The Islander

by Cynthia Rylant

A Newbery Medal-winning author charts the journey of Daniel Jennings, who lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest with his grandfather and spends ten years of his youth unraveling the mysteries of a mermaid and a life-saving key.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Mystery, Canada

97 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 1998

About the author

An author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children and young adults as well as an author and author/illustrator of picture books for children, Cynthia Rylant is recognized as a gifted writer who has contributed memorably to several genres of juvenile literature. A prolific author who often bases her works on her own background, especially on her childhood in the West Virginia mountains, she is the creator of contemporary novels and historical fiction for young adults, middle-grade fiction and fantasy, lyrical prose poems, beginning readers, collections of short stories, volumes of poetry and verse, books of prayers and blessings, two autobiographies, and a biography of three well-known children's writers; several volumes of the author's fiction and picture books are published in series, including the popular "Henry and Mudge" easy readers about a small boy and his very large dog.

Rylant is perhaps most well known as a novelist. Characteristically, she portrays introspective, compassionate young people who live in rural settings or in small towns and who tend to be set apart from their peers.

from bookrags.com

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The elements that make this book one of the handful of greatest I have ever read are difficult to pin down, but I've never read a book like The Islander.

With an astonishing economy of words Cynthia Rylant delves into the heart of anyone who ever experienced loss or loneliness, and creates a resounding story of pure magic. I could never forget the impact of this book, and there are few others I hold in equal reverence.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gentle tale of a boy growing up with his grandfather on an island off the coast of British Columbia has an almost mystical air about it. The island's isolation gives it a sense of specialness, of magic, like anything could happen there. And so it does. This story leaves you feeling that everything happens for a reason, and that anything is possible. Did Daniel really see a mermaid, or was it a ghost? A charming, quick, peaceful read. Recommended.

[L Y N N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up on a whim to read this evening. Any of Rylant's books I've read in the past I loved, and this was no exception! Some magical elements and yet real-life relationship challenges for a boy orphaned at age 7 and living with his grandfather on a very small island with few residents. This is very simply written and yet extremely poignant, IMO! A very quick and slightly haunting story...ending with hope for the future.

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. This book is about a boy who lives with his grandpa because both of his parents passed away. One night he is out by the shore and sees a mermaid. He does not tell his grandpa about it because he knows that he won't believe him. He decides to go back to the shore to see if he can see the mermaid again. He does not see anything. On a stormy night, there is a hurricane in the island where the boy lives. He and his grandpa are prepared for a situation like this. They hide out in the cellar with food,water,blankets,and flashlights. After the storm, the boy and his grandpa decide to go and see if the rest of the houses in the island are ok. The boy goes down to the shore and finds a key. He also finds a lot of injured animals. At first he doesn't know it but he uses the key help save animals who might have been injured during the hurricane.

[Katherine Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recognized this author as being the same one who wrote the Poppleton stories. But how did I not realize she also wrote Henry and Mudge??? I read Henry and Mudge a lot more than Poppleton when I was younger, so I'm amazed that I missed the connection. 😆

Anyway, The Islander is something I always wanted to read when I was younger but never did. I'm so happy I finally took the time to read it! It turned out to be a much sweeter story than I expected. Although I was sad the mermaid was not in it as much as I would have liked, the rest of the story made up for it. Daniel reminded me of many of my own fictional characters, and maybe that's why I loved him so much. His relationship with his grandfather was precious, and a part near the end about Daniel's grandfather really tugged at my heart. As a bonus, I loved the island setting! (Those are always the best! *wink wink*) This story is super short and doesn't take long to read. So if it sounds interesting to you, please give it a try!

Magic/spiritual content:
A mermaid, a magical key, and a live mermaid comb. A mention of fairies, a ghost, an "everlasting spirit," and a reference to the sea god.

[Neve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!My teacher read it to me the first time and I got it for Christmas the next time.This book is about a boy named Daniel and he is 21 years old and he is recording his records from the past.
If you are looking for a good book get the Islander!

[Rachel Gold Rennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read purely for the sentiment, to relive a story I had once read as a child. Found a copy at a consignment sale and felt blessed to dive into this brief and touching tale.

[Lan Huynh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book very much. It's so interesting and it makes me feel sorry about Daniel- a lonely boy who used to live with his old grandfather. There were a lot of magic things happened with him after he met the mermaid who is his grandfather's sister. She gave him a magic key to help him find the lost people and animals. I think she didn't want anybody to die like her many years before. But finaly, Daniel had a new happy family with his dog, mrs. Maxwell and Franny- the girl he found in the forest. I hope every kids in the world who are living without family like Daniel will have a happy life with new family soon.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy smokes I loved this book! I smiled, I cried, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! I’m so grateful for Cynthia Rylant’s ability to reach to the souls of her readers. Emotional fantasy adventure that will be an awesome addition to the classroom library. I can’t imagine why anyone would dislike it and I’m quite disappointed that it took me this long to find it!

