THE DESCENDANTS Narrated in a bold, fearless, unforgettable voice and set against the lush, panoramic  backdrop of Hawaii, The Descendants is a stunning debut novel about an unconventional  family forced to come together and re-create its own legacy. Matthew King was once  considered one of the most fortunate men in Hawaii. His missionary ancestors were  financially and culturally progressive“one even married a Hawaiian princess, making  Matt a royal descendant and one of the states largest landowners.   Now his luck  has changed. His two daughters are out of control: Ten-year-old Scottie is a smart-ass  with a desperate need for attention, and seventeen-year-old Alex, a former model,  is a recovering drug addict. Matts charismatic, thrill-seeking, high-maintenance  wife, Joanie, lies in a coma after a boat-racing accident and will soon be taken  off life support. The Kings can hardly picture life without her, but as they come  to terms with this tragedy, their sadness is mixed with a sense of freedom that shames  them“and spurs them into surprising actions.  Before honoring Joanies living will,  Matt must gather her friends and family to say their final goodbyes, a difficult  situation made worse by the sudden discovery that there is one person who hasnt  been told: the man with whom Joanie had been having an affair, quite possibly the  one man she ever truly loved. Forced to examine what he owes not only to the living  but to the dead, Matt takes to the road with his daughters to find his wifes lover,  a memorable journey that leads to both painful revelations and unforeseen humor and  growth.