I read this book with my children. What a fantastic and delightful middle-grade read.
Milton P. Green was having a terrible year with his parents about to get divorced, and the Bird Brain incident made him lose all his friends. He spent most of his time playing the video game Isle of Wild, pretending to be Sea Hawk, who goes on quests to save the world.
When Milton’s parents send him to spend the summer with Uncle Evan on remote Lone Island, he wasn’t thrilled at first, but soon he feels that he can actually be like Sea Hawk and save the world. He even introduces himself as Sea Hawk to a few children.
Can Milton make friends? Can he cope with his family situations? Read this adventurous book to find out.
Milton is funny, and most middle-graders will relate to difficulties at home and at school. The mysteries in the flora and fauna of this land are very intriguing and will capture the minds of young readers.
This book will make a great read-aloud at home or in a classroom, and children will immediately fall in love with Milton.
It’s an easy 5/5 stars for us.

Our school was lucky to have Jess Redman speak with us on World Read Aloud day. We learned she has a new book coming out - and let me tell you that I've never seen the cover of a new book excite 4th and 5th grade readers quite the way this one does! I love the cover and the title resonates with me every day, because for better or worse the adventure always IS now.
My students are envious that I was able to read an eARC of the book. It is pre-ordered for our school library and I can't wait for them to experience the incredible Lone Island with Milton, Fig, Rafi and Gabe!

Reminiscent of Dr Doolittle with flora and fauna creatively named and described. Adventurous tale of a lonely boy needing a break from hard situations, this book takes us through a unique paradise isle. It requires teamwork, honesty, putting aside differences to survive. A bit drawn out, but an endearing story.

Milton P. Greene has had a horrible year. His parents are getting divorced, his best friend deserted him, and he is the laughing stock of his school. His only comfort is in playing the video game Isle of Wild. When his parents decide to send him off to his uncle on a remote island for the summer, Milton has mixed emotions. On the one hand, he loves his uncle and went through a big naturalist phase a couple years back. On the other, he wishes everyone would just leave him alone and let him play his game. When he gets to the island, it is nothing like he expected. He channels his inner Sea Hawk (the main character of the video game) to explore the island, possibly make new friends, and maybe even save the day. This was a really fun read with some fantastic new species. Recommended for grades 3 & up.

After the most horrendous school year ever, Milton P. Green plans to send his summer playing his video game and ignoring his soon to be divorced parents. When a letter arrives from his Uncle inviting him to a remote and mysterious island to study the flora and fauna for the summer, Milton is not thrilled. Milton will NOT be going. Once on the island however, Milton finds that he can make friends, he can overcome his shortcomings and he can cope with his family situation. Quick chapters keep the action moving. Kids will enjoy Milton's false bravado as he tries to reinvent himself to the other kids on the island. Clues to the mysterious flora and fauna are an enticement to keep reading. Descriptions of the weird animals and sentient plant life give enough detail that the reader feels that this creature/plant might actually exist! A fun read for those kids who are either stuck at home this summer or sent off to summer camp and who expect it will be the worst summer ever--or maybe not!

With thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an early copy in return for an honest review.

The Adventure is Now definitely has an appropriate title as this book is filled with adventure and mystery! Milton P. Greene has had an absolutely awful year and he does anything he can to hide out from his current reality. And then he travels to visit his uncle on a remote island. Once there he discovers something of a treasure map and so begins a summer filled with adventure...and a few mishaps along the way!

I also think kids will really enjoy seeing the various plants and animals of the book in the Field Guide at the back of the book.

The Adventure is Now is definitely an adventure! Through fabulous storytelling, Jess Redman tells the story of Milton P. Greene. Milton is looking to escape his parent's divorce, so he agrees to spend the summer on an island where his uncle is doing research. Not being very social or popular, making friends is hard for Milton, so the island seems like the perfect place to avoid all of that. When he discovers a letter from the island’s founder talking about unlocking the secrets of the island, Milton sets out on an adventure he will never forget and learning things about himself he might never have known otherwise. This was a fun, magical story that any kid (or adult) would love to experience.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.

I thought The Adventure is Now was a beautifully captured story about a boy that just doesn't seem to fit in. He quickly finds himself on a strange island. He becomes determined to have an adventure, find some friends, and figure out the mystery that lays in store. This book was relatable, fun, and a great read for any middle level reader.

The Lone Island awaits! What a fun, light-hearted, Seuss-ian adventure. Milton P. Greene (aka Sea Hawk) is a character that my grandfather would call a “kick in the pants.” Milton is hilarious with his cheeky, sophisticated diction and animated mannerisms. He’s easy to root for amid the challenges he faces on the island, and amid his Most Totally, Terribly, Horribly, Heinously Rotten Year of All Time.

Young readers will love the imaginative flora and fauna (my personal favorite was the Push-Pull Centopus because the name reminded me of Dr. Dolittle), as well as the trials, puzzles, and clues the kids must untangle in order to save the island.

This book would make a terrific read-aloud. In fact, I often wanted to read it aloud just to myself in order to act out Milton’s royal flair. Enjoy!

Milton P. Greene is having a rotten year. He spends his time escaping reality in his hand held game, Isle of Wild. Until one day a letter arrives inviting him to spend the summer on an island with his uncle who is a naturalist doing research there. Milton does not want to go, but next thing he knows he’s on the island! Milton might not have wanted to go, but it might be exactly what he needs.

