The Secret of Sanctuary Island

by A.M. Monson, Todd L.W. Doney (Illustrations)

When Todd and his friend, Kevin, stumble onto a group of criminals operating in their suburban town, no one believes them. Will the young detectives be able to prove the truth-or will they die trying?

164 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Holly Ristau · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book in contention for the Maud Hart Lovelace book award during the 1995-6 school year. This was my response at that time: two boy canoeists expose a crime ring in Minneapolis. Very fast read.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm rounding up to five stars to be generous, since I admit it probably doesn't hold up to a second reading, but I WAS in fact gripped by the mystery enough that I couldn't put the book down! (until I had to, or I would've finished in one sitting) Definitely a bad choice for in-between tasks at work, haha!

The afterword admits that this is written as sort of revenge fantasy, in the way of, "I remember being RIGHT about such-and-such but having no power to prove it, and this is me living vicariously through my characters!" I definitely see that—I can't say that I've ever been in EXACTLY this position (though the boss was literally just describing something like that at work, with an incident about the other driver being at fault and having no way to prove that), but I absolutely can tell just what Todd must have felt being blamed for something that others did. Probably why this story is so intriguing is Todd and Kevin aren't exactly kids with a lot of resources available to solve the mystery, and just how can they prove their innocence against violent adults?

It's also a lovely bit of slice-of-life as relates to having a blended family, and the ups and downs of adjusting to a new stepparent. I like the gradual, believable way that Todd finally warms up to Jan, though I suppose most families of remarriage don't have something like a criminal incident and struggle to clear one's name to help bring them together, haha.

Recommended for young mystery fans! Also a rare book about canoeing—I feel like it's an underappreciated sport (though maybe that's from me living in landlocked areas all my life).

[Sarah Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serious but lighthearted, this children's mystery book hit a lot of the nostalgia notes I was looking for when I picked it up.

Ah, to be in a canoe on a lake in fall in NY state.

[Alejandro Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Of Sanctary Island

Part=A This novel takes place on a lake. Two friends named Kevin and Todd go on a canoeing trip and they discover two man acting funny on one of the sides of the lake. Both Kevin and Todd witness what appeared to be a burglary. Both Kevin and Todd try to figure out what is going on in there town. No one believes them when they tell them about the burglary. Both boys try to prove everyone wrong and uncover the mystery that surrounds there town to become heros.

Part=B The protagonist of the story is Todd. In the beginning of the story when he witnesses the burglary he sticks to his beliefs to solve the mysteries puzzle and, find the bad guys that are commuting a crime. At first when he tells his father and the police about what he witnesses he feels like no one believes him. Todd trys to gather evidence to support his claims by taking pictures. At first Todd is afraid, he doesn't take much risk. As the story goes by he takes more risk and becomes stronger. He goes on his own to take pictures of the burglars and there homes. He follows them putting his life at stake.


Part C= “ Well dump everything into the lake, then swamp the canoe “ this is one of the quotes that one of the burglars said when they were committing a burglary on the lake. This quote is important because it tells the reader that they are committing a burglary and that they are hiding something. It makes the reader think what are the man stealing! “ Good afternoon. Dreams are yours vacation may I help you”? This is another quote that gets the readers attention because its the voice of one of the burglars. They have a fake get away plan that offers a free vacation with everything paid. All you have to do is pay a hundred dollar fee to become a member and give your credit car number or your house address. This shows that the man behind this steal things by tricking people!

Part D= The theme of the story is Todd and Kevin try to put together the mysteries puzzle about the two man committing a crime. Both of the boys do whatever it takes to get the man stealing from there town. They both showed that they were strong and smart to become the heros of the story.

Part E= I would recommend this book to anyone because it is exiding and will keep you reading it without being able to put it down. It is not predictable witch makes it an interesting book. It is one of the best books I've read.

[Michelle]

Listed as Q3 = A good story with some faults, P3 = A booktalk on this title will excite most people’s interest