The Islanders

Jake just found out that he will be spending the summer at Dewees Island, NC with his grandmother - his father was injured in Afghanistan and his mother had to leave to care for him.

An Island life for the summer sounds like paradise, but not for eleven year old Jake when there is no cell reception, no WIFI, and no video games. But Jake meets and befriends Macon and Lovie - and quickly they get in trouble and now punished with a mandatory community service on the Island Turtle Team - they patrol the beach at dawn, note their observations in their journal all the while keeping the loggerhead turtles safe.

This middle grade book is such a fun and well written story that will appeal to a wide variety of audience. The story addressed beautiful themes of family, new friendships, caring for others and learning to love and care for nature.

I really enjoyed this tender, heartwarming and lovely read. I know you will enjoy it too! Do check this out to add to your summer TBR.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is a sweet story about three eleven year olds who spend the summer together: no wifi, no video games: completely off the grid!

I realize that there are several books in this series. This is a middle school level book, so although I did love the descriptions of birds, plants and turtles, this was a slow read for me because characterization was pretty basic.

Jake's drawings were a bonus: Lucky the dog was adorable, as were the baby turtles. This will make great reading for a middle schoolers. I'm going to rate this one a 3.5 out of 5.

Review: This is standalone book by Mary Alice Monroe designed for middle grade readers, although adult readers may recognize the names of some characters (and the turtles!) from her Beach House series.

11 year old Jake is sent for the summer to Dewees Island to his grandmother, Honey, after his father is injured in Afghanistan and his mother has to meet him and help care for him. Luckily, two other kids Lovie and Macon, are nearby and the three become fast friends. With no cable, internet, or video games (at Honey’s insistence), the kids are spending time outdoors creating adventures on the island. When they discover an abandoned boat, their choice leads them to a bout of community service… on turtle duty!

A realistic story with enough adventure and action to keep even reluctant readers engaged. The characters are relatable and each are dealing with their own family issues.

Note: I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is my own. #TheIslanders #NetGalley

The thrill of discovering an island unhampered by constant, parental supervision and learning to defeat tough problems with new found friends makes this a perfect summer adventure to dive into.

Jake is anything but excited about spending his summer on a lonely island with his older grandmother, no friends, and no internet, but with his father healing from a severe accident, he knows he has to help out however he can. The moment he steps onto the island, his views start to change as he learns that he not only can now drive his own golf cart but even has the chance to learn how to go out on his own boat. Better yet, he gets to know two other kids, and after a mishap, they start becoming great friends. Together, they not only learn more about the island, help each other through their own problems, but might even learn something more.

This is simply a wonderfully done book and perfect as a summer read. Jake is easy to connect with, and despite his grumbling moments, exactly the kind of kid anyone would enjoy hanging out with. The idea of roaming free on an island will awaken the small adventurer in many readers and have them wishing they could jump onto the island themselves and join in.

The first pages set the scene and characters up nicely. Jake has a lot on his plate and a lot to work through, but that doesn't bog down or ruin the fun. The two friends he meets have their own, inviting personalities and rough corners, which makes them slide together nicely. It's a great trio for adventure, and they definitely have tons of that.

Nature is big in these pages, but on an island which remains largely untouched by civilization outside of the few residents, that's a given. While environmental issues do dance along with the rest of the tale, the simple joy of heading out and discovering the world overtakes everything and makes it into a fun read. Add the more serious messages of friendship, and Jake coming to terms with his father's circumstances, and it's a rich tale as well. I received an ARC

I didn't realize until I was done reading that this book was meant for a younger reader than I. I truly didn't care because it was an excellent story about three young people who are stuck on a island for the summer - not by choice but by circumstance. The boys and the girl become fast friends although their backgrounds couldn't be much different. There are lessons to be learned, and hey learned them. An excellent book.

This is a wonderful book! I loved the island and the kids. This book was a very enjoyable read and should be in all school library's. Thank you Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Jake's father is in the hospital so Jake has to go to an island in South Carolina and stay with his Grandmother during the summer. Jake is not thrilled with the idea. He goes out and meets Lovie, a girl his same age. Then he meets Macon. These three kids get into all kinds of adventures and trouble.
This is a children's book but I did not like it any less than an adult book. Mary Alice Monroe always gives a good story and this is one is great as well. This would be great to read to your children if you have reluctant readers.

I personally enjoy reading Mary Alice Monroe, so I was thrilled to see she had written a middle grades novel! This was a cute, sweet story about three kids who become friends during their summer on the island. Each is dealing with their own problems (the main character’s dad was in a terrible accident and is fighting for his life), but they begin to trust one another and come together. Not going to win any awards, but it was a sweet story and an easy read, which is just what so many kids need.

⭐⭐⭐⭐. 5 Fun stars!
Story starts when eleven year old Jake Potter has been sent to his Grandmother ‘Honey’s’ home on Dewees Island, South Carolina. His father is in the military and recuperating from an injury in Afghanistan and his mother was a lieutenant in the Air Force and knows all about duty so has gone to help.
Jake is a typical kid, wo when he finds out that his grandmother does not have Wi-Fi, nor TV, he is upset about not getting to play digital games or watching TV all day ~ and he actually has chores to do. When he arrives at his Grandmother’s tree house home things start to change. SO the miserable summer he feared he was going to have is looking up.
When the children get in a bit of trouble and they have community service to do ~ we know something ‘good’ I about to happen.
I have read other stories involving the ‘Loggerhead turtles’ and they are always enjoyable.

