Book Spotlight sponsored* by James Eldridge
The Children’s Book Review
A brother and sister are chosen to protect a secret world in their Hawaiian paradise and meet a quirky cast of characters along the way. When they are unknowingly given access to a hidden and legendary world in their native O’ahu, they are also gifted with an unexpected set of magical abilities.
About the Book
Islanders: The Pacific Chronicles (Book 1)
Written by James Eldridge
Illustrated by Richard Eldridge
Publisher: Independently Published | ISBN-13: 9798355175214
Publisher’s Book Summary: When eleven-year-old Kilikina and her brother, fourteen-year-old Kaimana, are unknowingly given access to a hidden and legendary world in their native O’ahu in the Hawaiian islands, they are also gifted with an unexpected set of magical abilities. Soon, they find themselves on an adventure, one in which they experience the interconnectedness of the world around them and begin to learn firsthand about the islands’ vast history and traditions.
Guided by a quirky and silly duo from a mythical race of tiny people, the siblings soon learn they have been chosen to help protect their island and way of life from a great evil. Are they up to the challenge?
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About the Author and Illustrator
Children’s book author James Eldridge and his illustrator brother Richard Eldridge were raised in Hawaii and were inspired to bring the beauty and mythology of their homeland to young readers with their middle-grade fantasy novel, Islanders, the first installment in The Pacific Chronicles series.
James is married to the lovely, real-life Kilikina, and together, they have four children. Richard is married to his childhood friend, and together they have their own island girl. After a near-fatal experience with COVID in 2021, including forty-five days on a ventilator in the ICU, multiple blood transfusions, being in an induced coma, and having several life-saving surgeries, James’s road to recovery was both mentally and physically challenging. He and his brother worked together to bring this story to life, using their home as a background, as a way to focus on something creative and inspiring to help James put the nightmare of COVID behind him.
James and Richard explain that there is a fascinating concept of duality in the animal world in Hawaii: there are native species and invasive species, yet many people (especially visitors) cannot tell the difference. For their series, they enjoy using the idea that these species are secretly at war with each other for control of the island, and nearly no humans are aware of it except for a chosen few. The brothers hope their young readers come away from their stories having tasted a small part of the beautiful Hawaiian language, the soft strength and humor of its culture, a respect for its history, and a desire to visit.
James now lives in Bentonville, Arkansas, while Richard lives in Honolulu, Hawaii. Islanders, book one in The Pacific Chronicles series, is their debut novel.
For more information, visit www.PacificChronicles.com.
79 Comments
I would love to win this book for my grandson.
a secret world in a Hawaiian paradise an adventure for zay she would love
I would love to win because I love beautiful illustrated books.
Beautifully illustrated!
Now I need to know what the secret world is all about.
This is a fantastic opportunity to win a wonderful book for my grandson.
An interesting book
My son would love this book.
Wow the children that I tutor would love to browse this book the pics in it are so good I wish I had this book when I was teaching perfect when teaching about the ocean and birds!
I would love to win this book for my nephew.
I would love to win because my family and I would enjoy reading this book.
A adventure that zay would enjoy
My children would enjoy this book!