By Ron Rocky Coloma
Former Guam resident Makiia Lucier has achieved a significant milestone in her literary career with her book “Dragonfruit” earning a nomination for the Goodreads Choice Award in the Young Adult Fantasy category.
Known for her compelling storytelling and celebration of Pacific island heritage, Lucier’s nomination highlights her dedication to representing island culture on an international stage.
“It’s always a good feeling to have your work recognized,” Lucier said. “I’m so honored to see ‘Dragonfruit’ on the list for the New York Public Library, School Library Journal, Bookshop.org and NPR. I love, love, LOVE that a book inspired by the Pacific islands is resonating with readers around the world.”
“Dragonfruit” draws deeply from Lucier’s memories of growing up on Guam, weaving elements of Pacific Island mythology and culture into its fantastical narrative. The book follows a group of island teens on a journey intertwined with magical seadragons and oceanic lore, reflecting the author’s desire to center Pacific Island characters in prominent roles.
“There are very few books out there about Pacific Islanders, or written by islanders,” Lucier said. “I wanted to write a story where the main cast of characters were island kids.
“They weren’t sidekicks or stereotypes; they were the stars of the show. Dragonfruit, with its seadragons and sea gods, was my way of honoring the myths tied to the ocean,” she added.
The setting of Tamarind, the lush and vivid world in the book, is steeped in Lucier’s childhood memories.
“With ‘Dragonfruit,’ I started with memory,” she said. “I took out a notebook and wrote down everything I remembered about growing up on Guam—coconut trees, sea cucumbers, mangoes, Tamarind candy, cousins, tattoos, sharks. And I built a story around those memories.”
Lucier’s work celebrates the Pacific Island heritage, and she hopes “Dragonfruit” resonates with readers from Guam and beyond. “In ‘Dragonfruit,’ the dedication reads: For the island kids. Hafa Adai,” she said. “We also deserve our own stories, filled with characters who look like us, speak like us. Characters who are familiar.”
She also sees her success as a beacon for aspiring Pacific island writers.
“I hope that if a young islander loves to write and sees my books on a library or bookstore shelf, they will know that being a professional writer is something that is absolutely possible. They’ll say, ‘Look, Makiia did it.’”
Lucier’s connection to Guam runs deep, shaping both her identity and her writing. Although born on Saipan, Lucier moved to Guam as an infant and spent her formative years there before leaving for college.
“My parents lived on Guam, but I was born on Saipan,” she said. “I attended Tamuning Elementary, Dededo Middle School and Simon Sanchez High School. Mostly I lived in Dededo.”
Living away from the island has only deepened her appreciation for its culture and history.
“As a kid, I couldn’t have been less interested in latte stones or family stories,” Lucier admitted. “Today, these things fascinate me. But until I can go home and play tourist, I’ll write stories about home.”
For young writers from Guam and the Pacific islands, Lucier offers encouragement grounded in her own experience.
“Follow Manuia Heinrich Sue’s advice: ‘Cultivate the little things that feel like home in your stories. Embrace the oral myth that reminds you of your childhood.’ And don’t be afraid to let your Oceanic roots shine.”
The Goodreads Choice Awards winners will be announced this month , and Lucier is excited to see how “Dragonfruit” fares. But for her, the nomination alone is already a victory, a celebration of Pacific Island stories resonating with readers worldwide.
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