First published 1987
Paul arrives on Tefuga, a small Pacific island where his anthropologist father conducts research among the indigenous community. The island holds secrets that stretch back generations, and Paul finds himself caught between the modern world he knows and the traditional beliefs that still govern island life. As he learns the local customs and language, Paul discovers that some mysteries cannot be explained by Western science alone. The islanders guard their ancient knowledge carefully, and Paul must earn their trust before he can understand the forces that shape their world. His journey becomes one of self-discovery as much as cultural exploration, forcing him to question everything he thought he knew about reality and belonging.
Genres: literary-fiction, adventure, coming-of-age, fantasy, anthropology, cultural
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Tefuga, Pacific
Period: 20th-century
256 pages · Paperback · Pantheon