Winner of the 2025 Nautilus Award For Small Press Fiction! From multiple award-winning novelist, John Blossom comes this volcanic tale of hope and magical realism . Thirteen-year-old Mahina Moemoea lives on a ranch in Hawaii and wants more out of life than just feeling the earth's energy in the soil. For Tutu, her grandmother, communing with the garden is enough, but that’s because she doesn’t experience Mahina’s amazing flying dreams . When Tutu tells Mahina that the family’s special powers may have killed her mom and dad, she tries to obey Tutu's strict command to ignore them, until her mom’s spirit entices her on a perilous underground path to fulfill the family's destiny of aloha to humanity. “To make the extraordinary ordinary, so that the ordinary has a chance to feel extraordinary again." Follow the adventures of Mahina in this magical and inspiring tale as she discovers a living cavern on her property that holds the most uplifting power yet to stop climate change . A literary novel of generational conflict and hope and a must-read for anyone who believes that love and higher consciousness can overcome fear and greed. Sure to take its place as one of the most poignant young adult novels ever written on the subject of humanity and nature , reading Mahina Rises is like remembering the best dream you've ever had and realizing it's there for you whenever you need it. American Writers Association Finalist for Fiction - Young Adult Editor's Pick Award by BookLife "An inspiring tale of climate justice featuring a strong and passionate young hero." - Kirkus "In Blossom's middle-grade novel, prophetic dreams lead a teen Hawaiian girl to tackle climate change. In her dreams, 13-year-old Mahina Moemoea can fly and speak to her deceased mother. Her tutu (grandmother) explains that all of the women in their family have unusual powers that stem from their deep connections to the earth ("The power of intuition is what brought my own tutu to this beautiful island in the first place"). They draw strength from their homestead on the island of Hawaii, a ranch that includes mysterious lava caves. Tutu commands Mahina to resist her power, claiming that it is dangerous and caused her mother's death. When a hurricane ravages the island, Mahina's dream life becomes more intense and inspires her to plan a fundraiser to rebuild her school. After that success, her strength only increases and she finds that she is able to fly in reality; she also teaches her best friend, Koa. The experience leads her to devise a strategy to save the Earth by helping powerful movers and shakers to experience flight. The narrative's earnest style is reminiscent of classic children's books from the mid-20th century. Like many of those older books, it features few child characters and instead focuses on developing meaningful relationships between the hero and adults, including her teacher Ms. Reynolds and her grandmother. Olina, Mahina's beloved cat, supports her throughout the book, a rare animal character who is much more than an afterthought or a clunky metaphor. The bond between Mahina and Koa anchors the story—their friendship deepens into a very chaste romance. The tropical setting is evocative, but the prose is light on description; the narrative relies more heavily on solid dialogue and the atmospheric dream sequences. While the story begins with the existential despair of the climate crisis—and while Blossom may irk readers by reductively suggesting that the climate crisis can be solved by influencing a handful of CEOs—the tone remains optimistic as Mahina, just one young girl, changes the world. An inspiring tale of climate justice featuring a strong and passionate young hero." - Kirkus Review Rating: 5 Stars Reviewed by Kimberlee J Benart for Readers' Favorite: Mahina Rises is a young adult novel by John Blossom filled with magic and adventure. Set in Hawaii and framed by the effects of climate change, it features a courageous thirteen-year-old girl named Mahina who lives on a ranch with her tutu (grandmother). Mahina lost her parents as a baby, and the tragedy of that event colored her tutu's outlook on life, filling her with the fear that she may lose Mahina to the same powers that their family has held for generations. Torn between her tutu's warnings and the dreams in which her mother urges her forward, Mahina confides in Koa, her best friend and classmate. With the help of a dedicated teacher, they chart a path forward. Will it lead to danger and death or to love, understanding, and healing? If you enjoy magical realism, Mahina Rises is for you. The well-paced narrative skillfully conveys Mahina's emotional struggle with understanding her place in the world. The relationship between Mahina and Koa is utterly sweet and tinged with the beginnings of a teen romance. I vote for a sequel! The support of their teacher and other adults as Mahina and Koa face one c