The Island of Stars is a interesting story for readers who want a new spin on old-fashioned adventure tales.
The Island of Stars by Carrie Brownell. BookMonkey Press, 2024. 392 pages.
Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12
Recommended For: ages 8-12
Twelve-year-old twins Bert and Betty are going on a sea adventure with their father! Dr. Fullerton (their father) is a marine biologist, and he’s been invited to join a mysterious research group on a voyage to a newly discovered island. All lodging is included, and other children will be present as well. What does he have to lose? The family is excited about spending the summer at sea.
The journey aboard the ship Rainbow is not exactly the luxurious cruise the Fullertons envisioned, nor are the huts on the island’s beach luxury accommodations. Still, Bert and Betty enjoy exploring the island with their new friend Cecily, and their father is busy trying to locate and record all the fascinating marine life and sounds he’s discovering. He’s especially excited about hearing narwhals for the for first time.
All is not as it seems, however, and Bert, Betty, and Cecily’s explorations turn up some odd discoveries. Even odder, the ship’s captain seems bent on keeping the discoveries under wraps. Things are starting to get downright sinister-feeling when the young crew stumbles upon an intriguing (and dangerous) secret. Who can they trust?
All’s well that ends well, and, like all solid adventure stories, the young trio makes the right choice amid fierce temptation and danger. The island’s secret is an intriguing one (I won’t spoil it for you), and I daresay many young reader-adventurers would like to have discovered it themselves. The secret involves mythical creatures and some time-bending. Bert and Betty seem younger than their stated 12 years; I’d hand this book off to 8-10 year olds. Pacing lags in places, but readers who enjoy old-fashioned stories will hang in there.
Of possible interest: The copy I reviewed needed some more copy-editing; random characters (like a + or a K) appeared in the middle of words and caused me to pull out of the story on several occasions. Hopefully these have been fixed by now!
Bottom Line: The Island of Stars is a fun story for readers who want a new spin on old-fashioned adventure tales.
Related Reading From Redeemed Reader
- A Review: The Rescuers is a fun “retro reads” classic that young adventure lovers will enjoy.
- A Review: Three more fun summer reads to consider
- A Review: Starboard by Nicola Skinner is another sea voyage adventure with a contemporary feel.
We are participants in the Amazon LLC affiliate program; purchases you make through affiliate links like the one below may earn us a commission. Read more here.
Support our writers and help keep Redeemed Reader ad-free by joining the Redeemed Reader Fellowship.
Stay Up to Date!
Get the information you need to make wise choices about books for your children and teens.
Our weekly newsletter includes our latest reviews, related links from around the web, a featured book list, book trivia, and more. We never sell your information. You may unsubscribe at any time.
We'd love to hear from you!
Our comments are now limited to our members (both Silver and Golden Key). Members, you just need to log in with your normal log-in credentials!
Not a member yet? You can join the Silver Key ($2.99/month) for a free 2-week trial. Cancel at any time. Find out more about membership here.