Island of Spies

by Sheila Turnage

A middle grade WWII spy mystery.

Twelve-year-old Stick Lawson lives on Hatteras Island, North Carolina, where life moves steady as the tides, and mysteries abound as long as you look really hard for them. Stick and her friends Rain and Neb are good at looking hard. They call themselves the Dime Novel Kids. And the only thing Stick wants more than a paying case for them to solve is the respect that comes with it. But on Hatteras, the tides are changing. World War II looms, curious newcomers have appeared on the small island, and in the waters off its shores, a wartime menace lurks that will upend Stick's life and those of everyone she loves. The Dimes are about to face more mysteries than they ever could have wished for, and risk more than they ever could have imagined.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Mystery, Historical, Fiction, Family, Adventure

384 pages, Hardcover

First published September 20, 2022

Reviews

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

ISLAND OF SPIES
Shelia Turnage

A middle school book about friendship, differences, and childhood in scary times. I always enjoy books about a time when children had childhoods. The characters, Stick, Rain, and Neb all have hardships in their lives to deal with including the fear of being attacked by Germans or German U-Boats off the east coast. These kids live on Hatteras Island, so they have good reason to be concerned and then a ship is sunk one evening.

With imagination, the children have a detective agency, the Dime Novel Kids Detective Agency, and are always looking for a mystery to solve. Now they can suspect everyone on the island for all sorts of imaginable things. Stick is also a scientist and I love that she wears one of her daddy's white shirts as a lab coat. I remember using that as a painting smock during school, what fun.

We always think that the past is great, the cars were the best (1950's) but life wasn't that stable in the 40's. Children dealt with a great deal, the war, family illness, poverty, racial issues, and missing parents.

I loved the setting and the children were just amazing!

4 stars

Happy Reading!

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Warning! This book may cause the reader to enjoy reading about history*
(Got that from Ann Rinaldi, a wonderful writer of historical fiction).
Written for a middle-grade audience, but any reader could fall in love with it!

This year I have read three historical fiction books about the dangerous German U-boats lurking around the East Coast during WW2, all published in 2022. Upon beginning “Island of Spies”, I was beginning to think some new info about WW2 must have come to light. After all, I’m in my fifties, an avid reader of WW2 history, and until recently knew little about this danger to the U.S.A.
Turns out I was correct in trusting my instincts (the Dime Novel Kids would applaud!) According to the author’s notes, this information about U-boats was kept so hushed that most Americans never knew about them… or their attacks…
Wonderful history-mystery; it will keep you turning the pages!

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like a fake Sheila Turnage fan because Mo and Dale are two of my favorite characters ever and I didn't know this existed until several months after it was published. Who am I?

Good news - I loved this. Which, obviously, I hoped I would. I'm just glad to know that Turnage continues to prove her prowess at making me laugh and cry in the same book because the friendships are too pure and I would die for these kids. The Dime Novel Kids are precious and deserve the entire world. The mystery was intriguing, and the historical elements are woven in so seamlessly. I feel like I learned something, which is the best when reading his-fic.

Five stars from me. I'd happily read more adventures with Stick, Neb, and Rain, though I don't know if we'll get any more.

Fact: change rarely shows up the same way twice. It might stroll up comfortable as old boots, and take a seat on the porch. It might attack from the deep of the sea or the dark of the heart and slam your world hard enough to wobble your stars. No matter how it shows, you can count on this: It never leaves until it's done.

[RebekahAshleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Island of Spies is a really good book! It was fun and exciting. It kept me guessing and it was pretty funny too.
I haven’t read many historical middle grade books so it was nice to read one. The characters were all so fun and I loved the setting of Hatteras Island. It’s a place I’ve been to before and love so it made the story come alive even more!
If you like World War II stories, spies, island life, fun characters and good friendships, you should definitely give Island of Spies a try! It’s a book that a wide range of ages can enjoy!

[Pam Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the premise of this book and the history that is not widely known even to adults. I am a bookseller with a middle grade book club and this was our book for the month. While I found the book fascinating I also found it slow to get going and somewhat confusing due to so many characters. The kids in the club (4th-7th graders) liked the book but had a lot of confusion keeping track of the characters also...we all agreed that you need to make a character chart to reference for this book. I found excellent info on the author's website to share with the group and think sharing it ahead of time may have been a better idea. Overall, a good book with rich history that would be best for avid readers who are willing to stick with a book.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could see this being a fun audiobook for a family road trip. I just wish I had a physical copy with a character list because there were so many it was hard to keep track of.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is 1942, and everyone knows that war has broken out in the world; but nobody expects it to come to Hatteras Island, North Carolina. Neb, Rain, and Stick are three friends who live their lives based on what they have learned from their extensive collection of dime novels, and they are determined to gain notice and esteem from the FBI itself. Not only have they been solving mysteries in their island community, but they have also been keeping a wary eye out for spies, especially when new people move to town. When the war finally reaches their doorstep, Neb, Rain, and Stick must put their skills to the test and do all they can to protect their community from the threat of destruction.

