Decent middle grade book, lovely illustrations. ( )

4 star. This is a teenager book but I did enjoy the adventures they went on. Was a easy, enjoyable read. May continue with the next one in the series. Kept my attention too. ( )

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 ( )