This was such a fun adventure! I enjoyed reading it to find out what would happen next in his journey. Milton especially cracked me up with the unique way he spoke. This is a wonderful story of friendship, adventure, and both finding and accepting yourself.

I discovered Jess Redman’s work about a year and a half ago with her book The Miraculous. I was 9 months out from having lost my best friend grandma, Gorgeous. Grams was my person and while her passing was expected and welcome at age 93 and after a hard battle with Alzheimer’s and dementia, her death left a ginormous hole in my heart. I still feel the loss keenly. I spent a weekend dog sitting for a friend and had been looking forward to spending some down time reading and snuggling a canine pal. The Miraculous was one of the books I brought with me and I ended up hard core sobbing my way through it. It is a truly beautiful, soulful, cathartic read about grief and healing and hope and magic. And I very much needed it in my life. I instantly became a huge fan of Redman’s.

All that to say, that when the opportunity came up to read this newest book early, I jumped at the chance! Milton P. Greene is burrowing deeper and deeper into his handheld video game in order to escape “the Most, Totally, Terribly, Horribly, Heinously Rotten Year of All Time.” With parents divorcing, zero friends at school, and an awful nickname ridiculing him, Milton wants nothing to do with the real world. But a letter arrives summoning him to The Lone Island. Milton is about to rediscover the world, and himself.

I absolutely loved this book! The themes of what it means to be human and how we deal with heart hurt and how we relate to other people are all beautifully on display, as I’ve come to expect from Redman. This book felt a lot more humorous to me than The Miraculous did. The clever wordplay and stellar vocabulary of the writing had this word nerd grinning throughout! It is an ingenious character study and guide for self-reflection. I can’t recommend this book highly enough!

5/5 stars!

Fun and adventurous, this title will appeal to young readers who want to escape into a story. The main character, Milton Greene, will be relatable to students and they will love solving clues and mysteries alongside him. Fast-paced and ideal for reluctant readers, this title is highly recommended.

The Adventure Is Now by Jess Redmon is aptly titled as the plot is the main driver of the book. Four young visitors to a most unusual island have a series of dangerous adventures on their way to the center of the island in search of a treasure that can save the island from development. The creatures they encounter engage the imagination and middle school themes of friendship, fitting in and identity are dealt with along the way. But the adventure is the main thing and adventure-loving early middle schoolers will certainly enjoy it.

I did receive an advanced reader's copy so that I could review this book.

Fantasy adventure of Milton, who is having the worst year as he experiences bullying and his parents' divorce. Escaping into his video game is his coping mechanism—till parents send him to stay the summer with ecologist uncle on a remote island with no way to recharge the handheld. Forced out of the game he finds adventure on the mysterious island with the other three kids. Loved the authentic voice of his very formal speech, echoed in the internal narration. Clever creatures and emotional savvy.

What a nonstop adventure this book was! Kids are going to love it and won’t be able to put it down. Milton is sent to a remote island to visit his uncle, a naturalist. Milton is used to playing video game Isle of Wild and loves pretending he is Sea Hawk a brave explorer but can’t play the game on the island, While exploring he discovers a field guide and makes a new friend, Fig. They decide they should try to find the all of the creatures from the field guide and wonder if it will save the island from being taken over by the courts. Two other island boys want to help and the chase is on. Can they do it in time? Such a great read.

What a wonderful middle grade fantasy! Filled with loveable characters in a fantastic tropical setting, this story of finding friendship and growing up is one that you don't want to miss.

First, I want to say thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC of The Adventure Is Now by Jess Redman. Milton P. Greene, or Sea Hawk, as he sometimes wishes to be called, is an engaging, fun, quirky character that I just fell in love with! He was relatable on so many levels. Earlier this year, Milton did an embarrassing thing, costing him some friends and earning him a nickname of Birdbrain. On top of that, his parents are getting divorced leading him to title this year the Most Totally, Terribly, Horribly, Heinously, Rotten Year of All Time. So he escapes into a handheld video game titled Isle of Wild pretty much constantly. Until his parents decide to send him to spend the summer with his Uncle on a remote island that is in danger of being sold to developers. In his attempts to help his Uncle save the island, Milton has to forge unlikely friendships, face truths about himself, unravel the mystery of the island and experience lots of adventure!

To sum it up, if you want a lively, fast-paced, adventure middle grade book with a heart, this book is it.

It was such a fun adventure that I almost felt as though I had taken a trip on The Magic School Bus!

Milton, the main character, struggles with friendships in a way that will be almost painfully relatable to young readers—yet in a good way. A way that will make them feel seen and give them hope.

As a child of divorced parents who admits that it absolutely affected me, I like being able to suggest books to my students also going through that at home. Related to that plot point, I appreciated that it has a happy but “imperfect” ending.

Excellent book that will delight a diverse group of readers thanks to the realistic aspects, adventure, light fantasy, and environmental elements. All three of Redman’s releases have been highly enjoyable reads that I’ve happily recommended to students.

The Adventure is Now is the delightful kind of story that you'll read with a huge grin on your face. Quirky, friendship filled, adventurous, and wondrous! Everything about this story—from Milton P. Greene, to the island itself, to the hidden wildlife—is pure fun!

Friendless Milton P. Greene is his most courageous self as brave naturalist, Sea Hawk, his video game avatar. Until he is shipped off to a remote island, where he and his new friends must decipher cryptic clues left by a now dead explorer to save Lone Island from being entirely engulfed in a peculiarly aggressive vine that seems to have a malicious mind of its own. Engaging characters, good environmental message, fun read.