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Nim #1
Nim's Island
A girl. An iguana. An island. And e-mail. Meet Nim–a modern-day Robinson Crusoe! She can chop down bananas with a machete, climb tall palm trees, and start a fire with a piece of glass. So she’s not afraid when her scientist dad sails off to study plankton for three days, leaving her alone on their island. Besides, it’s not as if no one’s looking after her–she’s got a sea lion to mother her and an iguana for comic relief. She also has an interesting new e-mail pal. But when her father’s cell-phone calls stop coming and disaster seems near, Nim has to be stronger and braver than she’s ever been before.
And she’ll need all her friends to help her.
And she’ll need all her friends to help her.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
189 people are currently reading
2674 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Orr
63 books208 followersI’m an author, but I could never have started writing books if I hadn’t loved reading them first. Reading isn’t just one of my favourite things to do; it’s one of the most important things in my life. I can’t imagine a world in which I couldn’t read, every day. That’s why I always read to my children every day, just as my parents used to read to me. Stories can be exciting, sad, funny, scary or comforting, but the most amazing thing about them is that they take us into new worlds and teach us something more about ourselves, all at the same time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 702 reviews
November 11, 2023
Nim’s a girl who lives on a very remote but beautiful island with her dad. When her dad goes missing at sea, she writes to the only other hero she knows beside her dad. The author of her favorite books. A mysterious author rumored to be the manliest man on the planet, who’s never got time for interviews as he’s always on an action-packed adventure to inspire his books. But she’s actually a kind and talented woman who doesn’t do interviews because she’s scared to leave her own home.
I loved the Jodie Foster movie, so this was a very easy one to pick up. The island setting is expertly brought to life here. Especially with the help of Nim’s animal friends, but also because of the way the author puts the beauty of Nim’s island to words. And Nim’s struggles against the tourists who could destroy the natural beauty of the island is an important theme to build the story around.
Great characters, amazing setting and a fun and solid plot. It is quite short and lighthearted. But I enjoyed it from start to finish.
I loved the Jodie Foster movie, so this was a very easy one to pick up. The island setting is expertly brought to life here. Especially with the help of Nim’s animal friends, but also because of the way the author puts the beauty of Nim’s island to words. And Nim’s struggles against the tourists who could destroy the natural beauty of the island is an important theme to build the story around.
Great characters, amazing setting and a fun and solid plot. It is quite short and lighthearted. But I enjoyed it from start to finish.
February 28, 2015
This is one of several reviews I wrote for the late Secular Homeschooling Magazine. We ran an article about homeschoolers in fiction, and I rated a lot of YA novels based on how good they were and how well they handled homeschooling. Mostly, homeschoolers were hauled out as the reliable weirdos in story after story; but it was still fun to do lots of reading and call it my job.
So: Nim's Island.
Category: Oceanic-adventure unschooling.
Summary: Nim Rusoe lives with her scientist father Jack on a secret island. They have all the technology they need to make them happy and keep them in touch with the rest of the world when necessary. (Jack sells the occasional article electronically, and orders in supplies once a year.)
When Jack goes off to collect plankton for a few days, Nim decides to stay home with the animals -- a sea lion named Selkie and an iguana named Fred. (The drawings of Fred are killer adorable. Actually, all of Kerry Millard's line drawings are worth the price of the book so far as I'm concerned.) Adventures ensue, including Nim surviving a volcanic eruption and rescuing a famous writer.
Conclusion: When your paradise-island-dwelling father wonders aloud if he's being selfish by depriving you of a "normal" life, tell him he's out of his mind and stay on the awesome island.
Rating as a novel: Lots of fun for all ages.
Rating as a novel about homeschooling and/or homeschoolers: Ditto.
So: Nim's Island.
Category: Oceanic-adventure unschooling.
Summary: Nim Rusoe lives with her scientist father Jack on a secret island. They have all the technology they need to make them happy and keep them in touch with the rest of the world when necessary. (Jack sells the occasional article electronically, and orders in supplies once a year.)
When Jack goes off to collect plankton for a few days, Nim decides to stay home with the animals -- a sea lion named Selkie and an iguana named Fred. (The drawings of Fred are killer adorable. Actually, all of Kerry Millard's line drawings are worth the price of the book so far as I'm concerned.) Adventures ensue, including Nim surviving a volcanic eruption and rescuing a famous writer.
