Title: Island boy
Description: This is a book about ancient Hawaiian society.  Paolo is an orphan and sole survivor from a burnt village attacked by marauders in ancient Polynesia.  A sea-going trader rescues him and takes him to the Hawaiian island of Oahu where he convinces a friend to foster him until a permanent adoption can be made.  Paolo deals with the typical problems of a newcomer being accepted in the community but gradually finds friends and support from his foster family.  A talisman he wears around his neck attracts the attention of the village chief who seeks more information but is complicated by the suspicions of a stern holy adviser.  A near-disaster involving the chief's infant son and Paolo's role in the rescue ultimately leads to a resolution of his birth identity.
Subjects: Juvenile fiction
Time periods: ancient Hawaii