See full review @ The Indigo Quill: http://theindigoquill.blogspot.com/2013/08/review-huge-giveaway-aloha-mozart-by....

What a GREAT book!! I am so excited that I got the opportunity to read this. As a lot of you know, I am a Music Education major. I am constantly surrounded be Classical, Baroque, and Romantic music. My primary is also vocal, so I also sing this music as well (Fun fact: this year I will be singing "L'amero, saro constante" by Mozart himself). I believe it is safe to say that I felt a special connection with this book, and probably understood it a little more than most. It makes me so happy when people speak my language!

This was a wonderful literary work that mixed history, art, culture, and education. This is a deeper story than a lot of people are used to, but I assure you that you will be taken on an adventure nonetheless. I loved the main character, Maile. I found myself connecting with her in so many ways. In the beginning of the book, she is first exposed to the work of Verdi, and while the rest of her class takes it at face value, in a way it speaks to her, and this sets the stage for the rest of her life.

I took a break from music for about 3 years while I tried to figure out what to do with my life, but it always found its way to me even when I wasn't looking. I can now say, "nothing moves me more than music," and that's how I know that my soul is missing a huge part of itself without it. I've never been faced with life-threatening decisions like Maile was, but I can understand her love of music through it all.

Even if you aren't a music person, you can still enjoy Aloha, Mozart. If you are into literary/historical fiction, you will enjoy this. For the most part, it was written beautifully. However, the only thing I would complain about is that some parts didn't seem entirely organized very well. It just caused me to reread through some parts to make sure I understood what was happening. Other than that, I loved this book and will definitely read it again. ( )

Aloha Mozart by Waimea Williams was different from any book that I have ever read before. This book starts off in Hawaii following Maile and her quest to sing. In the beginning I felt lost because I don’t understand the cultural aspects of the book but I kept reading because this book takes place during WWII and I love that time period. I was glad that I kept reading and pushed through it because I did love the ending of the book. If you love books that take place during WWII you will love this book. It is slow starting but if you push through you will end up loving this book! ( )

Maile is an eleven-year-old in Hawaii when she first hears Verdi on a classroom record player, which sets her on the unheard-of career path of becoming an opera singer. After high school graduation and a little college, she determinedly makes her way to New York for musical training and then on to Salzburg, the opera-mad city in Austria. With single-minded ferocity, she struggles with French, German, and Italian pronunciation and competes against other talented students for a chance at stardom until the political and civil unrest of the 60s she'd been ignoring erupts and makes her confront a choice of career or conscience. ( )