not the best but good ( )

A very sweet story about the friendship between a boy and an old man. A great book for discussions about human nature, race, survival, love, and sacrifice. It's a bit like Uncle Tom's Cabin for younger readers because Timothy is the savior figure. It's a fabulous quick read that I would recommend to everyone. ( )

Timothy is more then just his skin color. He offers comfort, survival, friendship and hope. ( )

The Cay by Theodore Taylor is a great adventure story for the upper elementary student. What bothers me about The Cay is the fact that one of the main themes of the book, racism, might be difficult to discuss with the students this was written for. The interest level, reading level don't seem to be a good match here. I enjoy the coming of age theme and overcoming obstacles and disabilities that are throughout the book. Another issue I have with The Cay, despite its positives is that Timothy speaks in Caribbean dialect. This does provide authenticity, but it is difficult for grades 4-8 to understand what he says. The Caribbean dialect provides an opportunity to bring into the classroom a discussion on language, which does add a richness to the character. I have not met a child who didn't like this story, so despite the difficulties in language and theme, it is always a middle school student favorite. ( )

Good book to use in the classroom (Added by Sherry, Fall 2009)