Island of Shadows (Seekers: Return to the Wild, #1)

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Island of Shadows (Seekers: Return to the Wild #1)

4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 · rating details · 285 ratings · 34 reviews

The journey home begins. . . .

Toklo, Kallik, and Lusa survived the perilous mission that brought them together, and now it’s time for them to find their way home. Kallik and Lusa are ready to be among their own kinds again, but Toklo, devastated by the loss of their companion Ujurak, feels hopeless and afraid of what’s to come.

When the group reaches a shadowy island covere...more

Hardcover, 283 pages

Published February 7th 2012 by HarperCollins

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May 05, 2012 Stacy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads

I registered for the book because I've been curious about the Warriors books for some time now (it's hard for me to resist stories told by cats) and although Seekers didn't have the same draw (I guess bears don't do it for me) I figured it would be an example of the writing style and perhaps my 9-year old son might be interested. Having read it, I'm still willing to give Warriors a shot, but if this Seekers book is any indication, this is reall...more I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads

I registered for the book because I've been curious about the Warriors books for some time now (it's hard for me to resist stories told by cats) and although Seekers didn't have the same draw (I guess bears don't do it for me) I figured it would be an example of the writing style and perhaps my 9-year old son might be interested. Having read it, I'm still willing to give Warriors a shot, but if this Seekers book is any indication, this is really not an all-ages kind of series.

Although this book is #1 in the "Return to the Wild" series, it is very obviously a continuation of an ongoing series. Judging from the end papers, that appears to be the pattern--multiple "series" of 6 books each. I'm just anal retentive enough that I detest starting a series in the middle (though my son seems to have no issues with it), and even if this is told with continuing characters, I expect a book with a "1" on it to sufficiently stand on its own as a starting point for anyone. Sadly, I don't feel that's the case here.

Apparently the point of the Return to the Wild series is to take this group of bears from wherever they got to in the last series (which, while I got what they did at the end of that quest, I never got a feeling for what got them going on the quest in the first place) back home. They're also in mourning for the friend they lost on the way. While I feel like I got a decent sense of each bear's personality, and I recognize how special the bear they lost was through the experiences of the core three, I still empathized with the newer members of the group who couldn't quite get why everyone kept going on and on about him.

The primary downfall of Island of Shadows is that NOTHING HAPPENS. There's a lot of walking and hunting, and sleeping, and...that's about it. They pick up a new, young-ish brown/white mixed race bear who claims his brown bear mother drove him off and the white bears attacked him for being mixed. Since this book ends with the group meeting up with the bear's family and learning the truth of his situation, I assume that storyline was meant to be the primary plot point, but...I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to learn from it or what the experience did to help them on their way home. I'm always happy if my kids' books can feed them a bit of good morals in guise of an entertaining story, so I was hopeful that this would turn out to be a good lesson on mixed-race relations and racial bigotry, but there was just no clear outcome/lesson.

The young bear has a huge chip on his shoulder even though his family obviously loves him, and with the exception of a single grumpy older bear, none of the other bears encountered on the island seem to have a problem with race relations. I can empathize with a young boy trying to find his identity, and his negative attitude gives the rest of the group (made up of two white bears, a brown bear, and a black bear) plenty of opportunities for a "what's his problem?" response, but he's just so locked into his own prejudices that he's completely oblivious to what other people are saying. So there's plenty of good examples of tolerance and acceptance, but there's no resolution or learning moment--he basically just runs off with a "nobody understands" pout and that's the end of it. Which brings me back to "what was the point?"

As tedious as I found it, I have to wonder what would keep an active boy with a short attention span reading it and wanting to continue with the series. If my son does read it and has a positive response, I'll be happy to amend my review.(less)

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Mar 08, 2012 Kristen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I recevied this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

This book was enjoyable enough. I received it accidentally from the publisher - I had won a different book - but since it was here, I thought I'd give it a try. So with that said, it is not a book I normally would have picked up, and I have obviously not read the entire series before it.

The story moved along quickly, despite the lack of action. The plot was very slow for me. It was about Bears trekking across the icey Canada landscape....more I recevied this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

This book was enjoyable enough. I received it accidentally from the publisher - I had won a different book - but since it was here, I thought I'd give it a try. So with that said, it is not a book I normally would have picked up, and I have obviously not read the entire series before it.

The story moved along quickly, despite the lack of action. The plot was very slow for me. It was about Bears trekking across the icey Canada landscape. There isn't much you can do with that. A bear fell a couple times...and they hunted and rested a lot. Not very exciting.

