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Kyle's Island
For as far back as Kyle can remember, he spent summers at Gram's cottage on the lake--fishing all day, and hanging out with the whole family. But this year is different. His father has moved out, his grandmother has died, and his mother is selling the cottage because they can't afford the upkeep.
Sally Derby takes readers to a small lake in 1970s Michigan, where thirteen-year-old Kyle comes to understand that loss isn't forever, and that people are more complicated than they seem.
Sally Derby takes readers to a small lake in 1970s Michigan, where thirteen-year-old Kyle comes to understand that loss isn't forever, and that people are more complicated than they seem.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
2 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 27, 2010
Never in my life have I read a more quaint book than "Kyle's Island". I wasn't expecting much from this, so the outcome throughly surprised me.
Kyle is really looking foward to his summer at his family's lakeside cottage. He'll be able to escape from all that has happened-- his grandmother died and his father left the family. When Kyle finally starts to settle into summer life at the lake, he soon discovers that his newly single mom is selling the cottage! She can't afford to keep it anymore, and Kyle is crushed. What would happen to fishing? Swimming? Exploring the mysterious island?
This is a great coming-of-age novel. Though lacking in action, the characters were really well-developed and easy to love. Kyle was so real and down-to-earth that I felt like I was actually listening to a real person.
Overall, this is a fabulous story... perfect for those who want something mellow and sane to read.
Kyle is really looking foward to his summer at his family's lakeside cottage. He'll be able to escape from all that has happened-- his grandmother died and his father left the family. When Kyle finally starts to settle into summer life at the lake, he soon discovers that his newly single mom is selling the cottage! She can't afford to keep it anymore, and Kyle is crushed. What would happen to fishing? Swimming? Exploring the mysterious island?
This is a great coming-of-age novel. Though lacking in action, the characters were really well-developed and easy to love. Kyle was so real and down-to-earth that I felt like I was actually listening to a real person.
Overall, this is a fabulous story... perfect for those who want something mellow and sane to read.
September 2, 2020
Kyle and his family go to their cabin on the lake every summer. It was passed down from his grandparents so it has a lot of history and many memories for the family. Recently Kyle's father has moved away and left Kyle's mom to fend for herself which causes financial tension. When Kyle learns what his mother plans to do with the cottage he freaks out. Thinking it may be his last summer to enjoy this wonderful get away place Kyle spends his time wisely. He befriends a local who pays Kyle to take him fishing, he catches night crawlers and crickets which he sells to the bait shop, he tries to take the place of father to his younger brother. All which weight heavy on him but they also teach him how to cope when things don't go the way you hoped. Kyle's love of fishing, love of the cottage and love of his family pull him through.
May 27, 2023
I had to read this for an English project, and it wasn’t a bad book. It’s not MY kind of book, but it gets the job done for an English Project.
March 23, 2014
I didn't love this book but I liked it a lot. Some of the things that I liked in this book where the characters and how each of them have their own kinda background with the parents. I also like how this book leads up to a happy ending although their are a lot of problems within the book.
A summary of the book. Kyle has two sisters and one younger brother. His mom and dad are divorced but everyone still talks to their dad, everyone except Kyle. Kyle is mad at his dad for leaving them, and for getting his mom to start smoking again. So Kyle and his family have a cabin up at Gladimere. Its where Kyles gram lived but she died in December so that means Kyles mom has to pay to keep the cabin. A couple days into the trip Kyle finds out that his mom has to seel the cabin because of financial problems. Kyle is so mad he loves the island and so do his two sisters Vicki, and Andrea even his little brother Josh. So Kyle tries to find ways to make money. After a long journey they eventually sell the cabin to a family but everyone finds a way to make it work, and Kyle finally makes things right with his dad.
My favorite characters in the book would be Kyle and Josh. I like Kyle because Kyle stand up for what he thinks is right and he loves his family more than anyone and all he wants to do it try to keep everyone happy, to me Kyle seems to have taken his dads place. My first example of why I like Kyle is because he loves the cottage and thinks that they should keep it. " Your selling the cottage?" I could hear my voice getting louder. "Grams cottage? Our cottage?" This quote from the book is one of the many quotes on why I like Kyle. Even though he knows that their money is tight and they can't afford to keep it, he still gets so upset because his mom is selling the place he loves the most. An example on how Kyle takes his dads place. "Josh and I where on the porch, going over our list of supplies to take down to the boat. He liked saying "check" and shifting around the things I read off." (pg110) If you think about when a family goes on a camping trip and they have a young boy around the age of 5 its normally the dad and the young boy packing the supplies because they young boy is excited. Well in this book its the older brother as the dad and Josh his younger brother packing the supplies for THEIR over night trip on the island.
