Blu's Hanging
The second novel from Yamanaka, who is also an award-winning poet, is about three kids trying to hold themselves and their family together after the death of their mother. The story is set in the cultural crossroads of Hawaii, where the Ogata kids--Masie, Ivah, and Blu--are forced to find their way through the poverty, violence, and racism of their harsh environment.  Displaying her ear for the poetry of real-life language, Yamanaka writes in the direct voice of the children; their visceral experience of home, school, and the personal mythology in their family come through powerfully.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.