I was also a little lost since I had not read the first series about these bears. I didn't know who Ujurak was, so when the entire book focuses on their grief regarding this bear, I was sick of reading about it. I wasn't connected to that bear, so I didn't understand how the entire book had them greiving their friend. I understand a bit of sadness, but they should have moved on like half way through the book because of the amount of time this book spanned.

They also met a new character who was obnoxious. I think you were supposed to hate him. But the way the character was built, it just felt like a very fake obnoxious-ness. I didn't really believe his personality. I did hate the character, but not for the reasons the author wanted me to. I hated the character because he felt very fake. And the "racism" that was a part of this bear really bothered me. Maybe the author wanted to make a statement that your color doesn't make you who you are...but boy it was annoying. Racism doesn't exist very much anymore, and all this bear made me think was about those people who claim "You hate me because I'm black!"...which isn't the case...it's only in your own mind that people think that.

I also felt like this book was written more for middle school YA than highschool/college YA. About half the dialgue felt forced. It didn't just flow from the characters like it should have...but again, this is about bears...and I'm not sure how bears would really talk. But there were times where the author spelled out everything that was going on. Nothing was left up to the reader to deduce. It always bothers me when the author has to specifically say something because they don't think the reader will deduce that feeling on their own. But what that does is it pulls me out of the story because I had already figured that out. I don't have the book with me right now, otherewise I would give examples. But if this book was written for middle schoolers, perhaps they need that leading because they haven't had as much reading experience to pick up on that. But for me, I didn't like it.

The author also used a lot of the same words often. I can't even tell you how many times the word "belly" was in that book. Everytime they were hungry the word belly was used. "His belly ached", "He needed to fill his belly", etc. Find some synonyms! Or just don't talk about how hungry they are so often if you're going to use the same word all the time. Now, in the book's defense, this was an uncorrected proof I was reading, so I sure how the editor figured out to use some synonyms before the book is published.

But overall the story was enjoyable enough. I was able to push through the book. It wasn't like pulling teeth. It was kind of fun to see how they view the world - the zoo, humans, guns, etc. The story moved along well enough. I enjoyed seeing how all the different kinds of bears are part of their own family now. It's a neat dynamic.

With all of this said, it wasn't a book I normally would have read. I don't think I will pick up any of the sequels to this book. But I'm glad I read it. It is nice to change up the types of books I read. Try something different. Maybe I'd have liked it. I think this might be a good book for a middle schooler who enjoys animals. It's a quick easy read.(less)

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Mar 19, 2013 King Hoole rated it 5 of 5 stars

I liked this book as well as the rest of the Seekers books. I think each character has amazing strengths ( Lusa's spirit, Kallik's loyalty, and Toklo's bravery). Although I am not fond of Nanulak I love his character depth. And in not trying to take a shot at some people or anything like that but for those people who don't like Toklo I just want to say something. I rather love Toklo. I'm probably most like him. Hah. But while he can seem arrogant and hostile he is truly a great spirit. He learne...more

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Apr 05, 2012 Faith rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Okay... well what can I say? Seekers books always bore me to some extent... Also the fact that travel books aren't my favorite adds to that. It took me a while to read this book (not as long as another I am STILL reading, mind you)... Where do I start?

The book begins with Toklo, Kallik, Lusa and Yakone traveling away from Star Island. Ujurak had been killed in the last book of the first series, and know the bears are beginning their journey home. After a terrifying encounter with a ship and many...more Okay... well what can I say? Seekers books always bore me to some extent... Also the fact that travel books aren't my favorite adds to that. It took me a while to read this book (not as long as another I am STILL reading, mind you)... Where do I start?

The book begins with Toklo, Kallik, Lusa and Yakone traveling away from Star Island. Ujurak had been killed in the last book of the first series, and know the bears are beginning their journey home. After a terrifying encounter with a ship and many instances when Toklo "killed" Ujurak when he was in other forms, they reach the Island of Shadows.

On this island there is unusual but healthy population of white and brown bears. These two species live so closely together that they even have cubs together. One mixed cub, Nanulak, meets the group and joins them. Toklo feels a bond to Nanulak since Nanulak's family drove him away and he was left to fend for himself. Toklo's brother Tobi had died when they were cubs, and thinking that Toklo would die to, his motehr, Oka also chased him away.