Conclusion: When your paradise-island-dwelling father wonders aloud if he's being selfish by depriving you of a "normal" life, tell him he's out of his mind and stay on the awesome island.
Rating as a novel: Lots of fun for all ages.
Rating as a novel about homeschooling and/or homeschoolers: Ditto.
November 4, 2016
Omg I loved this! This is what I wanted Pippi Longstocking to be but it wasn't. Can't wait to read it in a couple of years with the munchkin.
February 23, 2022
Actual rating: 3.5
Great as a "palate cleanser" read. Fun lighthearted story that I definitely would have enjoyed more as a younger reader. Reminded me of how much fun the film adaptation was.
Great as a "palate cleanser" read. Fun lighthearted story that I definitely would have enjoyed more as a younger reader. Reminded me of how much fun the film adaptation was.
May 21, 2008
I read this book to my second graders and we all enjoyed it. Even the boys liked it, which was a concern when I first pulled it out and overheard comments from some of them about it being a "girl's book." I guess anything with a girl as the main character qualifies as a girl's book. The fact that she had a machete early on in the book seemed to help tremendously.
In my children's lit class a few years back, we discussed the fact that many beloved children's novels center around characters who have been separated from their parents. Nim is no exception. Her father, Jack, leaves her for three days on their island all alone, and she must fend for herself. I love the idea for this novel - a girl and her two animal friends (Selkie the sea lion and Fred the marine iguana) facing the world together on a remote island with no one to help them. Wish I had thought of it! It was a fun read aloud.
In my children's lit class a few years back, we discussed the fact that many beloved children's novels center around characters who have been separated from their parents. Nim is no exception. Her father, Jack, leaves her for three days on their island all alone, and she must fend for herself. I love the idea for this novel - a girl and her two animal friends (Selkie the sea lion and Fred the marine iguana) facing the world together on a remote island with no one to help them. Wish I had thought of it! It was a fun read aloud.
March 9, 2008
I would give this book a hundred stars if I could. I liked it because I am a girl who likes adventure, and it was about adventure.
May 17, 2020
Otro de mis favoritos de la infancia, primero leí el libro y después la película y aunque creo que la película estaba muy bien hecha siempre he preferido los libros.
June 11, 2024
Jau kokio nuobodumo knyga, o jau ir taip buvo prailgusi istorija. Net kai kada dukrytė atsisakydavo klausytis prieš miegą.
August 18, 2017
This is officially the last book in my "2017 Lite and Fluffy" reading challenge. I think a very young YA (maybe even juvenile) is the perfect ending. I loved the movie "Nim's Island" it was fun and just the right amount of scary for young children. The book was equally enjoyable and kept my attention. I hope that doesn't say something negative about me. It was just a good story.
February 4, 2021
Nim's Island was all kinds of cute. Now I've definitely seen the movie before diving into the book but it has been a while since I've actually watched it. So I will admit that I was a little surprised by what happened to her mom in the beginning because I couldn't remember if that was mentioned in the movie.
I still don't know the answer to that question either and maybe one day I will. Or someone can just me out of my misery and give me the answer. Maybe.
Back to the book, so this was just a really cute adventure. Definitely flew through this book and Nim was an interesting character all by herself. Also the island she is on sounds freaking cool. I don't know how I would feel about fish and coconut all the time.. but details. If I had my own island I think I would be fine (maybe?). Plus her relationship with her dad was just really cute and reminded me of my own relationship with mine.
Then there's Alex. She was like a little turtle who needed to break free of her shell. I was definitely excited for her to go on this adventure because she just needed to. She's a famous writer who writes amazing adventure books but desperately needed to go on one herself. Just to experience what her main character goes through.
In the end, I really enjoyed diving into this and I'm going to see if I can find the next book stat!
I still don't know the answer to that question either and maybe one day I will. Or someone can just me out of my misery and give me the answer. Maybe.
Back to the book, so this was just a really cute adventure. Definitely flew through this book and Nim was an interesting character all by herself. Also the island she is on sounds freaking cool. I don't know how I would feel about fish and coconut all the time.. but details. If I had my own island I think I would be fine (maybe?). Plus her relationship with her dad was just really cute and reminded me of my own relationship with mine.
Then there's Alex. She was like a little turtle who needed to break free of her shell. I was definitely excited for her to go on this adventure because she just needed to. She's a famous writer who writes amazing adventure books but desperately needed to go on one herself. Just to experience what her main character goes through.
In the end, I really enjoyed diving into this and I'm going to see if I can find the next book stat!
March 19, 2017
Nim's Island is an easy to read story about an incredible girl who becomes the hero of her own story.
February 6, 2022
It was impossible not to love this. As a HUGE fan of the movie, I just fell for the book immediately. Of course, there were differences. The movie has more depth because it is able to dive into the characters (especially Jack and Alex Rover) better. The book still held my attention. It's definitely one of those middle grade books that I would recommend to all parents who love reading with their kids. This has fun twists and turns and the characters are an absolute delight.
February 23, 2024
Cute kids read
August 7, 2012
I read a book called Nim's Island by one of my new favorite authors named Wendy Orr. It's about a girl named Nim. Her mom and dad are scientists, and when Nim was 1 her mom went to study a whale's stomach. Nim's mom was swallowed by the whale and never seen again. Nim's dad decided to sail the ocean to look for the whale that swallowed his wife. They sailed the ocean for 3 years, and then Nim's dad decided that Nim was ready to explore more than just the small sailboat. They stopped on a beautiful island and decided to make it their special home. They didn't want the world to see it though, so they kept the location to themselves.
When Nim was 12, her father decided to go out and study plankton for 2 days, and to leave Nim alone on the island. The island was completely safe, and she had animal friends to hang out with.
Since Nim's father is a scientist, he emails with other scientists around the world, including Alex Rover, Nim's favorite author/adventurer of all time. Nim receives and email from him asking about the volcano on their island. She responds, and Nim and Alex become email-pals.
Soon, Nim realizes that it's been 3 days, and her dad still isn't back. She tries calling him on the cable-phone, but he didn't pick up. He couldn't have just missed the call on that tiny sail boat!
While emailing with Alex, Nim finds out that Alex Rover is short for Alexandra Rover, and Alexandra is too scared to even leave her own tiny apartment! She can't be the hero of her own stories! Alexandra also finds out that Nim isn't just some scientist that's Jack's friend, she's Jack's daughter!
Nim receives a letter from Jack, saying that there's a storm coming, and she'd better get everything and take it to the emergency cave with her. Nim knew how fast storms came on the ocean, she needed to get there fast!
I loved Nim's Island because it's about a girl who's a lot like me. Nim is about my age, she makes friends with all sorts of animals very easily, and she's very hungry for adventure. Every page is packed with excitement, and I could never put it down. When you're reading it, you feel like you're living in the book. A quote from this book is, "Bravery is everything". I recommend this book to adventure-seekers.
When Nim was 12, her father decided to go out and study plankton for 2 days, and to leave Nim alone on the island. The island was completely safe, and she had animal friends to hang out with.
Since Nim's father is a scientist, he emails with other scientists around the world, including Alex Rover, Nim's favorite author/adventurer of all time. Nim receives and email from him asking about the volcano on their island. She responds, and Nim and Alex become email-pals.
Soon, Nim realizes that it's been 3 days, and her dad still isn't back. She tries calling him on the cable-phone, but he didn't pick up. He couldn't have just missed the call on that tiny sail boat!
While emailing with Alex, Nim finds out that Alex Rover is short for Alexandra Rover, and Alexandra is too scared to even leave her own tiny apartment! She can't be the hero of her own stories! Alexandra also finds out that Nim isn't just some scientist that's Jack's friend, she's Jack's daughter!
Nim receives a letter from Jack, saying that there's a storm coming, and she'd better get everything and take it to the emergency cave with her. Nim knew how fast storms came on the ocean, she needed to get there fast!
I loved Nim's Island because it's about a girl who's a lot like me. Nim is about my age, she makes friends with all sorts of animals very easily, and she's very hungry for adventure. Every page is packed with excitement, and I could never put it down. When you're reading it, you feel like you're living in the book. A quote from this book is, "Bravery is everything". I recommend this book to adventure-seekers.
