Set in Hawaii this book begins just prior to Hawaii being annexed to the U.S. and ends after statehood. The focus of the book is the leper colony at Kalaupapa on the island of Momoka'i. Young Rachel Kalama is diagnosed with leprosy at the age of seven and is sent to the colony to live out her life. Most would have thought that she would live out the rest of her life on this island but then life does not always follow a prescribed plan. This is Rachel's story and it is one that is beautifully woven among her family and the people who become her family at Kalaupapa. This is a story that is both emotionally packed and visually remarkable. It is packed with historical information and wonderfully entertaining characters.