Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers

Set in Hawaii in 1944, this novel is told between two protagonists, Ella, 10 years old and her mother, Violet. With the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the influx of soldiers, Hawaii with its lushness, sets the background for this WWII story. While Violet and Ella have gone a year without knowing the whereabouts of Herman, Ella's dad and Violet's husband, their lives are in limbo. Enter the army and the soldiers who come to train before being shipped out, both are now ensconced in a different and more unsettled way of living. Surrounded by their friends and neighbors, the women decide to open a pie stand to make a few extra dollars. Their sweet pies give them an opportunity to keep themselves busy, while the soldiers have a taste of home. In the midst of this, we catch a glimpse of those Japanese families who now are no longer friends to some in the community, but are considered the enemy. How quickly people become prejudiced, scared and more than just a little paranoid. We watch, as Ella carries a big secret inside of her, causing her fear and a great deal of angst for her mother.This was a well written novel, well researched and well told. A book that I could hardly put down, I highly recommend it, this is a 5 star novel.

A beautifully written historical fiction novel about the lives of a family residing in Honoka'a during WWII. Ms. Ackerman perfectly paints the backdrop of Hawaii in rich descriptions, full of the birds, flowers, plants, smells, and the heat of Hawaii. The family is a single mom (Violet) and her young daughter (Ella), who are left with each other after their patriarch (Herman) disappears. The book is told from the differing points of view of Violet and Ella, which each provide a different take on the disappearance, the war, and the people of the time. The community around this family is full of interesting characters, from their roommate and close friend (Jean), to the information-sharing telephone operator (Irene), to the reclusive okolehau (home-brewed alcohol) maker of Waipio (Bernard). The family also has a close relationship with their Japanese neighbors (the Hamasas), and are constantly standing up for them after the Pearl Harbor attack. The soldiers who enter the story are also well-written characters, ranging from those filled with hate for the Japanese, to those who separate the conflict from the American Japanese. One multi-faceted soldier (Parker) finds a way into the good graces of Violet and Ella, through a pet lion cub (Roscoe), which is based on a true lion mascot brought to the island by soldiers. The romantic tension between Violet and Parker makes for great suspenseful reading!The true effects of WWII are woven throughout the book, from food and fuel rationing, to curfews, to the air raid drills of the time. In order to make extra money, the women cook pies to supplement their income, and come up with a funny and unique name for their pies. Also discussed are internment camps for the Japanese, and the constant fear the American Japanese lived with of being plucked from their homes and the lives, or separated from their families out of suspicion of collusion with the enemy.The mystery of Herman's disappearance haunts the characters, causing Ella mental anguish, and emotional conflict to Violet. As the mystery is solved in an intense climax, Ms. Ackerman pulls key characters together for a satisfying finish.This book was a joy to read, due to the rich and interesting characters, the unique interchange of the narrators, the underlying mystery, the historical accuracy, and the descriptions of Hawaii that really bring the backdrop of the story alive. I highly recommend this book!!

All too often, any WWII era work set in Hawaii focuses on Pearl Harbor, but the entire then territory of Hawaii was affected in ways unimaginable on the U.S. mainland; the Territory of Hawaii was under martial law until 1944, unlike the U.S. mainland. The title “Sweet Pies and Soldiers” is deceptive in its simplicity, as it tells a complex story about loss, longing, trauma, and life continuing in unexpected circumstances, all with humor, heart, and aloha. This is a novel of interest to WWII history buffs, “locals” who may be unaware of The Big Island’s role during WWII, and Hawaii fans, plus the optimists and romantics among us.

I don’t typically read romances but I am a sucker for stories of old Hawaii. This one turns out to be literally true in good storytelling fashion as the main characters are loosely modeled after the author’s grandparents who were living breathing real people at a school on the big island during this time. The romance part is well done and will tear you up a time or two and the mystery is a pretty good story in its own right. The book also gets an A for its history. The author knows these stories first hand and she gets them right. From the hate hidden in some people to the multicultural wonder that Hawaii remains even in the face of mass tourism, the author writes with conviction and Aloha.

The main problem, from my viewpoint, was with the characters—especially the child who was important to the plot. The child was unchildlike. The though the author was portraying a traumatized child, the behavior and psyche were not believable. Also, the plot unfolded in a predictable way. However, I have not read any account previously—fiction or “non”—of what life was like for Hawaiian civilians during WWII, and that WAS very interesting.

I liked some of the characters in this book a lot, and got a glimpse of the suffering that went on in Hawaii during WWII. I hadn't realized there were so many Japanese living in Hawaii. One more instance where Japanese who were born Americans were distrusted and/or interned. In some ways the book came close to being a romance novel--but not quite. The theme of friendship that is strong enough to enable us to endure loss and hardship was the main theme. I enjoyed the book. Ella, the little girl who was suffering trauma and loss was my favorite character--and the pet lion came in a close second.

I bought this book because of the title, the cover, and the setting. What a disappointment! I found it rather boring and I just couldn't like any of the characters. I only finished the book because I spent money on it.

This was a new author for me, and I found the story entertaining. I liked the characters and the storyline, and there were few if any grammatical errors which can be annoying.

Great book I really loved it and an interesting story.

Liked the story !