Orphan Island

Orphan Island

By Laurel Snyder

8 ratings 9 reviews 7 followers
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 3 - 7n/an/an/an/a

"A wondrous book, wise and wild and deeply true." —Kelly Barnhill, Newbery Medal-winning author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon

For readers who loved Sara Pennypacker's Pax and Lois Lowry's The Giver comes a deep, compelling, heartbreaking, and completely one-of-a-kind novel about nine children who live on a mysterious island.

On the island, everything is perfect. The sun rises in a sky filled with dancing shapes; the wind, water, and trees shelter and protect those who live there; when the nine children go to sleep in their cabins, it is with full stomachs and joy in their hearts. And only one thing ever changes: on that day, each year, when a boat appears from the mist upon the ocean carrying one young child to join them—and taking the eldest one away, never to be seen again.

Today’s Changing is no different. The boat arrives, taking away Jinny’s best friend, Deen, replacing him with a new little girl named Ess, and leaving Jinny as the new Elder. Jinny knows her responsibility now—to teach Ess everything she needs to know about the island, to keep things as they’ve always been. But will she be ready for the inevitable day when the boat will come back—and take her away forever from the only home she’s known?

Publisher: Walden Pond Press
ISBN-13: 9780062443427
ISBN-10: 0062443429
Published on 10/2/2018
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 288

Book Reviews (10)

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It looks like an interesting book.

This is an interesting book. I really liked it, and I think it demonstrated really well just how we kids act as we grow up..... I really enjoyed it and I think it's important for everyone to read this because it taught me a little bit about how my actions and my words affect others, and everyone around me. I just wish there was a sequel!!

An island in the middle of the sea. With a curse. Every year on the same day a little red boat comes bearing a toddler orphan to add to the pack of children inhabiting the beautiful island. But it also takes the oldest of the kids away, into the unknown. When Jinny, the second oldest's best friend Deen is taken and replaced by a toddler, Jinny is adimate to make an end to the constant loosing of loves ones by the red boat. This book by Laurel Sydner tells the story of one group of nine children who fight for the truth of what's actually out there, where they came from, and where they will go. “Dear reader who finds this, if I am gone My name is Jinny. I lived on this island. I loved it. I held on. Too long.” ― Laurel Snyder, Orphan Island.

13iamgroot 13iamgroot

Well 13iamgroot I love your comment its absolutely amazing because it has touching moments 😌😌😌😌 I will give you an A star❄❄❄

This is an absolutely amazing book by beloved author Laurel Snyder. Many of my friends said that they didn't like the book because of how it ended, since it ended on a total cliffhanger with many questions left unanswered. I personally love this book because of how it ended, I felt it was necessary to end the book where it did because otherwise you are left with nothing afterwards. This book leaves you wondering long after you have closed its pages, because you get to make up your own ending and answer your own questions. If all the questions that might have arose while reading this book were answered, it would ruin the mystery that the whole story is written around. Now that I have talked about the ending, let's go to the beginning. This book starts on a very important day, "The Changing" where the little green boat floats up to the island, carrying a small snot-faced child, who then gets replaced with the Elder on the island, who floats away to the horizon, never to be seen again. This is how it has always gone, and this is how it will always go, because it is what the rules say, "Nine on the island, orphans all. Any more, the sky might fall." But Jinny doesn't follow the rules, this year she is the Elder, and this year she has a Care, and this year she is holding on. Ever since Deen, Jinny's best friend, left, Jinny as been lost, the island her only grounding point. So when it is her turn to step into the little green boat, she doesn't. Things start going wrong all over the island, things that have been so predictable in the past, suddenly turn unpredictable, things on the inside of Jinny, and on the outside. Even though Jinny is confused, she is the Elder and she has to fix this, because it was her that caused it. I love this book because it covers topics that aren't usually mentioned in books aimed towards children, but are bound to happen no matter what. I think there is a deeper message to this book, which is that you can't hold on too long to your childhood because life will keep on moving on around you and within you, and you have to become more responsible, because you will get more responsibility. This book is good for kids 10 and up, and even if you think you won't like the ending I still encourage you to read it because there is still the whole book left that can get you thinking and get you questioning.

This was a good book, however the only thing I don't like about it is that it ends as a cliff hanger. Jinny's best friend changed as he left the island Deen. He grew colder, and much less friendlier. Jinny however has a different plan in mind she is going to stay on the island. However, is staying the best option? Is it for Jinny or really her younger partner Ess? Does Evie too, have a scratch in her heart? However when Jinny doesn't leave bad things start to happen, things like the children walking into a beehive....there is the verse and the rules or else the sky will fall. In the end though, will Jinny leave on the green boat?

Ya. Good book, but I think it's meant for girls. Sorry to guy readers... you guys don't need to know about what the stuff on her legs was.

Yas Yas

this book is awesome! definitely in my top 10 ( and i read A LOT of books :)

It is the best book ever. It is like so warming and sad but it gives you hope. Also, I really recommend this book to everyone.

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A really cute book