I had this collection of short stories thrust on me by one of my favorite ex-students when I was complaining that "there was nothing new good to read". She told me to stop whining & give it a try & I am VERY glad that she did. From the funny-but-heart-wrenching title piece to the wonderful portrait of Darwin in heaven (he is doing just fine until he is joined by a totally Tiggerish Richard Feynman!) Whitty never misses a beat. I read the whole book in one sitting & am waiting for more with some impatience. These are short stories for Thinking People who still have a sense of humor!

A Tortoise for the Queen of Tonga is that rarest of birds: a first collection of short stories that educates as well as entertains. Whitty's extensive familiarity with the natural world make each one of these stories sprout from the page and root in the mind like well-tended plants. From Antartica to Africa to Tonga Whitty carefully guides us through subtle dramas where flora, fauna, and homosapiens try to co-exist in a world that is both sad and almost unbearably hopeful. A wondrous find.

wow! I loved this book. Julia Whitty is an artist. She paints these lush, passionate, mysterious gems. I found her weaving of nature and chacters and story telling so compelling. I couldn't put it down until the end and even then I didn't want the spell to be broken. She is so orginial and so touching. Please, somebody tell me she has another book coming out soon!

Tonga is a unique place in being the only Polynesian kingdom to maintain its culture and government through the colonial period that brought down similar cultures in Hawaii and throughout the Pacific. Queen Salote adds to this uniqueness by being the ruling queen of Tonga in the first half of the Twentieth Century, an era dominated by male chauvenism. This story of her life and reign provides a wonderful view into the culture and history of this island kingdom. For papalangi (the Tongan word for people of Western society) this is not an easy book because there is a lot of Tongan names, geneology, and customs necessarily involved in the biography of their queen. Yet the very things that make it difficult also make it a rewarding book to read. What makes the book most enjoyable is the portrayal of this marvelous woman who ruled Tonga for almost 50 years. She ruled without use of force during a time of dissent from rival nobles and emerged one of the most revered leaders in Tongan history. She convinced her British advisors of her ability to rule and her island adversaries that their independence depended on her rule. I can recommend this book without reservation to anyone interested in women's studies, international biography, Polynesian history, or British colonial history.

I sincerely recommend this book for all Tongans out there as well as those who are interested in discovering one of the most beloved Monarchs of our time. Queen Salote was not only a charismatic leader but also a progressive woman who brought Tonga to the forefront of the modern era by re-establishing its past. She restored the cultural pride of her people at a time when native cultures were suffering the ill-effects of Westernization.

This book will be a sweet recollection for those who were fortunate to witness her reign, and it will be a source of inspiration for younger generations who are seeking to learn about their themselves.

Truly, a remarkable book for a most remarkable person!

This book is a collection of personal experiences that illustrate the phenomenal faith of the LDS Tongans during the first 100 years that the Mormon Church has been in Tonga. With every story I became more and more amazed at the strength of the faith of these people, and at their willingness to sacrifice literally everything they have in the service of God, and at the miraculous ways that God blessed them and helped them to accomplish the things He asked them to do. My own faith has really been strengthened by their example. I'm going to visit Tonga soon, and I'll take this book with me in the hopes that I can find some of these great people and speak with them in person!

i am a "polangi" saint from idaho married to a tongan saint. any book i can find in regards to tonga (especially regarding religion) are a great uplift to my family. my husband has not been to the islands in over 25 years and to read a book about tonga helps us to get stronger into his culture for our children and to read books on religion helps increase our faith. to combine the two topics kills two birds with one stone. i would (and have) recomend this book to everyone.

Thank you, Helen Morton! This is an understandable description of the Tongan culture from pre-missionary times to the current trends! Helen Mortan is in a unique position to introduce the Tongan culture to the Western Mindset. She is Australian and was married to a Tongan Man, and has his child. She presents her facts in a scholarly manner. I found this book to be much more than an ethnography of Childhood. It made the very different "Tongan Way" completely comprehensible to me.

