Well, this was a delightfully nostalgic read, full of 1930s American slang and lots of young heroine chutzpah. Here is the basic premise: 2 brave sisters, Mary and Jean (ages 12 and 10, respectively) are shipwrecked on a deserted island, with four babies in tow. Yes, it may be a simple plotline, but it makes for an entertaining story! Although this was written in the 1930s, it still appeals to young readers today. I read this book with four 4th and 5th grade girls, who selected it themselves as our first intramural book club pick. They all really enjoyed it, though we did all agree that it felt too old-fashioned at times and was a bit hard to relate to because of this. And I have to admit, I think this is more of a girl book than a boy book...that's not to say that boys might not enjoy the story, but I don't think they'd pick it out to read, as the protagonists are females and their main dilemma is how to care for four babies. Brink, also the author of Caddie Woodlawn, fills her pages with rich vocabulary and description, so this really is quality children's literature. All in all, this one is well-worth a read and was a nice selection for an upper elementary book club. I would recommend it for children (girls especially) ages 8 and up.