $16.95; also e-book): The Cades Award winner also provides insight into the northwestern islands, by chronicling her decade of research on the coral reefs and atolls that are home to rare species such as the Hawaiian monk seal.
"Loves Lost and Found," by Lynne G. Halevi (Wasteland Press, $16.95): The 83-year-old substitute teacher and community theater volunteer shares the heartfelt verse she wrote for her late husband, Vic, with the help of her Alzheimer’s poetry support group.
"The Toll of the West," by Christopher P. Gibbon (lulu.com, $19.95): The former Haleiwa writer (now in Los Angeles) blends fiction with social history about a young man living in the North Shore community trying to make a new life for himself until the past threatens to derail all he’s built up.
"Escape from Paradise," by Walter Wild (Xlibris, $19.99; also e-book): This tersely written Hawaii-based thriller is about a charismatic psychologist who resorts to murder and mind control in his quest to create a utopian community on Oahu. A former psychologist and a "beautiful journalist" attempt to expose his dastardly plans.