Awws I want to be a grandma like ‘Honey”.
This is such a delightful enjoyable read. You will fall in love with the characters as well as Dewees Island! Story will leave you with a smile on your face.

Aww it would be would be such fun if next summer there is a “The Islanders Return”!

Want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for my honest professional opinion.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 15, 2021

If your middle-grade reader is looking for a fun summer read, run right out and get them a copy of The Islanders by Mary Alice Monroe and Angela May!
The Islanders is a story of three kids who become fast friends during a summer on Dewees Island, SC. The kids, Jake, Lovie, and Macon, are each from different backgrounds with very different reasons for being on the island. Throughout their many adventures together, the trio learns real-life lessons (responsibility, family differences, emotions, secret-keeping, and more) that are applicable for today’s youth.
The Islanders was an all-around good story with just the right amount of fun, laughter, challenges, adventure, and even some tears.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Mary Alice Monroe and Angela May for an Advanced Readers Copy of The Islanders.

I received this book free of changed from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

4/5 stars

When I requested this book I didn't realize it was a YA book. It certainly didn't matter as the story kept me hooked.

11 Year old Jake has to go live with his grandmother, Honey on a South Carolina island while his dad recovered from an IED explosion. His mom is going to be with his dad while he recovers. Honey has been in a depression his her husband died two years earlier. On the ferry ride to the island, he loses his cell phone and thinks that this summer is going to suck. He soon meets two other kids his age, Macon and Lovie who become fast friends. The spend their days exploring and learning about the island. They get into some trouble and have to do community service. The Dawn Patrol. They monitor the beaches for turtle nests and keep them safe.

It was a heartwarming story that had some good life lessons thrown in there about friendship. I would love to see a follow up story of these kids. I think it would make a good series.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster’s Children’s Publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have to say that I love every book that I have read by Mary Alice Monroe and this one is right up there with the rest. Its target audience may be middle school children but it is one that adults will love as well. It is the story of a young boy whose father is hospitalized and his mother has to go to be with her husband so he goes to spend the summer with his grandmother on Dewiest Island, SC. He is not delighted to be somewhere without electronics or his friends but he bonds with his grandmother and she teaches him to love nature, learn to pilot a boat, drive a golf cart and bond with the local people. What a wonderful summer it becomes. His grandmother is a turtle watcher for the loggerheads and he learns all he can about helping the turtle hatchlings and protecting them. He forms lifetime friendships and the reader really reads the story with a sense of actually being there. This book is sure to become a classic. I wholeheartedly give it five starts. The Artwork in the book really adds to the story and I love the cover.

This is great story for kids to make them want to explore nature and be outside and realise there is so much beauty outdoors. It also has some great life lessons.

I love Mary Alice Monroe’s books for adults so I was excited when I saw she wrote a YA book. Very good and I love the cover. Hopefully there are more to come.

Thank you NetGalley, Mary Alice Monroe and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC of The Islanders. This is my personal review.

Mary Alice Monroe has given us a book that is totally amazing! I adore all of her books I have read. She has written a beautiful story set in Dewees Island, SC just off the Isle of Palms. She writes with just descriptive words that it makes me feel like I am actually there.
Jake is going to spend time with his Grandmother Honey while his Mom is away with his father after he was injured in Afghanistan.
He is on his way and drops his phone in the water leaving him with no way to communicate because there is no wifi at his Grandmothers house. He is convinced his summer is going to be one of the worst of his life. He soon meets Lovie and Macon, and they quickly bond and become friends.
Circumstances happen and they get into a bit of trouble and for their punishment they are put on a team called Island Turtle Team who meet at the crack of dawn to help protect the turtles.
The life lessons they learn and the friendships they have makes for a story that will touch anyone who reads this book.

Thank you for providing an advanced copy of this book. I cannot wait to share it wtih my turtle loving neice for her birthday this summer. I love books by Mary Alice Monroe and was so excited to see this one directed at middle school children. Great story of what I would see as a lasting friendship from a summer event. I love that she used characters from her older books and I loved the way the youngters were described. Great book and a quick read.

Mary Alice Monroe has stepped outside of what I am used to from her and written this lovely middle school novel, The Islanders. It is a fun and educational read with a lot of information about turtles. While it is pretty clearly written for a younger population, this 50+-year-old teacher enjoyed it!

What a lovely children's book. This is the story of 11 year old Jake, who's parents are both in the military. Jake's dad has been injured overseas, and his mother must go be with him. Jake is sent to his grandmother's house on a little island off the Carolina coast. When he arrives he is convinced he will be bored to tears, and his fears for his father are high on his list of concerns. He discovers his quirky grandmother to be different from what he remembered, and he feels lost in the storm of his life. He begins new, diverse friendships. discovers the world of nature on the island, and slowly, the summer he had dreaded unfolds into something unexpected.

As a children's librarian, I would recommend this book to my students. It has diversity which will allow readers to catch a glimpse of themselves in the pages. There is adventure sure to inspire young naturalists. And it is told with Mary Alice Monroe's sweet kindness, despite the trying conditions of Jake's world.

This was a sweet and heartwarming YA story of a boy visiting his grandma on a South Carolina island for a summer. There was much character growth and I really enjoyed this read!

I have read all of Mary alice monroe's books. this is a great story about a summer without electronics or cell phones, can't wait to read to my grandsons at the beach.