X-Book

The Invisible Wild

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book.
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

An epic adventure steeped in Hawaiian lore, this enchanting novel explores the connection between our world and that of the spirits of the wood, from bestselling author Nikki Van De Car.

“Intensely lush atmospheric descriptions create an immersive and sensory read ... Intersecting topics of nativeness and heritage, self-identification, tourism, environmental justice, folklore, and more are buoyed by a bit of romance, and the sum of all the parts manages to be both starkly realistic and surprisingly hopeful.” —Booklist, starred review 

According to legend, when the kanaka 'ōiwi sailed over two thousand miles across untraveled seas to the most remote island chain in the world, they encountered another people living there. They were two to three feet tall, squat and strong, good and kind, and bothered no one without cause—they were the Menehune. When the Hawaiians came, the menehune chieftains feared the changes they brought. So, on the night of a full moon, they called all men and their firstborn sons and ordered them to leave Hawai’i. Some refused and, instead, hid behind to remain with their families. In the early 1800s, Kauai chief Kaumaualiʻi took a census of his people—and 65 of his 2,000 subjects were all that remained of the original people of Hawai’i. 
 
Flash forward to today: sixteen-year-old Emma is out running errands when she comes across a boy from Hilo living in the woods, saying things that do not make sense. It’s here, in these woods, that Emma has memories of finding a space between “the worlds” as a child. She soon realizes this boy has accessed the place she lost, as well as the people, the Menehune. She helps him hide until whatever spell has been cast over him is broken. Together, Emma and the Hilo boy have to figure out what the Menehune want before it’s too late to save the only home any of them have known.  

A New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2025!

Critics Review

“Heartfelt and moving, The Invisible Wild shows a side of Hawai’i rarely seen by outsiders. Van De Car seamlessly weaves a story about Hawaiian sovereignty, the complexities of kanaka identity, and environmental activism with humor, urgency, and both romance and adventure. A poignant exploration of forgiveness and making things right from an authentic Hawaiian lens.”—Keala Kendell, author of How Far I'll Go (Moana's Twisted Tale)
"The Invisible Wild touches so many of the strings that are tied to the heart of Hawaiʻi, readers feel welcomed into our homes, to hear the stories as we learned them from our elders and asked to consider some of the implications of progress in such special places."—Malia Maunakea, author of Lei and the Fire Goddess
“Forgotten worlds, the kanaka maoli, the Menehune, reclaimed memories, a cursed boy in the woods, and a looming property development combine in an unforgettable tale of the Hawaii that was and the friction of the Hawaii that could be. At times hopeful, then heartbreaking, The Invisible Wild weaves the conflict between myth and modern life and the loyalties we owe ourselves and nature. An immersive, spell-binding page turner, The Invisible Wild breathes with the love of the land and her people, and calls to the ancestral stories that refuse to be left behind and the untamed parts that live in all of us.”—Natasha Deen, award-winning author of In the Key of Nira Ghani
Author Nikki Van De Car
Narrator Barrie Kealoha
Duration 5 hours and 16 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781668649541
Format Audiobook
Publisher Hachette Audio
Genre Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Magical realism, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Racism, Children’s / Teenage: Personal and social topics
Availability US

More from the same

Author

Narrator

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.