Join Mandy Frey as she and three friends leave their
Amish community in Indiana for the trip of a lifetime to Hawaii. But when Mandy
and one of her friends miss the cruise ship after a port of call on Kauai, how
will they adjust and get back home?
Good book with an unusual setting for an Amish book.
Mandy has been fascinated with Hawaii since her cousin visited, so she talks
her three best friends, Ellen, Sadie, and Barbara, into taking a cruise to the
Islands with her. All four young women are still in their "running
around" years before joining the church, so their families and church
leaders permit the trip. Of the four, only Mandy has a boyfriend, Gideon. He
wants to marry Mandy and isn't very happy about her trip.
We get to know the girls a little bit on the days it
takes the ship to get from California to Hawaii. All are excited about visiting
Hawaii as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I enjoyed seeing them experience
life on the cruise ship, from Ellen's unfortunate seasickness to their
enjoyment of the variety of foods. But as the days went on, I felt that Mandy was
questioning her commitment to the Amish faith. Unlike her three friends, she is
in no hurry to take the final step to join the church.
Once they reached the islands, the girls paired up, each touring
something different and telling the others about their experiences. I thought
this was a terrific way to maximize their time and get the most out of their
trip. I enjoyed the descriptions of their tours of Oahu. Ellen and Barbara went
to the Polynesian Cultural Center, looking forward to learning about the
history and culture. Meanwhile, Mandy and Sadie visit the Arizona Memorial, as
both are interested in WW2 history. I could feel their sadness as they
contemplated the events of that day. It made a deep impression on both. Their
next stop was Kauai, where Barbara and Sadie paired up to tour Waimea Canyon,
and Mandy and Ellen decided to strike out on their own. Unfortunately, Mandy
lost her phone and, taking time to look for it, she and Ellen missed the ship's
departure. Their dismay and worry were evident. Fortunately, they were rescued
by a couple who took them to a local B&B.
Here is where suspension of disbelief comes into play. Mandy
and Ellen immediately latch on to the idea that they are stranded and must wait
for the next cruise ship to resume their trip. In reality, there are multiple
flights from Kauai to the Big Island each day. If they don't want to fly, there
is also a ferry between the islands. They could have taken either option and
met up with their ship the next day. But that would have made for a very short
book! Instead, they stay with Luana and Makaio at the B&B while they wait
for a ship. I liked how easily Mandy and Ellen connected with their hosts. With
no luggage, Mandy and Ellen end up purchasing some non-Amish clothing. While
Ellen is uncomfortable in the strange clothing, Mandy discovers she likes the
freedom of the muumuu she bought. She
also meets Ken, a young man she had encountered the previous day, who works on
his parents' chicken farm, surfs, and plays ukulele at their church.
When Makaio is badly injured, Mandy and Ellen offer to
extend their stay and help Luana run the B&B. I loved their willingness to
help in a crisis. During their extended stay, Mandy and Ellen have the
opportunity to see more of the island. Here we begin to see some differences
crop up between Mandy and Ellen. Ellen is always conscious of the requirements
of their faith. She frequently speaks of home and how she misses it. Mandy is
fascinated by everything she experiences, from the lush gardens and plant life to
the vastly different lifestyle. She spends more and more time with Ken, who
shows her around the island, teaches her to swim, and is quite charming. Mandy begins
questioning her feelings for Gideon as her feelings for Ken grow but has no
idea if Ken feels the same way about her. Ellen sees all this happening and
worries about her friend's commitment. Her interference causes Mandy to
question herself right before they return to Indiana.
Upon their return, Mandy tries to settle back into her
old life, but she's been changed by her experiences in Hawaii. The more she
tries, the more she realizes that she no longer fits in her community. I felt
her heartache as she remembered her time in Hawaii and yearned to return. When
a stunning discovery sends her back to Hawaii, she finds she has unexpected options
for her future. I loved how it worked out and enjoyed seeing Mandy's happiness.
The book's point of view flipped back and forth between
the girls and the people back in Indiana. Much of the Indiana viewpoint is that
of Gideon. He misses Mandy and often thinks of their plans to join the church and
get married. I didn't care for the way he was against her trip as it felt a
little controlling to me. I felt terrible for him when he would call the
B&B and Mandy would be away, often with Ken or just too busy to talk. Barbara
and Sadie returned from the trip without Ellen and Mandy and picked up their
regular lives. But Barbara's sympathy for Gideon becomes more, and Sadie
worries about the wisdom of that friendship. What will happen when Mandy
finally comes home?
The title of the book, The Hawaiian Quilt, comes from
Luana's story about a quilt she owned. Her mother had made a beautiful quilt
for Luana and Makaio when they first married. But the quilt was lost when they
moved from the Big Island to Kauai to open the B&B. The quilt's story has
an inspiring ending, and I love how it fits into the book.
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