Mim's Island

Mim's Island

Wendy Orr

Knopf, 1999

125 pages

Grades 3-6

Adventure

Ever since Nim's Marine Biologist's mother died at the hands of a thoughtless cruise ship full of tourists, she and her father have lived on an uninhabited island. Though it's only the two of them, Nim's life is full of fun, adventure and friends-though of the animal variety. They do have internet and connection to the outside world, allowing for supplies to be delivered and Dad to maintain his job as a naturalist. One fateful day, Dad sets off on a fact-finding mission, leaving Nim to her own devices, when peril strikes. He has an unfortunate accident and is stranded out to sea, exchanging messages with his daughter through a crabby seabird. Luckily, Nim is self-sufficient and able to cope on her own. While checking Dad's email she sees a message from the famous adventure author, Alex Rover. Nim and Alex start a correspondence--and eventually a friendship--that affects both of their lives. As Dad still isn't able to make it home and danger is lurking, Nim seeks help from her only other human connection: Alex. Can Alex muster the courage exhibited in the pages of his, I mean her, books in order to help her new friend?

I have been seeking the perfect ocean-faring book for my final choice in the Battle of the Books and have at last found it! Nim's Island is a perfect level for all elementary students, suitable for a wide range of readers and interests and has an exciting plot with a lot of great potential for questions. This book was made into a movie a few years back and after that flutter of interest, I forgot about it. Rediscovering this little jewel of a title was a pleasure. Readers will savor Nim's independence, self-sufficiency, and daily adventure. They will envy her animal pals and fantasize about their own island adventures. Gentle humor offsets the danger and plentiful  black and white drawings, contributed by Kerry Millard add to another layer of lightness and entertainment. At over twenty years old I feared that the book would be dated, especially in terms of technology, but exactly how they get their internet to the island is vague and the story felt current and believable. The ending is happy and hopeful with all characters finding themselves improved and better than they were at the start of the book. A great choice for a family or class read aloud, as well as a book to be enjoyed independently.