Nanulak is bad news from the beginning. He is afraid of Kallik and Yakone, and his fear soon turns into resentment, and he doesn't respect Lusa at all. As time went on, I wanted to choke the cub. He also didn't believe in Ujurak and didn't think that he and Toklo were actually friends because Ujurak was a shape-shifter.

As time goes on, he does a lot of stupid things like fighting with Yakone, trying to push Kallik off a cliff. All these signs are telling the bears to go back and finally Toklo gets a dream from Ujurak. Ujurak tells him that they have to go back and find Nanulak's family. Nanulak does NOT want to go back at first, but as time goes on, he gets very enthusastic about meeting the bears who chased him away so Toklo can kill them for him in revenge. Obviously, Toklo doesn't want to do this, but is willing to teach them a lesson.

They meet these white bears and the largest turns out to be Nanulak's father even though Nanulak said that that was the bear that had attacked him and driven him away. Nanulak's father and Nanulak's family had actually thought that the cub was dead and had been searching and greiving for him. Nanulak says that he hates him and his mother for not making him white or brown, and then his mother turns up and tries to get him to come back, but says that he hates her. Toklo is obviously angry and says that Nanulak isn't his friend anymore, but offers him forgiveness and then Nanulak leaves...

So yeah... Okay book, but not my favorites. I hated that little snot Nanulak but maybe reading about his trumendous stupidity kept me reading the book at all...(less)

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Apr 25, 2012 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

When I was younger, I read most of Erin Hunger's WARRIORS series and loved them. When I got this book, then, I immediately started reading it, even though I'm probably well out of its target age group. Even so, I enjoyed it. Unlike the WARRIORS series, SEEKERS: ISLAND OF SHADOWS is not about cats, but about bears: Lusa, a black bear; Toklo, a brown bear; and Kallik and Yakone, who are polar bears. They are later joined by Nanulak, a half-brown and half-polar bear. The names were a bit confusing...more

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Mar 18, 2012 David Caldwell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: won-it-on-goodreads-first-reads, series, younger-readers

I won a copy on Goodreads Firstreads.

Toklo, Kalik and Lusa have finished their quest and now it is time for the three bears to return home.Joined by Yakone and Nanulak, they take the first steps to returning to where they belong.Grieving over the loss of their friend,Ujurak,they look for signs to help them find their way. Along the way, they have to learn to adapt to the new members in their group.Ultimately they have to learn to accept not only others for who they are but themselves as well.

I h...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Eden rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, books-i-own

Toklo, Lusa, Kallik along with Yakone, begin a long journey home. They are not really sure where they are going, if they are close to the Frozen Sea, or if they are going in the right direction. But they continue on, as each bear has dreams of finding the place that is right for them.

Along the way they run into humans and sometimes lose each other during moments of danger. And they meet a bear named Nanulak who is half white bear and half brown bear.

The book was slow at first, but when it picked...more

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Apr 07, 2012 Angelina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, juvenile-chapter

This is a great, fast paced read for upper elementary and early middle school. I'm not usually a fan of animal protagonist stories, but I like the perspective in this and the Hunter series. It's an amalgam of animal behavior translated into human language.

I like the ecology and environmental thread that runs through this series. Although the struggles are surreal in this story, they do mirror challenges that real bears are struggling with in their shrinking habitats.

An underlying theme that runs...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

I won this in a Giveaway and was curious after reading and highly recommending Hunter's Warriors series, as well as the first Seekers series to my students. This series introduces 2new bears to the original trio, which added some extra layers to the story. Toklo is a bit irritating to me, however a few of my sixth graders thought he was a typical "adolescent Grizzly bear".

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Apr 27, 2012 Alice Qu rated it 5 of 5 stars

i don't see what's so bad about Nanuak, yes, he lied, and yes, he wanted to kill his family, but still, all he wanted was to become only one type of bear, black or white. He never wanted to become mixed. I don't see what's so bad of being mixed. It doesn't matter, as long as you have a family that loves you. Nanuak had that, but he wouldn't accept that.

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Aug 24, 2012 Ash rated it 3 of 5 stars

The book at first was sooo good and it was great seeing the three bears back with Yakone but unfortunately without Ujurak. The book was about overcoming the sad events of the last book, and I was glad to see this book picking Ruhr after e end of book 6, which makes this book the seventh book in the series more than a first book in the new series.
The end or actually exactly in the last two chapter the events went downhill since the explanation to everything was just wtf-ish. But overall I hope...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great books though sometimes may be a bit confusing but they were pretty good. If I had to place an age limit on this it would probably be 8 and up because really there is no violence except for the occasional bear fight ( which is normal for bears, especially male bears) and because some words(not cuss words) may be out of some 7 year olds vocab.

