Stranded on Castaway Island

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Pub Date 03 Apr 2022 | Archive Date 23 Jul 2022

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Description

After a sudden storm turned what should have been a quick boat ride into a nightmare, Annie is shipwrecked on a remote island near Nova Scotia with her ex-best friend Mirra.

Learning to survive together would have been easier if they could get along--not possible after the hurtful words neither can forget. Annie and Mirra's only company is a herd of wild horses--or that's what the 14-year-old girls think at first. But when they discover still warm embers from a campfire and man-sized footprints, they know they're not alone.

Someone is watching them. Why is he hiding? Why doesn't he help them? When he does reveal himself, he leaves them with even more questions.

After a sudden storm turned what should have been a quick boat ride into a nightmare, Annie is shipwrecked on a remote island near Nova Scotia with her ex-best friend Mirra.

Learning to survive...


Advance Praise

Two 14-year-old girls who once were friends but aren't any longer, thrust into danger together, and dependent on each other for survival on an uninhabited island (or is it?), make for a truly captivating and suspenseful reading experience. Themes of friendship, grief, and forgiveness all come together to make this novel authentic and powerful. Great story and superb writing will make STRANDED ON CASTAWAY ISLAND a direct hit with readers 10-14. (Gayle Rosengren, author)

I READ INTO THE NIGHT! The plotting is wonderful, the characters real, and the sensory detail is flawless--I shivered, and burned, and starved--and felt every single emotion and pain the teens endured. The characters are so believable--I didn't want to let them go. I read this book far into the night, because I couldn't put it down. I'm hoping for a sequel--maybe a series. (Susan Faust Casper)

This is a book about the human spirit and survival under the most difficult of situations. It is a wonderful book, filled with high adventure, and interesting human relationships. No matter what your age, you will enjoy reading it. (Jerry Apps, Author )

Two 14-year-old girls who once were friends but aren't any longer, thrust into danger together, and dependent on each other for survival on an uninhabited island (or is it?), make for a truly...


Available Editions

ISBN 9781595988935
PRICE $8.95 (USD)

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Average rating from 12 members


Featured Reviews

Wonderfully rich with many details. Stranded on Castaway Island follows Annie and Mirra ex best friends who get stranded on a remote island with the only company being wild horses. Annie and Mirra are forced to put aside their differences to survive and also figure out secrets that are seemingly present on the island.

The premise of the book drew me in right away. Ex best friends trying to survive in extreme conditions sounded interesting to me and I was not disappointed. Annie and Mirra were both frustrating characters to read about at times but since they were 14 it is understandable that they would not be perfect. I also liked that Mirra developed as a character instead of remaining as a stereotypical mean girl who had been nasty to Annie. The book was also easy to read and the plot was engaging and I didn't really put the book down unless I had to. I did find the ending to be a bit rushed and I would've liked a follow-up epilogue with where the characters were later in life but otherwise I'm satisfied with this read.

Thank you NetGalley for this book and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

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I really enjoyed reading this new Middle Grade survival novel. The story features a 14 year old girl named Annie who is grieving the recent death of her mother and living with her father, brother and male cousin in Maine near a port. She is also struggling with confusion related to the changing friendship of a long term friend who has begun to shift her priorities towards being popular and having cool friends or maybe a boyfriend. When planning to go on a picnic as part of a larger group, Annie and her (former) friend Mirra set out on the boat and encounter a storm. The girls end up being stranded on an island and surviving for several days alone, until a stranger named Roman in his late teens also appears on the island. The girls aren't totally sure if they should trust him and worry about whether or not they will ever be rescued!

I love that this book has some survival content in it, such as building a shelter, starting fires, conserving supplies. I think that middle graders love this type of content. There is also a tiny bit of "pushing the envelope" such as having a crush, sneaking out on the boat without asking, gossiping in the bathroom etc, that young teens and preteens find interesting, without having any sex/drugs/other inappropriate content. As a teacher, I feel this book would be perfect for students in the Grade 5-8 range, but wouldn't stop a grade 3 or 4 from reading it if they were interested and reading at a higher level. I would recommend this book to other teachers in the grades I mentioned, as well as to families of middle graders looking for appropriate and interesting novels for their children.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this great book!

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Thank you NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Amy Laundrie for giving me this arc in exchange for a honest review.
When Annie and her ex bestie Mirra get shipwrecked on a deserted island will they cast aside their differences and work together to survive or will they let the past get in the way .
This story incorporates elements of survival (which I really loved), self image, friendships and suspense. I really liked learning some basic survival skills and how I can relate more to teens getting shipwrecked rather than adults.
Rating 3.5⭐

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Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free ebook ARC copy of this title in exchange for my review.

This is exactly the book I wish I had when I was younger! Even at my advanced age, I thoroughly enjoyed this story of two estranged teen friends who are stranded on an island, all on their own. Or are they?

I happily allowed myself to get fully engrossed in this book, eagerly turning pages to see what would happen next. The descriptions and settings were just right. Not too long or detailed, allowing me to use my imagination for the setting. The length was just about right as well, not rushed and not overly long.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a book for a young teen looking for an adventure!

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Thank you Netgally. This is hugely compelling and well written book!

Former best friends Annie and Mirra have been at odds lately. The girls are 14 and boys seem to complicate relationships.

They are together nevertheless on what should have been a quick boat ride turned nightmare. A sudden storm sends their boat way off course and now the girls are shipwrecked on a remote island near Nova Scotia.

Here, they must cast aside differences and learn to survive. Annie and Mirra's only company is a herd of wild horses they think initially. Soon they come across man size footprints and still warm embers from a campfire. Should they be afraid or relieved to find another human?

It seems someone is watching them, but why would he be hiding? When he does reveal himself, he has reason to hide.