Read
December 7, 2016Some children’s books are what I jokingly call “wasted on children” — books so good that adults, too, will adore them: J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, The Book Thief, The Little Prince, The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Dumb Bunnies, Charlotte's Web, The Magic Thief, Just Grace.
But that doesn’t apply to Wendy Orr’s Nim’s Island? I’m sure that there are 8- to 10-year-olds who will savor this tale of a modern-day The Swiss Family Robinson, but adults won’t really enjoy it. I couldn’t finish it. Since I’m sure there are lots of kids who would enjoy this, I won’t be assigning a star rating.
But that doesn’t apply to Wendy Orr’s Nim’s Island? I’m sure that there are 8- to 10-year-olds who will savor this tale of a modern-day The Swiss Family Robinson, but adults won’t really enjoy it. I couldn’t finish it. Since I’m sure there are lots of kids who would enjoy this, I won’t be assigning a star rating.
October 25, 2022
This was even better than the movies!
This book is so charming, and sweet. It made me laugh out loud several times, and I wished I could be on Nims Island too.
This book is so charming, and sweet. It made me laugh out loud several times, and I wished I could be on Nims Island too.
May 19, 2016
I read this to my third graders. Really perfect for their age group. High vocabulary but not unreachable. Very engaging story with plenty of female heroes!
March 27, 2017
A short but really fun and creative read.
I wish I could live on this island, or at least have discovered this book when I was a kid.
I wish I could live on this island, or at least have discovered this book when I was a kid.
July 12, 2018
This was the first book I put on my physical To Read List, recommended by dear Gwyn over four(!) years ago(??) I FINALLY FOUND A COPY AND READ IT AND IT WAS SO WORTH IT. At first I thought it was going to just be a children's book version of the movie (which I also love) but it was a lot more than just the movie, going different directions and was much deeper with Alex (she's a lot more cool and wonderful here). I also am going through a phase currently where I want to live on an island in a tree house and eat only food that I have grown myself and survive using solar power (don't worry I just daydream a lot it's fine) and this book is PERFECT for that. Because that's almost exactly what Nim does only technically she lives in a hut and also eats a lot of fish and clams. But there are a lot of descriptions of waterfalls and climbing volcanos and running in the sand and swimming in the sea and good basic surviving on an island things and also Nim is a really fun character to run around with. 10/10 Summer Vacation Read if you still like children's books, which I do. They leave a lot of scope for imagination.
July 18, 2022
What a fun book! The length of the book and the length of the chapters make it a really perfect easy read aloud or a read alone for a upper elementary school child. The story is interesting and it gets going pretty quick. The descriptive words used are really really rich and it also tugs at your heart strings.
March 3, 2021
This was a fun read, lighthearted and full to the brim of innocence. Breathe of fresh island air. Recommend.
November 12, 2018
I listened to this book while my 11 year-old read it for a school book report. It was a cute little chapter book about Nim, who lives on an island with her dad, Jack. She writes to Alex Rover, a real-life author who lives far away, and sends pleas for help when her dad doesn’t come back.
November 17, 2024
Read this with the kids at work. Ngl was a slay, great story, so much happening perfect for kids first novel!! They loveddddd it
September 22, 2023
My kids loved this! I thought there were some threads that needed to be followed through.
May 1, 2016
Delightfully fun adventure story
In a palm tree, on an island, in the middle of the wide blue sea, was a girl.
-first sentence
That was what Nim called it, because soccer was the only ball game she'd ever seen a picture of -- and because nobody else has ever thought of a name for a game with a girl, a sea lion, a turtle, and an iguana all trying to be the first to get a floating coconut to shore.
-Chapter 6
Nim loved the ocean because it was always there, wherever she looked and as far as she could see, but it was too huge and powerful to understand and too dangerous to trust.
--Chapter 8
Nim's father goes on a three-day boat trip to study plankton and doesn't return for two weeks. Nim is left to fend for herself with only an iguana (Fred), a sea lion (Selkie), and a green sea turtle (Chica) to keep her company. She does have email and makes an email friend in Alex, a famous author. Alex and Nim exchange emails, but they both make assumptions that end up being false.