I like Josh because he sound like a fun, sensitive little kid who obeys his mom and his brother and sisters. My first example of Josh being a fun loving kid is the car ride on the way to Gladimere. ( In this quote Kyle is talking.) " So I played two games of alphabet with Josh, then he talked me into playing tic-tac-toe. Do you know how many you can play driving through Indiana? I lost count round 300. (And if you think that's an exaggeration, let me just say that even Josh was heartbroken when the pencil broke and we couldn't find a new one.)pg10.
I would recomend this book for anyone!
A summary of the book. Kyle has two sisters and one younger brother. His mom and dad are divorced but everyone still talks to their dad, everyone except Kyle. Kyle is mad at his dad for leaving them, and for getting his mom to start smoking again. So Kyle and his family have a cabin up at Gladimere. Its where Kyles gram lived but she died in December so that means Kyles mom has to pay to keep the cabin. A couple days into the trip Kyle finds out that his mom has to seel the cabin because of financial problems. Kyle is so mad he loves the island and so do his two sisters Vicki, and Andrea even his little brother Josh. So Kyle tries to find ways to make money. After a long journey they eventually sell the cabin to a family but everyone finds a way to make it work, and Kyle finally makes things right with his dad.
My favorite characters in the book would be Kyle and Josh. I like Kyle because Kyle stand up for what he thinks is right and he loves his family more than anyone and all he wants to do it try to keep everyone happy, to me Kyle seems to have taken his dads place. My first example of why I like Kyle is because he loves the cottage and thinks that they should keep it. " Your selling the cottage?" I could hear my voice getting louder. "Grams cottage? Our cottage?" This quote from the book is one of the many quotes on why I like Kyle. Even though he knows that their money is tight and they can't afford to keep it, he still gets so upset because his mom is selling the place he loves the most. An example on how Kyle takes his dads place. "Josh and I where on the porch, going over our list of supplies to take down to the boat. He liked saying "check" and shifting around the things I read off." (pg110) If you think about when a family goes on a camping trip and they have a young boy around the age of 5 its normally the dad and the young boy packing the supplies because they young boy is excited. Well in this book its the older brother as the dad and Josh his younger brother packing the supplies for THEIR over night trip on the island.
I like Josh because he sound like a fun, sensitive little kid who obeys his mom and his brother and sisters. My first example of Josh being a fun loving kid is the car ride on the way to Gladimere. ( In this quote Kyle is talking.) " So I played two games of alphabet with Josh, then he talked me into playing tic-tac-toe. Do you know how many you can play driving through Indiana? I lost count round 300. (And if you think that's an exaggeration, let me just say that even Josh was heartbroken when the pencil broke and we couldn't find a new one.)pg10.
I would recomend this book for anyone!
January 26, 2010
This is a great book for middle graders and even young teens. One thing I liked is that it had a strong male main character. Kyle knows what he wants and he will do whatever it takes to get it. Kids today could learn a lot from Kyle. He goes through his parents' separation with the same feelings that many kids have. He feels he has already lost his father, and now he is about to lose one of the other constants in his life, that he loves dearly; the cottage at the lake. But, through the story, he learns a much greater lesson. He makes a new friend that he never would have thought about and learns to forgive and go on even though life isn't happening the way he wants it to. There are just so many lessons in this book, for young kids to learn from!
Sally Derby does a great job not only telling Kyle's story, but delivering a middle grade novel that boys and girls alike will enjoy! The male point of view is not prevalent in a lot of stories today, so it was refreshing to read. Positive values and lessons in a realistic fiction story, make this a must read for tweens and an excellent addition to a school library.
Sally Derby does a great job not only telling Kyle's story, but delivering a middle grade novel that boys and girls alike will enjoy! The male point of view is not prevalent in a lot of stories today, so it was refreshing to read. Positive values and lessons in a realistic fiction story, make this a must read for tweens and an excellent addition to a school library.
February 19, 2010
Kyle Cook can't wait to get to the lake house with his mom and three siblings this summer. His father left earlier in the year and the family hasn't quite been the same ever since. When he learns his Mom has to sell the lake house, Kyle sets out to earn enough money to try and save this important piece of his childhood. Along the way, Kyle will find he has more to learn about the people around him than he thinks.