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Own.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet, wonderful, little children's fiction book. I urge everyone to pick up this book and read it for a taste of old-time magic. My question: will kids find it as lovely as I did?

[Brooke McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a tender magical quick little book. Read to my youngest girls and they loved it

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite kind of (little) book: deeply quiet, layered, embedded in the natural world, with warm relationships, and curiosities. As soothing a read to a 10 year old as to one of 50.

If anyone has recommendations of any size for books about children and grandparents or parents living on islands, please share. This one takes place on a tiny island called Coquille, off the coast of British Columbia.

Companion Reads:
- "Island Boy" by Barbara Cooney (picture book)
- "Island in the Salish Sea" by Sheryl McFarlane and Leslie Redhead (grandparents, picture book)
- "High and Dry" by Eric Walters (whales, middle grades chapter book)

There's also echoes as a reader here to "The Little Prince" in its lonely whimsy.

And Madeleine L'Engle's, "A Ring of Endless Light," which is one of my favorites (YA).

The cover pictured on Goodreads- different than the version I read - does the story a disservice.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This children's book was the perfect read-aloud for our family's beach vacation! My little boys loved the mysterious aspects of the mermaid's comb...the message in the bottle...the oyster with the curious object inside. Most of it went over their heads, but this is a beautiful, unassuming little story that speaks to the lonely heart.

No man is an island. But Daniel, our protagonist, feels like one. He lives alone on a literal island with his grandfather. No friends. No neighbors. It's a solitary life. Then, one day, Daniel meets the mermaid, and nothing is ever the same again.

This book isn't a cheesy fantasy. It reminds me of Kate DiCamillio's emotional books (The Magician's Elephant and Edward Tulane). It's understated and elegant. Very simple on the surface, but lots of depth.

[Hanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I read this in less than a half-hour, and defied my tendency of getting a headache while reading while in a driving vehicle. I'm glad of escaping headache-free, but I would have liked to spend my reading time a little bit better.

In short, I didn't approve of the magic. There was no logical explanation for Daniel's remarkable discoveries, and I have no use for such a fantastical book. I don't like reading about mermaids, I don't like reading about ghosts, and I don't care to read about vibrating keys.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After his parents’ airplane crashes into the sea, Daniel moves to live on an island with his grandfather and there, sees a mermaid who offers him the means to find lost beings and restore them. On the island, Daniel finds belonging and mystery and family. This was such a sweet book that felt timeless, aside from the single mention of an airplane. It’s written beautifully enough to capture a bibliophile’s heart but written in such a stark and simple way that it feels believable that a young boy penned this.

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite book I have ever read. It holds a magic for me despite its short and seemingly simple story. It is written in a way that makes the ordinary seem mystical and is touching in all the right ways. I am always looking for books that give me this feeling and come back to it often because it is so rare to find and I love to relive its magic when I feel deprived of it.
Thank you to Cynthia Rylant for reaching the souls of readers with her magical way with words.

[Pariskarol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with English language arts classes when I was teaching in an international school in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. My eighth and ninth graders analyzed it six ways to Sunday and had so many insights about plot, character, and foreshadowing. We all had so much fun with this book. They even wrote alternate endings that were incredibly creative.

[Deanne Welsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whimsical and thought-provoking, The Islander carries the gentle, nostalgic tone of childhood while offering profound insights about loss, grief, and healing. It’s a quick read, yet it lingers long after, reminding us of the quiet power of imagination to mend broken places and open new worlds of wonder.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story about a boy growing up on an island with his grandfather. Aimed at a younger audience but just as enjoyable as an adult.

[Taylor S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straddles the beauty of the ocean, poetry, imagination and memoir. Stunning!

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was sweet and very sad. I am glad I read it before handing it to my seven year old. It is too mature for him. This would be a great book for a child who has lost someone close to them.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the sparseness of this book. It is magical, thoughtful and beautiful.

[Christi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet innocent story about a lonely boy who finds a mermaid/guardian angel. A quick read and nicely written. Great for a young reader.

[Shinae Wyckoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick story, but a moving one. Would be a good bridge for discussing what makes someone family, discussing loss and grief, discussing changing dreams and a life worth living.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully-told short story. A bit mystical/fantasy, a very quick read.

[Linda Spear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Cyndi, for another little gem.

[Bookworm Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story about a boy who learns to love and heal after the tragic loss of his parents.

[Syd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have loved to give this book five stars, it was so magical and beautiful to read. But I was not satisfied with the last chapter whatsoever.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful story. Heartwarming, just a lovely story.