The authors writing and research in to survival made for a captivating and suspenseful reading experience.

As I read, I could almost feel the cold, hunger, sunburned and insect bitten skin. Annie, Mira and Roman were so real to me I didn’t want their story to end. I wanted them rescued but on the other hand I was captivated by their survival skills. I don’t know if a sequel is possible, but I want to know more about life after rescue. It has to be very emotional coming back to civilization.

High praise for this wonderful book, filled with adventure, and interesting human relationships. This is a book geared to middle grade readers but any age reader will be completely absorbed by this story.

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This book was a great read and should be in every school library. It has drama, suspense and some wonderful life lessons woven through the story. Highly recommend it if you are looking for a book full of adventure.
I received a complimentary copy from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Amy Laundrie's book has all the hallmarks of a classic. A novel to be read and cherished by all ages ... and then read again. The story's atmosphere and detail lend an evocative tone to the adventure of Annie, Mirra and Roman, and the mystery and tension help create a true emotional depth in these characters. An absolute joy to read and highly recommended.

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Two estranged 14 year girls take a boat out early one “red sky, sailor’s take warning” morning and very quickly find themselves in great peril. After barely surviving in a life raft they wash ashore on an island, apparently populated only by a few wild horses, This was all the premise I needed to know I wanted to read this book. Yes, it’s listed as Middle Grade, but as a lover of survival stories and in my 60’s I enjoyed the book greatly. The writing and the story is mature and realistic. While horses are island inhabitants, this is not a girls love horses trope. This is more a tale of forgiveness, being aware of how our actions affect others, and friendship. Survival is a key aspect to the story of course as we follow along with the tools that the girls learn. A bit of mystery is thrown in as we discover that the island has another human on it who hesitates to show himself. We learn his story as the girl’s do, who he is and if he can be trusted. The horses are a small, almost spiritual, element in the story. I loved the way the horses were woven threw the storyline like a thin thread. I recommend this book to readers of all ages who simply enjoy a what is simply a nice story that we can all learn from set in wild solitude. #netgalley StrandedOnCastawayIsland

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This young adult book was amazing. I just loved every second of it. I even found myself saying out loud don't do it.

I found this book very engaging realistic and believable. It was very well wrote and flowed brilliantly in a medium to fast pace. The faster pace could of been me reading faster as I became more engrossed in the story. I really enjoyed the twists in the story. It was a great roller coaster ride. This young adult book was wrote for those aged 14 plus. It also great for adults to read aswell if you are like me and appreciate a well wrote book with teenagers in. Its especially great for those who love survival stories. 

I really enjoyed the the air of mystery and suspense this book held especially when we meet roman.

I can't wait to read more from this wonderful author. 

So much praise goes out to the author for producing this fantastic Story that you won't be able to put down. It will take you on a brilliant adventure and oh I forgot to mention there is wild horses in there aswell.
The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK where found and my blog https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/stranded-on-castaway-island-by-amy-laundrie-indepenantly-published-5-stars either under my name or ladyreading365

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Annie and Myra were the best of friends until Mayra decided to be friends with Brittany and Danny overheard her telling Britney in the bathroom about the most embarrassing moment in her life and that caused a bigger rift, but when Annie and her cousin James go down to the docks to look at the boats and run into them it is most apparent how they’re interested only in A&E because of her cousin and the next day when Mira comes over and says they’re gonna have a party on picnic Island and come over just invite Annie and of course her cousin she leaves a note for the cousins to meet them there sets out with Mira to go to the party. It isn’t until she’s actually on the boat in Mira starts it that and he realizes the teenager plans on driving them to the island so when the boat sinks it is levelheaded A&E who saves the day and her ex best friend and gets them to a deserted island… At least they thought it was deserted. She is also the one who keeps them nourished and tries to keep Mira spirits up the phone with she could put it out of her mind I’ll Mira stabbed her in the back, but she also knows they must come together if they’re going to survive being stranded on this island together. Even though this was a book for I’m guessing preteens I found myself very interested in what was going to happen to the two girls and felt a loss when they are rescuers didn’t find them and they slept through it. I don’t want to say too much about the dangers and the funny things that happen because it may spoil the book just know this was a great funny and clever story that I had 49 found so interesting. The writing style was great the plot flowed and I thought it was a great read. I was given this book by Ned Galli and the publisher and I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.

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Annie and Mirra don’t exactly get along like they used to. Annie is grieving her mother, while Mirra seems more interested in parties and boys. When Annie and Mirra get stranded together, they have to figure out how to get along with each other to survive.


I loved this book so much. I loved how realistic it was, they were facing real struggles of being in the wilderness or lost at sea. The author didn’t brush over the heavy stuff. Annie was dealing with grief and guilt about her mother and also dealing with a lot of anger and grudges toward Mirra. I was a little worried when I read the synopsis that the author would brush over the fact that they were stranded and just use it as a plot device to make them best friends again. But I am so so glad that it was nothing like that.

I also loved how we’re sort of learning along with the characters. They don’t know everything about how to survive, they break important stuff by accident, lose things that would’ve helped them, and they do fight and disagree. It made it more enjoyable that this book was as realistic as it could be without going TOO hard on the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I really enjoyed this middle grade book. It covers several topics that young people would relate to. Being stranded on the island is, in a sense, an adventure, a struggle for survival. It gives Annie purpose. Young people want to find a purpose. Annie's mother has passed away. While stranded on the island, she believes her mother's spirit lives in the horse and is encouraging her not to give up. Annie helps her estranged friend Mira to become a survivor also. Annie learns to appreciate her skills. I like how the girls reminisce about happy times and remember their families and their previous friendship. I highly recommend this book. (no bad language, no sex, no drugs)
Thank you #netgalley for a copy of #strandedoncastawayisland by #anylaundrie

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