Whether a history buff, someone interested in Pacific and/or church and state history, or simply out for a good read - this book is definitely for you. Church and State, takes the reader through the fascinating developments leading to the establishment of the current monarchy in Tonga and the role that tradition, politics, the missionary movement and other factors played in its history. At the same time the book (based on Rev Dr Latukefu's thesis) is an important document in analysing the different historical dynamics that were played out between church and state outside of European history. The late Rev Dr Sione Latukefu was not only a reknowned scholar and teacher, but a great story teller as well. The history leading up to the rise of Tupou I makes Macbeth seem like childs play...

I found purchasing Eric B. Shumway's "Intensive Course in Tongan" tapes, very helpful as a student wanting to learn the Tongan language. Although buying the book with the tapes is a necessity. I found the readings on the tapes to be very clear and easy to follow along with. The reader gives you plenty of time to repeat after them, which is very effective in learning. Also the songs and readings are very entertaining. This is a good buy for a serious Tongan language learning student. Also these are the only Tongan language tapes I could find out there.

this book, though it's been published in 1978, is still the best photographic collection of tonga you'll find. if anyone knows of a better one, i would be glad to know about it. so this one is quite out of date, but then this doesn't matter much in a country where time is something to be left alone and things don't change much in a hundred years. the book is packed with awsome pictures about every aspect of tongan life, taken by james siers, who travelled and lived throughout the south pacific for a lifetime and certainly knows how to take breathtaking photographs. if you don't know where or what tonga is, this book will give you a good insight about the country without much reading. if you've ever before been in contact with tonga, you'll love this book.

Feelings of absolute splendor filled my heart while reading this tale. Captivating and thought provoking. I would highly recomend it to anyone, young or old. A story that will remain in your soul for a lifetime.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a beautiful story, beautifully told. I love the illustrations!

Every child and every adult should read this book. It reminds us of what is important in life. A wonderful way to introduce children to symbolism, other cultures, their own cultural heritage, and so much more! I look forward to more works by Mr. Afuhaamango.

Written in the same style as all the Lonely Planet books, this book enabled us to plan a fantastic holiday to Tonga. The information was precise and exact, and laid out in an easy to use arrangement with helpful section headings. My normal complaint about guidebooks is that the maps are often worthless, but here they were accurately drawn and had all the relevant places correctly marked. Although two years since being published we didn't find any information that was drastically out of date. If you are travelling to Tonga this is the guide to buy.

As usual, Lonely Planet provides all possible advice for anyone visiting Tonga. This guide meets the Lonele Planet standard. For those who have used or read other LP guides in the past, nothing more needs to be added... Don't go to Tonga without it !

This was a very interesting guidebook. I found it to be very helpful in all aspects. It was very easy to read. I especially liked the boxed sections on various nuances of the country and culture. The language section was also very helpful. Great Guide.

i would like to order a book that is telling all old samoan stories and customs and the faasamoa in the samoan language..

I used the Moon guidebook to Tonga and Samoa during a 3 1/2 week trip to the South Pacific in early 2001. I found the book very useful because it covers Tonga and Samoa in one condensed book. There are enough details to travel on both island groups for a couple of weeks and not missing information in this great guidebook. The book is still quite accurate there is enough details for each spot you will visit on your trip. In general this book has helped me a lot to find my way around the islands with detailed maps and a wide range of unbiased information.

As president of Sea for Yourself snorkeling tours, I'm obligated on behalf of my clients, to stay informed about the destinations we visit. Although we've been operating programs in Tonga for many years that allow snorkelers to actually swim with humpback whales, we keep a copy of David's Tonga/Samoa Handbook in the office in order to answer questions from clients about areas other than Tonga. In addition to Tonga, this book has extensive coverage of Samoa, American Samoa, and Niue.

In this book, the reader will find all the practical info (that continues to distinguish all of David's books) including travel tips, accommodations, meals, etc. I also appreciate the special attention given to cultural background, political and economic elements, and particular vignettes (such as the explanations of coral reef ecology and the palolo worm). However, the sections I personally find most useful include the pages on Internet sites, email addresses, and the bibliography.

I started using David's books (South Pacific Handbook) in 1982, and they have always been valuable and trusted travel companions. We always take this book with us on our programs to Tonga because it makes a useful reference for both staff and participants. Plus, since this book is easily available, I'm always happy to refer our clients to David's Tonga/Samoa Handbook when they are seeking to purchase a single accurate source of both practical and background information about this section of the Pacific.