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Apr 20, 2012 Grace Cuenca rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was amazing. What was interesting was that since it was from the same author, the elements that made up the plot were similar. Nanulak, a brown and white bear, has seeked out revenge on his parents. He used Toklo and everyone else to kill his family but he failed. In the series Warriors, Leafpool (from ThunderClan) and Crowfeather (from WindClan) had kits. Their kits, after finding out the truth, never really forgave them even though they never tried to kill them. This journey for the...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Stephanie rated it 2 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this book, but it didn't quite do it for me. But I have two other books from this series, so maybe they will be better.

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Apr 23, 2012 Lillian rated it 2 of 5 stars

i was surprized they centinued it, i think this book was kind of a waste of time, but it was a good read, just useless to the story line.......

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Jul 11, 2012 Taylor rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought that this book was great because of the characters and storyline it was great can't wait until the next book

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Apr 27, 2012 Evelyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was really good, but not quite as good as the rest of the series. Looks like there will be more books to follow.

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Oct 08, 2012 Nicole Luiken rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: animal-story

Read this to my son. Even he was getting tired of Nanulak by the end.

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Jan 22, 2012 Wennifred marked it as to-read

I just won a copy from Goodreads. Looking forward to reading it. Thank you.

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Feb 18, 2012 Meri Morgan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Really really good book... one of the best series ever!!!!

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Mar 07, 2012 Kris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, own

Toklo, Lusa, and Kallik begin the long journey home alone with Yakone, a polar bear. On their journey they meet Nanulak who is half polar bear and half grizzly bear. They run into humans and near fatal accidents.

The Warriors and Seekers books are wonderful. I would recommend them to any animal lover. I am surprised that the books have not yet been made into movies.

My 5th grader is looking forward to reading this book. She loves Erin Hunter's books.

*I received this book for free through Goodreads...more

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May 16, 2012 Jessica Buike rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I was sad to discover that even though this book is marked as the first of a series, it was apparently not (or was a spin-off series to a different series). Despite the fact that I couldn't keep up with all of the backstory, it was still enjoyable and touched on some very human things such as over-consumption, environmental concerns, and racism through the use of lovable bear characters. While it would have been nice to read the original series first, this was still a decent read and I managed t...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Don rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-reads

Fun read with my daughter.

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Mar 29, 2012 Rosalee Land rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love this series.

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Aug 07, 2012 PWRL marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2012-new

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Apr 29, 2012 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, 3-star

I received this book thru first reads giveaway at goodreads and am not the targeted age group by more than 30 years.
I also have not read any of the author's other works. I am generally a fan of animal books (hence entering the goodreads giveaway).

Synopsis at this site accurate, so not redoing. I liked the book, writing, storyline and characters. I did have trouble getting into at first; but, then it picked up pace and engrossing enough to look forward to next entry in series.

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Jun 20, 2012 Darren rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Darren by: Linda Stewart

Good continuation of the journey of the bear friends. I was wondering how it could continue after the previous 6 books ended. I'm excited to see where the story goes.

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Mar 10, 2012 Sherrie Saint rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-book

I liked the story but it was very difficult to keep up with all the different bears in the story. It is great that the message behind the book is that although we all look different, we are all family. Family doesn't always have to be blood relatives. And sometimes, no matter how much you love someone, they will leave you.

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Apr 23, 2012 Abby rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2012, erin-hunter-seekers

One thing.

I did not know that a bear could be so racist.

Good gosh.

That's all I am going to say.

Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the book, but that bear kind of ruined this one for me.

I will be glad if I never have to see him again.

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Jul 15, 2012 Shelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, own, paper-version

7 weeks later we received this book. My son has already started a new series so it will be awhile before he gets around to reading and reviewing it.

My son finally got around to reading this book we received as an ARC. He enjoyed it.

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About Erin Hunter

Erin Hunter is the pseudonym of four people: Victoria Holmes, Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry and Tui Sutherland. Together, they write the Warriors series as well as the Seekers series. Erin Hunter is working on a new series now called Survivors.

Erin Hunter is inspired by a love of cats and a fascination with the ferocity of the natural world. As well as having a great respect for nature in all its for...more

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