THE LOTUS FLOWER CHAMPION

A Washington, D.C., teen and her mother are stranded on a deserted island along with a group of strangers and a mysterious, possibly magical, force.

Seventeen-year-old Alaia’s mother is dying of cancer. Mama decides to return home to Thailand with her husband and daughter to enjoy life while she still can. Determined to make her mom happy, Alaia agrees to go on a yacht trip—although she’s anxious about the deep water—and even spends time with cute boatswain Bodin, who also has a Thai mom and a white dad. When the cruise suddenly goes wrong, a multinational group of 12 passengers of one lifeboat, including Alaia, Mama, and Bodin, wash up on a tropical island. (Alaia last saw Papa, an obstetrician, on deck helping a pregnant woman who went into labor.) With no food and Mama’s medicine running out, their chances of survival look grim, until members of the group begin to display strange abilities. Could Thai folktales really be coming to life? Neither purely a survival story nor a fairy tale, the narrative, in which personal struggles and growth take center stage, combines the complexities of navigating loss and growing up. Alaia’s OCD is an integral facet of the plot throughout, and her character arc is ultimately positive, focusing on mental health and forming and maintaining strong relationships.

A wholesome and realistic coming-of-age novel—with magical flourishes.