This story is written from the perspective of Stick, whose given name is Sarah Stickley Lawson. At twelve years old, she is wise to some of the world, but there is much that she does not yet understand. Despite this, she is determined to attend college and study science even when girls in her time were not often able to do so. Interestingly, she is described as being bright compared to others her age, but she often uses “me” in place of “I,” which demeans this overall perspective. Nonetheless, Stick does a good job introducing readers to the nuances found in her close-knit community, especially the closed-mindedness felt by many. Readers easily become a part of Stick’s world and feel connected to the characters in her life.

There are many books written about World War II, but few of them are focused on middle grade readers, and even fewer of those discuss the feelings of people in the United States. This book gives readers a sense of how people lived during the 1940s in a small island community while also intentionally including details of the war in as much as the characters would have known them. Without Internet or reliable news, Stick and her companions must piece together what they can from the information they do receive, and their steadfastness and ingenuity become even more important as time goes by. Though slow at times, the narrative has a smooth flow, and middle grade readers will be gently introduced to World War II from an accessible perspective. This is an interesting historical fiction adventure that is sure to please middle grade readers who enjoy quirky characters, mysteries, and a strong sense of community.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once it got going, I couldn’t put this one down. A truly fabulous southern historical fiction mystery spy novel. I loved each quirky character and each hijink, conundrum, and nuanced moment.

[Ginger France · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was an 2023 ICCA. It is not. Good historical fiction read. I enjoyed it.

[Katie M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my word! How much would I LOVE to have a class set of this book?!? My 4th/5th graders would be totally engrossed in this awesomely immersive WWII yarn. It could be taught anywhere from upper level fourth graders to eighth grade!

Sheila Turnage is amazing. I absolutely devoured every word she wrote about Mo and Dale (and Harm, Lavender 🥰, etc), so I picked up Island of Spies as soon as I finished The Law of Finders Keepers. It has a lot of similar themes and characters, as well as Turnage’s trademark genius figurative language.

The characters are memorable and loveable, and the tension is high. As an intergrated social studies unit, you could not ask for more. With that being said, I did think that this dragged a bit in the middle. I found the repeated use of foreshadowing devices to be heavy, and there were times when I found myself thinking “come on! Get back to the story!” But I wouldn’t trade the experience of reading this enchanting story for anything.

How talented is Sheila Turnage to make you love and hate the same characters over and over and over? I laughed. I cried. I cheered. I hope that my own writing will one day achieve this level of mastery. I can’t wait to see what she offers up next. Go pick up Island of Spies immediately!

[Jessica Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4

Island of Spies is a bit slow out of the gates, but it’s worth sticking with it. Author Sheila Turnage’s pacing could be tighter for her intended audience, though slower bits do allow for reflection.

At the center of the story is Stick, a bright scientist-in-the-making who doesn’t always get things right, but learns along the way. Rain and Neb excel and their own talents, rounding out the Dime Novel Kids crew. It’s a strong trio of characters that will appeal to young readers.

Set against the backdrop of WWII, readers will be fascinated by communication of the time — radio, newspapers and letters were the name of the game back then. Island of Spies offers a unique comparison of how we piece together information now and then. More interesting still is the overall island lifestyle of the 1940s.

Island of Spies is full of mysteries and quirky characters. It’s a fairly strong historical fiction read that’s worth checking out from the library.

[Gabrielle Schwabauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a slow start, I was surprised to find this novel so engrossing as time went on. It's been a while since I read a middle grade that was so willing to let its characters be human--weird, flawed, sometimes wrong, guilty of incorrect assumptions.

They mystery elements were very enjoyable, and I liked that the kids' role wasn't over-the-top or unbelievable. "In times of danger, bet on each other" is a beautiful tribute to friendship. The bond between Stick, Neb, and Rain was convincing and I loved their interactions. Adults were complicated figures, not all one thing or all another. Stick's narrative voice could be a touch too precocious, but overall fleshed out her character well, and I loved getting to see all the other characters through her eyes. The island setting was striking and unique.

