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Dan Gemeinhart
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Scar Island Paperback – April 24, 2018

by Dan Gemeinhart (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 609 ratings
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Dan Gemeinhart brings his signature blend of action, heart, and beautiful writing to a tale of misfits struggling to survive.

Jonathan Grisby is the newest arrival at the Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys -- an ancient, crumbling fortress of gray stone rising up from the ocean. It is dark, damp, and dismal. And it is just the place Jonathan figures he deserves.Because Jonathan has done something terrible. And he's willing to accept whatever punishment he has coming.Just as he's getting used to his new situation, however, a freak accident leaves the troubled boys of Slabhenge without any adult supervision. Suddenly the kids are free, with an entire island to themselves. But freedom brings unexpected danger. And if Jonathan can't come to terms with the sins of his past and lead his new friends to safety... then every boy on the island is doomed.Dan Gemeinhart's most gripping novel yet, this is a tale of outcasts at odds and in peril, and a redemption story that shines a light on dark truths to reveal that the strongest prisons of all are the ones we build for ourselves.
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  1. Reading age
    9 - 12 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    256 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    3 - 7
  5. Lexile measure
    610L
  6. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.75 x 7.5 inches
  7. Publisher
    Scholastic Press
  8. Publication date
    April 24, 2018
  9. ISBN-10
    133805385X
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1338053852
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dan Gemeinhart is a teacher-librarian and father of three daughters. His debut novel, The Honest Truth, was a New York Times Editors' Choice selection, an Amazon.com Best Book of the Month, and an Indie Next List pick. His follow-up, Some Kind of Courage, was met with critical acclaim, garnering two starred reviews. Dan lives with his family in Cashmere, Washington. Visit him at dangemeinhart.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Press; Reissue edition (April 24, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 133805385X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1338053852
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 610L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.75 x 7.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 609 ratings

About the author

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Dan Gemeinhart

Dan Gemeinhart

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Hi! I live in a small town smack dab in the middle of Washington state with my wife and three young daughters. I was lucky and grateful to be a teacher-librarian in an elementary school for 13 years, where I got to share awesome books with awesome kids. I love camping, cooking and traveling. I also play guitar (badly) and read (constantly). My house is always a mess. I am really pretty darn happy.

I've written five middle grade novels: THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF COYOTE SUNRISE, GOOD DOG, SCAR ISLAND, THE HONEST TRUTH, and SOME KIND OF COURAGE.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
609 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

David F Jacob
5.0 out of 5 stars awesome story
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2023
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Dan Gemeinhart is a storyteller. Not a children’s author. His sophisticated stories don’t talk down to kids but trusts then with complex ideas. This should be a movie that is not as good as the book
2 people found this helpful
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Tess Eggleston
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Home Run from Dan Gemeinhart!
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2017
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I am an official fan of Dan Gemeinhart. Scar Island is my third read by him, and it's his third home run with me. He has an engaging way of grabbing you by the shirt collar and pushing you to read more, and more and more until...VOILA! You look up only to realize that you gulped the entire book in one sitting.

Scar Island is his darkest plot yet. Set on a remote island once used as an insane asylum, young boys who have been sent to Slabhenge Reformatory don't go willingly. They are court-ordered to wile their time doing repetitive hard labor to pay off the sins they have committed in society. Jonathan, the new twelve-year old boy, finds himself the unwelcome target of the head of the "school." The fifteen boys find themselves in the unusual predicament of sudden independence when a freak accident wipes the handful of adults in charge out. What happens when "bad boys" are left to their own devices? What is that incessant banging down in the basement? Will Jonathan ever forgive himself for what he did in order to be sent to Slabhenge? And what about that huge, one hundred year storm heading straight for the sinking island? Middle grade readers will likely read will past their bedtime to find out the answers to these and many more questions.

The pretext is set up much like William Golding's classic tale of island survival, Lord of the Flies. In fact, Gemeinhart makes no bones about the comparison because he actually mentions the book in HIS book. One of the many things that makes Scar Island work is the "librarian" tucked away in the deep confines of the reformatory. He is the only adult on the island Jonathan feels he can trust, and in return, he is rewarded with a classic book (or two, or three). Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe and yes, even Lord of the Flies make an appearance within Scar Island. You can take the librarian/teacher out of the school (Gemeinhart is no longer working in an elementary school setting full time...he's hit it big!), but you can never take the school out of the librarian/teacher-turned-full time author. These classic books, often ignored and largely going unnoticed by middle graders, will surely receive some much needed resuscitation after kids read references to them in Scar Island.

Besides a nod to classic literature, though, readers will likely pick up on the messages of bullying, the strength of family ties, and forgiving oneself of past wrongdoings. Although I marked this book as a "guy read," Scar Island will appeal to both girls and boys alike (and even middle-aged teachers). Highly recommended!

Now I just have to bide my time waiting for Gemeinhart to hit another home run...I think I'll run to the library and grab a copy of a classic book. After all, as Scar Island's librarian repeatedly says, "...you cannot leave a library without a book."
8 people found this helpful
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Book Worm Mom
5.0 out of 5 stars Because I loved this book so much
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2017
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Because I loved this book so much, I wanted to take the time to write a really GOOOD review--a review that matched how the book made me feel. Then I realized I might never write the review, because it's hard to describe how the book made me feel.

From the very beginning I loved it. Then I loved every twist, every turn, every introduction of a new character. I loved the writing. I loved the setting. I loved the message. I loved the resolution and the hope in the ending.

SCAR ISLAND is a book that I wanted to immediately go back and read again after I finished it. But my time is limited, and there are many more books I want/need to read. But one day, I shall indulge myself and pick up SCAR ISLAND again. I will slowly savor it the second time since I won't be so anxious to know how things will end.

Thank you, Dan Gemeinhart, for such a beautiful middle-grade novel full of hardscrabble boy characters.
3 people found this helpful
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Beautiful Lady
4.0 out of 5 stars Learning experience
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2021
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It was a very good novel. Very good character development. Read and rated by my son. Read it in one day!
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Paula B
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping Dickensian Thrill Ride! LOVE IT!!
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2017
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I have loved every one of Dan Gemeinhart's novels and not a one is in any way similar! He creates such strong characters, exquisite settings, and edge-of-your-seat plots! Each one I read I find myself saying, "This is my favorite!" In this 'couldn't-put-down' middle grade novel, Jonathan Grisby is sent to Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys, but it's more like a dungeon on an island. (Not exactly realistic- but it's the surreal Dickensian setting that makes this story so gripping.) Jonathan has done something so terrible, he cannot bring himself to tell anyone about it. When some bizarre event happens on the island, the children find themselves free, but then they must grapple with what freedom really means. It's not what any of them expected. Do yourself a favor and get a copy of this book....NOW!
6 people found this helpful
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Julia B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Lord of the Flies meets Alcatraz
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2018
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If the boys from Lord of the Flies became imprisoned on Alcatraz without supervision, it would be Scar Island. The main character, Jonathan, serves as a modernized version of Ralph, determined to keep a semblance of order among the boys. Antagonist Sebastian fills the role of Jack, intent on being the leader and allowing the other boys to do as they please, so long as they don't get in his way or take anything he's claimed as his own. Colin portrays a mix of Piggy and Simon, loyal to Jonathan and eager to stay away from Sebastian, as Piggy was to Ralph, but also intelligent and reasonable, questioning Sebastian's reign over the group & his decision-making skills the way Simon did with Jack. Instead of a fire saving the boys from their fate, a wild hurricane brings an end to the madness. The parallels between LOTF and Scar Island are somewhat obvious, but appreciated. Whether intentional or not, Gemeinhart has crafted a modern-day reboot of survival among a group of tortured boys unsure of how to ever return to the innocent children they once were.
3 people found this helpful
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ATX-Prime
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book! My son did not want to put it down!
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2019
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Purchased this book for my son's English class book club (6th grade).
He is a reluctant reader but LOVED this book. The setting, characters and action packed nature of the story drew him in from the very beginning. From the first night when we started reading it together he didn't want to stop. Most night's he would beg to read more together. He is excited to try another book from this author (Dan Gemeinhart)!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Left Students wanting more!
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2019
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I picked up Scar Island through other teacher recommendations. This book is suspenseful and easily leaves you wanting more at the end of each chapter. I started this book as a read aloud with my 5th graders and they loved it!
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Top reviews from other countries

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Clover
5.0 out of 5 stars good book
Reviewed in Canada on January 18, 2022
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this is a good quality book! it is definitely worth the price
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Jitendra
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Storyline
Reviewed in India on September 12, 2019
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A good storyline with a lotta twist and turns which makes it a worth pageturner
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Magnifico
Reviewed in Spain on October 23, 2019
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Buen libro
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Yaswanth
5.0 out of 5 stars Grasping
Reviewed in India on June 27, 2019
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An uprising novelist
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Meetu garg
4.0 out of 5 stars Like it
Reviewed in India on July 18, 2019
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It’s good for children
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