This is a cute story. Nim is a smart, resourceful, girl. I enjoyed reading how Nim interacted with her "friends" the iguana, sea lion, and sea turtle. I loved reading the exchanges between Nim and Alex and seeing how confused they both were about each other. We don't hear much about the Troppo Tourists, except that they were responsible for the loss of Nim's mother in an unusual way. And Nim and her father are desperate to keep the island hidden from them.
Recommended to:
Young readers who enjoy adventure.
In a palm tree, on an island, in the middle of the wide blue sea, was a girl.
-first sentence
That was what Nim called it, because soccer was the only ball game she'd ever seen a picture of -- and because nobody else has ever thought of a name for a game with a girl, a sea lion, a turtle, and an iguana all trying to be the first to get a floating coconut to shore.
-Chapter 6
Nim loved the ocean because it was always there, wherever she looked and as far as she could see, but it was too huge and powerful to understand and too dangerous to trust.
--Chapter 8
Nim's father goes on a three-day boat trip to study plankton and doesn't return for two weeks. Nim is left to fend for herself with only an iguana (Fred), a sea lion (Selkie), and a green sea turtle (Chica) to keep her company. She does have email and makes an email friend in Alex, a famous author. Alex and Nim exchange emails, but they both make assumptions that end up being false.
This is a cute story. Nim is a smart, resourceful, girl. I enjoyed reading how Nim interacted with her "friends" the iguana, sea lion, and sea turtle. I loved reading the exchanges between Nim and Alex and seeing how confused they both were about each other. We don't hear much about the Troppo Tourists, except that they were responsible for the loss of Nim's mother in an unusual way. And Nim and her father are desperate to keep the island hidden from them.
Recommended to:
Young readers who enjoy adventure.
October 28, 2015
Nim's Island was a phenomenal,adventurous,and suspenseful book. The amazing adventures Nim went through were scary and risky to Nim's life. Throughout the story I felt as if I was climbing cliffs with her and going on great adventures with her. I recommend this book to people who like suspenseful,adventurous, and books that keep you on the edge of your seat.I believe you should read this book mostly because the way Nim reacts to problems makes you wish you were there to experience the adventures with her. Thanks to the amazing author you feel as if you were there experiencing the adventures with her with the many descriptive details the author gives. The next chance you do not have anything to read please read Nim's Island.
November 21, 2025
My 9 year old read this to me for his literature assignment and I will admit to putting it on his list because it's what I would've loved as a kid (one of my favorite sub-genre was kids surviving on their own...on a deserted island, even better!). This was absolutely a blast and even though we both guessed where it was heading, we loved the journey to get there. He begged to read it together outside his assigned reading time and he didn't have to twist my arm a bit. So fun!
2025 - My second kiddo read this one to me and loved every page. So fun (also caught my 1st born eavesdropping).
2025 - My second kiddo read this one to me and loved every page. So fun (also caught my 1st born eavesdropping).
February 5, 2015
This book is delightful. My ten-year-old daughter and I read it together, and it led us to explore coral reefs, frigate birds, green sea turtles, seaweed and kelp, and seahorses, leafy sea dragons, weedy sea dragons, and pipefish (all members of the genus Hippocampus, which is the only genus where the male gives birth instead of the female.) It was a perfect book for a kiddo who is currently crazy about marine life. It is a clever, exciting adventure with a happy ending.
January 25, 2022
I listened to this book as an audiobook and enjoyed "reading" it again.
Honestly I think I would put it at 4 stars but most 4 star books I don't read again.
I just love reading about the summer when I'm in the dead of winter. Whenever I listen or read the book I just love how she ate lots of coconuts and bananas and it always makes me hungry. :)
It makes me hungry whenever someone eats in a book. LOL
Honestly I think I would put it at 4 stars but most 4 star books I don't read again.
I just love reading about the summer when I'm in the dead of winter. Whenever I listen or read the book I just love how she ate lots of coconuts and bananas and it always makes me hungry. :)
It makes me hungry whenever someone eats in a book. LOL
July 2, 2021
2017: I love reading this to my second graders every year. When we finished today they clapped and are so excited to watch the movie because they love the book. <3
2018: This year my students all had their own book to read along with. I love sharing this fun story with them and listening to their theories!
2018: This year my students all had their own book to read along with. I love sharing this fun story with them and listening to their theories!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 702 reviews