KYLE'S ISLAND is a short and breezy read and evokes memories of summer on the lake from my own childhood. Derby tunes into Kyle's young voice with ease and grace. The story is a familiar one - Kyle coping with losing a piece of his childhood is something everyone has to go through at some point in their young adult lives. Detailed descriptions of fishing and life on the lake are a bonus. Highly recommended for that male reluctant reader!
KYLE'S ISLAND is a short and breezy read and evokes memories of summer on the lake from my own childhood. Derby tunes into Kyle's young voice with ease and grace. The story is a familiar one - Kyle coping with losing a piece of his childhood is something everyone has to go through at some point in their young adult lives. Detailed descriptions of fishing and life on the lake are a bonus. Highly recommended for that male reluctant reader!
January 3, 2015
Rather average tale about a boy learning lessons about life and growing older; takes place during the summer, when Kyle's family goes to their cottage in Michigan. Dad's left the family, and Mom needs to sell the cottage (bills, college funds, etc.).
Of course there's at least one Major Misunderstanding, abut there are Friends Found and Lessons Learned. I'm not sure why this was set in the 70s, except perhaps the author didn't think it plausible that kids would enjoy a summer on a lake without cell phones and Playstation and other electronic entertainments.
ARC provided by publisher.
Of course there's at least one Major Misunderstanding, abut there are Friends Found and Lessons Learned. I'm not sure why this was set in the 70s, except perhaps the author didn't think it plausible that kids would enjoy a summer on a lake without cell phones and Playstation and other electronic entertainments.
ARC provided by publisher.
February 25, 2019
Language – PG (8 swears, 0 “f”), Sexual Content – G; Violence – G
Kyle and his family have been going to their lake cottage every summer since the beginning of time. However, this summer, their Dad isn’t there and they have to sell the beloved cottage. This is their last year here and nobody likes it one bit. What’s Kyle going to do to protect his haven? What WON’T he do?
I liked reading it, but it wasn’t as exciting as I had hoped. I enjoyed the story, appreciated the happy ending, and was glad that Kyle was able to “mend his fences,” but I still wish it had a more exciting feel.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
Kyle and his family have been going to their lake cottage every summer since the beginning of time. However, this summer, their Dad isn’t there and they have to sell the beloved cottage. This is their last year here and nobody likes it one bit. What’s Kyle going to do to protect his haven? What WON’T he do?
I liked reading it, but it wasn’t as exciting as I had hoped. I enjoyed the story, appreciated the happy ending, and was glad that Kyle was able to “mend his fences,” but I still wish it had a more exciting feel.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
August 30, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I can really relate to Kyle in some ways. I also really liked how he treated his younger brother. Kyle's Island is an OK mix of adventure but I do wish the author had actual focused more on the island. Hence the title "Kyle's Island" My favorite part of the book was when Kyle learned that Tom was the one who had built the cabin and he took Kyle to the cabin during the storm. At some points during the book it was hard for me to focus as, in my opinion, it got sort of boring.
October 16, 2010
Thirteen-year-old Kyle is spending the summer at the family cabin in Michigan. With his parent's divorcing, Kyle's mother decides to sell the cabin to eliminate the expense. Faced with change, Kyle is forced to grow up quickly and learns how little we really know about other people - even those we love the most.
April 18, 2016
This is the story of a family of 4 kids. The dad left and grandma died. Kyle the narrator is very angry with is dad- more than the other kids. This is a good book for a 4th or 5th grader to read. And probably good to read to a class. It is not controversial but a story lots of kids of divorce can relate to.
April 28, 2010
6th&up. This simple coming of age story does a nice job of presenting a summer of change. All the characters are well rounded and solid, and the ending is realistic but hopeful.
July 24, 2010
Cute, if bland. Maybe a good fit for quiet more bookworm tween boy types--esp those who live for the great outdoors.
May 18, 2012
This was my favorite book that I read in a while. I wish there was more to it and it never ended.
February 28, 2013
Although this book is more coming-of-age, I, a 17 year old, enjoyed it. Quaint story, funny characters, overall a good book.
March 6, 2013
This book was really good and kind of sad but it is a realistic book where there parents are divorce and they have to sell the cabin which they love so it is ad but it is also pretty good too.
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June 11, 2018Read my thoughts over on Reading Rumpus: https://www.readingrumpus.com/2010/09...
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews