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sardine164's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful simple story about friendship and breaking down prejudices, written for young people (my son read it at school).
Sometimes I find YA books skate over parts that could be given more depth - for example, there are obvious holes in the plot, or characters do things that are not fully explained. I then reason to myself that, being an adult, perhaps I'm looking for more than a young person would, or perhaps I'm looking too much for a logical flow.
Then, I've read a few YA books this year that work beautifully for me, and this is one of them. A simple story, well told, from a young boy's perspective. Maybe a young person's "To Kill a Mockingbird"?
Sometimes I find YA books skate over parts that could be given more depth - for example, there are obvious holes in the plot, or characters do things that are not fully explained. I then reason to myself that, being an adult, perhaps I'm looking for more than a young person would, or perhaps I'm looking too much for a logical flow.
Then, I've read a few YA books this year that work beautifully for me, and this is one of them. A simple story, well told, from a young boy's perspective. Maybe a young person's "To Kill a Mockingbird"?
jennifermreads's review against another edition
4.0
Michael Boatman, who I recognized from Spin City provided the superb narration of The Cay. I melted into this tale as Phillip and Timothy struggled to survive while awaiting rescue. Wonderful adventure story for tweens and teens. Some excellent lessons on ethnicity. This would be a milder approach to said-topic than Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn stories.
ewvvie's review against another edition
4.0
alll the boys in my class last year walked around calling it the gay*BIG EYE ROLL*
cgwinters1981's review against another edition
3.0
This mainly gets 3 stars due to nostalgia. I read this back in middle school, so I have some memories of it. Reading it as an adult though, I see how Timothy is utilized in a way that would be now considered problematic. He is a foil in many ways to teach our main character to not despise those of a different skin tone. I recognize messages and books like this need to exist, but there are ways to make the story be layered and especially the character that is being used in a problematic way. For nostalgia, I enjoyed it though. I am sure there are other, stronger books to represent change in viewing other human beings though that are better. I do intend to read the other book in the series as well though as I imagine this will be my only return to Taylor's Cay series in this life.
wrenl's review against another edition
Bad. Don't read unless have to. REALLY BAD!
literaturefreak's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
4.75
radiojen's review against another edition
4.0
D'Ette had to read this book for school and she loved it. She asked me if I would also read it.
It's a children's book, so it doesn't take long to read. I read the whole thing in about two hours.
It's easy to see why the book won literary awards and was made into a movie. It's a great story, told from the point-of-view of 12-year-old Philip, who gets lost at sea with a black man after the boat he is traveling in with his mother is attacked by Germans. Philip loses his sight and is forced to learn how to live on a small island without his sight. It's a great story for older kids or adults looking for an adventure to read in an afternoon.
It's a children's book, so it doesn't take long to read. I read the whole thing in about two hours.
It's easy to see why the book won literary awards and was made into a movie. It's a great story, told from the point-of-view of 12-year-old Philip, who gets lost at sea with a black man after the boat he is traveling in with his mother is attacked by Germans. Philip loses his sight and is forced to learn how to live on a small island without his sight. It's a great story for older kids or adults looking for an adventure to read in an afternoon.
adampppp's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book! It kind-of stunk that I listened in in about 2nd grade to my mom reading it to my sister when she was really sick. So before I even got hold of the book in 5th grade I knew the story from middle to end, through and through!
I loved it though. It was a great fight-for-survival story that I'll (hopefully) never forget!!!
I loved it though. It was a great fight-for-survival story that I'll (hopefully) never forget!!!
mollycharlie_18's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0