I'm also a sucker for the "brainy younger sister doesn't take older sister seriously but later the older sister comes into her own and discovers autonomy and stops pressuring her sister to be more feminine and the younger sister grows to respect her instead of writing her off due to internalized misogyny" as a feminist subplot. Faye's Brigade!!!

The mystery worked just fine, but I found that I wanted a little more true betrayal to deal with. In a wartime spy novel, its absence felt glaring. Still, a great ride.

There is also one realistic and historically accurate depiction of parental violence that isn't treated as concerning by the characters. It was pretty painful for me to read, but it was also honest, though I did question its inclusion. I don't expect the author to write a bunch of too-wise-for-their-time children who are all savvy about violent punishment, but it was such a jarring aside that I'm not sure I liked having it included with no commentary, especially in relation to an adult character portrayed as loving and sympathetic the entire time.

[Michelle Mallette · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my full review here.
In this delightful children's mystery, Newbery Honor author Turnage delves into the little known history of Nazi submarines that attacked merchant vessels of all sizes just off the American coast in the Atlantic, in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, starting early in 1942. Our protagonists are three wonderful young characters – Stick, Rain, and Neb, collectively the Dime Novel Detectives - who are determined to help the FBI rid their island of Nazi spies, or other kinds even. Together these close friends investigate all strange incidents with inventiveness and determination, including a pair of newly arrived baseball ringers, visiting artists, the cantankerous local postmistress Miss Agnes and her cat Edgar, a school bully and petty thefts. I loved this daring adventure story – it starts off a bit slow, and there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but there is plenty of humour and inspiring creativity to keep you engaged to the very end. My thanks to the Grand Forks & District Public Library for including this novel in its children’s fiction collection. Great cover art, too!

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLUF: On my daughter's 5th grade reading list, great read, slow in the middle and might lose kids.

I really enjoyed reading this book, but even for me the middle was slow, with too many characters coming and going, too fast a pace from scene to scene, and not enough depth given to anyone. The beginning and end were great; the beginning sets the stage nicely, and the end ties everything up with a bow.

One thing that irked me throughout the book...the author constantly refers to pairs of characters as the object, such as "Rain and me went down to the river" vs "Rain and I went down to the river". I likely noticed this as we're currently trying to teach our daughter (10) the same thing...she constantly refers to others as "Me and so-and-so" or "So-and-so and me".

Additionally, as this is meant for middle school age when a discussion of WWII may not have happened, some additional explanation of what Nazis are would be helpful...the kids appear to have some information about the time that the readers likely will not.

Overall, the book was entertaining, well written, and gives a glimpse of history that is often overlooked.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Stick, Rain, and Neb live on Hattaras island in 1942. There's a lot of concern about German U-Boats, and there are even some torpedoes that hit too close to home, some resulting in ships being destroyed. Stick, whose father is away fighting, runs the Dime Novel kids detective agency, so she and her friends try to solve mysteries. Rain and her mother live in an oversized barrel, and Stick's mother made sure that Rain could attend the local school even though she is part Black. Neb's father is poorly. The three suspect everyone on the island of everything; the new players for the baseball team, Austrian artists who seek refuge, and even eccentric neighbor Miss Agnes, who, after all, has a radio hidden just in case the Germans invade. Stick also likes to conduct science experiments. Will the Dime Novel kids be able to keep their beloved island safe? Some good details of life in 1942, and an interesting setting.

[Janet McGuire · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dime Novel Kids (Stick, Ned and Rain) are always ready for a new adventure. Especially an adventure that require them to use the skills they have honed from reading mystery novels. They try to solve every mystery from who is the petty thief on the island as well as to find the German spies that have been causing havoc off the coast of Hatteras Island. Everyone on the island (the Kids as well as the adults) work together to find the German spies that have invaded their island.
Island of Spies is a historical fiction novel that takes place in the 1940's. Many people do not know that off the coast of Hatteras Island during that time period, there were German U-Boats. The U-Boats destroyed ships trying to get to the island to unload their shipments. The history buff may explore other lesser known facts in American History.

[Bonnie Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

You’ve got to love a character named Stick! She and her friends, Neb and Rain, headquarter in the abandoned lighthouse on Hatteras Island N.C. These ‘Dime Novel Detectives’ are on the case looking for spies when German subs start sinking ships near their island. This real-life event happened on the coast of North Carolina during WWII but is often left out of our history lessons.

Sheila Turnage has populated an entire island with a cast of brilliant characters. From Stick, future famous scientist and someday FBI agent, to Miss Agnes, postmistress and possible German spy. Don’t bother trying to guess who’s buried in the three mysterious graves hidden in Buxton Woods!

