Vacationing in Hawaii, 12-year-old Jack and his almost 11-year-old sister Ashley snorkel and discover the island's wildlife. Then they are swept up in a mystery with Danny, a young boy from Vietnam, who offers to take them exploring.

While climbing Devastation Trail on the Kilauea Iki crater, they are chased by a mysterious woman in red with long black hair who shouts at them in Hawaiian. Is she Pele, come to exact her revenge because the kids ate ohelo berries without offering one to her first? Ashley is convinced that the woman is Pele, but Jack isn't so sure, and Danny isn't talking. If she's not Pele, however, why did she chase them and how did she disappear into the lava cave?

This fast-paced novel combines science, suspense, youthful camaraderie, Hawaiian history and culture, and breathtaking descriptions of the island's natural landscapes and lava flows—a unique combination certain to capture youthful imaginations. A map that will help young readers picture the volcanoes at Hawaiian National Park is included.