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stephshoff88's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
karebear0099's review
5.0
Rated by my 7 year old. I can’t say I agree with 5 stars but she enjoyed it and is on a real box car children kick.
kintha's review
2.0
The good: the children solve an actual mystery.
The bad: the children solve an actual mystery.
The book raises many questions:
Why is a guy who disappeared a long time ago so easy to find?
If they are so interested in finding this guy, why do they make the town he's in the last stop on a camping trip instead of just going there?
Why do two newly weds want to go on a long camping trip with a bunch of young children?
Why can't they find another way to describe someone as strong other than strong enough to lift a boat? Boats come in a variety of sizes/weights.
The bad: the children solve an actual mystery.
The book raises many questions:
Why is a guy who disappeared a long time ago so easy to find?
If they are so interested in finding this guy, why do they make the town he's in the last stop on a camping trip instead of just going there?
Why do two newly weds want to go on a long camping trip with a bunch of young children?
Why can't they find another way to describe someone as strong other than strong enough to lift a boat? Boats come in a variety of sizes/weights.
emvaughters's review
3.0
N and I enjoyed this one! Better than the second book but not as good as the first.
maggies_novel_approach's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sarah_reading_party's review
4.0
just finished this book with my son last night, and wow! lots of thoughts about this one. just a few thoughts, even though much could be said about this book...
1) a real mystery! at least, more of a mystery than surprise island. my son was just so into this book - would the children find bill? what is a hermit?
2) all the "indian" content is obviously problematic, as are the illustrations. but given the time period when this book was written, it makes sense. we had a nice chat about that.
3) as an adult - why in the world would joe and alice spend their honeymoon on a barn on surprise island?! oh my goodness noooo. obviously a bit of creative license, because who'd want to do that even in the 1940s??! and then they come home in a station wagon lololol!
4) and lastly, as an adult... the children were just so thrilled at finding bill and bringing him home. i can't imagine what that must have been like for margaret - living without her husband for 40 years and then suddenly having him turn up? oh what joy, but also the heartache of all those missing years...and their reunion was just glossed over with the children's excitement at being home and finding the money and getting to fix up the yellow house on surprise island. i get that they are children and therefore are self-centered, but man...what a reunion to be glossed over!
1) a real mystery! at least, more of a mystery than surprise island. my son was just so into this book - would the children find bill? what is a hermit?
2) all the "indian" content is obviously problematic, as are the illustrations. but given the time period when this book was written, it makes sense. we had a nice chat about that.
3) as an adult - why in the world would joe and alice spend their honeymoon on a barn on surprise island?! oh my goodness noooo. obviously a bit of creative license, because who'd want to do that even in the 1940s??! and then they come home in a station wagon lololol!
4) and lastly, as an adult... the children were just so thrilled at finding bill and bringing him home. i can't imagine what that must have been like for margaret - living without her husband for 40 years and then suddenly having him turn up? oh what joy, but also the heartache of all those missing years...and their reunion was just glossed over with the children's excitement at being home and finding the money and getting to fix up the yellow house on surprise island. i get that they are children and therefore are self-centered, but man...what a reunion to be glossed over!
enchaffin's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
zenithharpink's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book, certainly more than the second one. It had the appeal of pseudo-survival similar to the original Boxcar book, and there was a more interesting mystery-it was immediately solved and everything was completely apparent, but it was a mystery.
The second book really didn't have any of that. I'm really just re-reading these books to recapture a beloved series from my childhood-it's difficult to write a fair review writing this as an adult and not a second grader.
I recommend to those who have enjoyed previous books in the series, or to any who are looking for a good beginner's chapter book for a kid who enjoys adventures. After this, they should read Hatchet :)
The second book really didn't have any of that. I'm really just re-reading these books to recapture a beloved series from my childhood-it's difficult to write a fair review writing this as an adult and not a second grader.
I recommend to those who have enjoyed previous books in the series, or to any who are looking for a good beginner's chapter book for a kid who enjoys adventures. After this, they should read Hatchet :)