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little known piece of history with the UBoats off the coast of North Carolina before Pearl Harbor was bombed, but for as much as this is historical, it's focused on the friendships of the kids who call themselves the Dime Novel Kids and their investigations around the coast.

But they also struggle with the issues of the 1940s including classicism and racism.

It's a fatter middle grade novel that is a bit bloated by the goofiness and adventures of the "dime store novel" lessons they've learned. It becomes a distraction to the story as a whole but it reminds us that there are still good people in the world and that we pick our battles and some are worth fighting for.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

German spies on the east coast of the United States during World War II? I had no idea. Stick, Neb, Rain are the Dime Novel Kids. Growing up on Hatteras Island in the 1940s, they enjoy reading dime novels (stories of mystery and intrigue), not realizing that soon they'll be involved in a mystery. When some ringers show up on another town's baseball team in early 1942, some wonder what their real motive is. Why are they befriending the locals?
Give this to fans of Nancy Drew and/or Hardy Boys mysteries, those who are fascinated by spies and/or double-agents, those who cannot get enough of World War II, or anyone living in North Carolina as that is where this takes place.

[Vanessa Kelman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this book were intriguing and kept me reading, and parts of it got a bit confusing. It felt like there were just too many characters to keep track of, which pulled me away from the mystery as I occasionally had to remind myself who was who. I imagine it would be difficult for kids to keep track of everything going on. The main characters were quirky and likeable, and the history was interesting, especially after reading the author's note, but it just felt like there was too much going on to keep straight.

[Laura Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel in love with Turnage as a middle grade mystery writer, so I was very excited to see this historical fiction from her. Island of Spies is set on an intercoastal island off the US coast in 1942. American has entered WWII, and Islanders are dealing with small attacks and spies from Germany. This is a piece of history that America has tried to keep hidden. Just as in Turnage's Three Times Lucky Series, readers will fall in love with The Dimes, Stick, Rain, and Neb. The book also touches on racial issues of the day.

[Ita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Mo and Dale series, so was really looking forward to more from Sheila Turnage. I was not disappointed. She excels at creating fabulous characters that you fall in love with. and I loved the quirky names: Stick, Rain, Neb. Plenty of humor, scary racism, and adventure.

I listened to this book and there were some wonderful turns of phrase and similes. If I had owned the paper book I might have highlighted them.

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea German U-boats came ashore in North Carolina during World War II for months, torpedoing hundreds of ships and killing thousands, while reports of the events were censored from the public by the U.S. government. “Island of spies” is an interesting read, and was very educational. Read more about this book on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....

[Ally Renell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this one. I really got into the story and enjoyed it, but I don't think I would recommend it to kids unless they were a hardcore historical fiction nerd. Some parts of the plots were rushed and I kept missing what happened. Additionally, all the spy talk was sometimes hard to follow. However, it is really cool that it covers a part of WWII history that isn't widely known.

[ANdrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

My son read this book for Clash of the Covers and I read it too and it's a horrible book. It's terribly written and hard to follow. There was very little character development, it would jump from location to location without warning and it made it hard to follow what was going on. As an avid reading adult I found this to be a difficult book to follow, so I can understand my 12 year old's disdain for the book and lack of comprehension.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This middle grade WWII mystery novel will keep you guessing all the way up to the end. Are Stick and her friends (wannabe FBI agents) really going to unmask German spies on their island or are they just annoying all of their neighbors? This is a wonderful cast of quirky kids, teens, and adults with the background of German Uboats sinking ships off the Carolina coast. Stink's voice reminded me of Coyote or Anne Shirley, full of both bravado and caring.

[Celia Joyner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for the upper elementary and middle school. It’s historical fiction and the author has taken the time to embed many facts in this book. It is a wonderful read and had me guessing up to the end who the spies were.

Sheila is a Newberry award winner with many other recognitions. I grew up with her in a small town in eastern NC and her writing skills have always been amazing.

[Emily Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am saying four stars because it took me a while to get through it. That always makes me nervous for students to read it. I can't put my finger on why it too me so long. The second 1/2 of the book was much better. It all came together beautifully. I enjoyed the characters and the setting. I didn't know most of this history. The war really came to our shores.

[Leonard Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The first hundred pages or so felt like this would be the same as another of this year's books, Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves by L.M. Elliott, though with Turnage's trademark playfulness. I wasn't sure I needed to read another books about U-boats off the Atlantic Coast. But the spy stuff was fun once it got going.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this book because I have a personal connection with the subject matter. My grandfather taught women to look for Nazi subs in the Gulf of Mexico. The book has wonderful characters, but does lag and could move a little bit faster. My students like the book and only a handful have complained about the plot development.