Gifts from the Shore: A Kalaupapa Diary

Rating:
Summary: Very touching!!! A must-read for anyone and everyone!!!
Review: I loved this book. Ms. Jarrett is a nurse who spent a year caring for the remaining patients and residents of the Kalaupapa peninsula on Molokai, Hawaii. In her memoirs, she describes the pain and suffering of that the elderly patients/residents of Kalaupapa endured at the hands of the State of Hawaii. The reason was leprosy, a contagious and deforming disease which was rampant on the Hawaiian islands in the 1800's and the first half of the 20th century. Although a cure was found, these remarkable and brave people still faced prejudice; and therefore, most decided to remain on Kalaupapa even after the quarantine was lifted. Ms. Jarrett does not mince words or beat around the bush in this diary. Her descriptions of the patients/residents, the people with whom she worked, the gorgeous scenery of Molokai, and her adventures in Kalaupapa are sure to bring tears to even the most indifferent readers. In addition to her own words, she provides excerpts and letters from former employees, as well as correspondence between the nuns and priests who sacrificed everything to provide a better life for the residents of Kalaupapa.