The Castaway [Hardcover]

James Stevenson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 26, 2002 | Age Level: 5 and up

Only James Stevenson could have thought it up! Reading is believing!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Veteran illustrator James Stevenson doesn't travel with Hubie nearly enough. The last trip that this reluctantly intrepid little mouse took was aboard an ocean liner bound for France in The Stowaway. Now Hubie's headed for Barabooda Island, a tropical vacation paradise that--not surprisingly--he finds absolutely terrifying, thanks to a scary matinee he saw called "The Island of No Return!"

To make matters worse, his refined, upper-middle-class mouse family has decided they'll take the most elegant means of conveyance available in 1937--the Island Clipper. ("My goodness, it's a gigantic dirigible!") Hubie puts on a brave face (especially hard with a bratty older brother around), but he can't shake thoughts of cannibals, volcanoes, and tidal waves. A storm approaches, and Hubie's worst fears come to life when he's thrown overboard. Will Hubie become a castaway? Can he conquer his fears? Can a mouse ever come back from the Island of No Return?

The Castaway's fun comic-book style will keep kids turning pages, while Stevenson balances out his spare ink-and-watercolor illustrations with subtle lines that make sure no frightened hop or smug dismissal goes unnoticed. The wry-humored artist's greatest technical feat, however, can be seen in the way he makes a young boy's fears seem simultaneously very serious, completely ridiculous, and all the while eminently beatable--and that's something that kids and parents should appreciate. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

From Publishers Weekly

In The Castaway by James Stevenson, Hubie (mouse hero of The Seaview Hotel; All Aboard; and The Stowaway) finds himself (through a series of unfortunate coincidences) on a desert island, where a native helps him overcome his fears. Humorously detailed, watercolor-and-ink cartoons play up the contrast between the pair. Set in 1937 and illustrated in a comic book¤style, the volume plays up the period particulars; the droll dialogue and appealing characters add to the far-fetched and fetching fun.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books; 1 edition (March 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688169651
• ISBN-13: 978-0688169657
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,124,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Gem from James Stevenson, November 10, 2004

By 

M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Castaway (Hardcover)

James Stevenson is a highly original author/illustrator whose mastery of wry humor is shared by perhaps only Daniel Pinkwater. Here, we meet Hubie the mouse and his family, featured in earlier Stevenson books such as "The Seaview Hotel," and "The Stowaway."

In faux documentary style, the first page announces that it's 1937 (look at the upper left, or you might not see this). Hubie and his family visit a grand, rococo-style movie theatre to see the melodramatic "The Island of No Return" (scenes from which Stevenson draws in evocative shades of gray). Hubie alternately displays and hides his fears--especially of islands. As the youngest family member, and the only one who is afraid, Hubie is somewhat of a castaway in his own family.

Stevenson then tosses in one of many improbable but fun plot twists: The family receives a large, stylish "Greetings from Barabooda Island" foldout from their aunt. They fly there in a dirigible (just another in Stevenson's bag of scene-setting tricks), but Hubie very accidentally falls out and lands in the giant mouth of a pelican swimming a few hundred feet below. "I beg your pardon...," Hubie says very properly," I just fell out of a dirigible." In what now seems like a parody of "Survivor," Hubie meets a castaway on a deserted (or is it?) island, who shows him his baseball stadium, drum set, fruit stand, and speedboat!

Everything is done in a wonderfully offhand style, with more and more fantastic perils facing our heroes on the island. Stevenson's casual drawings and very handwritten-looking text add to the whole tone of sublime nonsense. There's also a nicely done light message at the conclusion, as Hubie's adventures feed a newly discovered appetite for adventure.

Stevenson is beloved by many adults and kids; still, it seems that this superb writer has not received his due recognition. This book is an excellent introduction to his talents, and I hope it will encourage you to read his many other books. The book is 30 pages long, with illustrations done in pen and ink and watercolor, and the usual high production standards of the Greenwillow publishing house.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hubie's Back...., October 21, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Castaway (Hardcover)

Timid little mouse, Hubie, would have probably been more receptive to the idea of going on a family vacation to exotic Barabooda Island had he not seen the scary movie, The Island Of No Return. And the fact that they were traveling there on an enormous dirigible, The Island Clipper, didn't help calm his fears. But when his worst fears are realized, and a storm sends poor Hubie overboard, he finds himself on an almost deserted island, and ready for the adventure of a lifetime..... James Stevenson has brought back one of his most endearing characters, and just like his previous Hubie stories, The Seaview Hotel, All Aboard, and The Stowaway, his latest opus doesn't disappoint. Mr Stevenson's playful and engaging story, told in a bold and busy comic-book format, is clever and entertaining, and kids will revel in the humorous, action-packed scenes, eye-catching details, and surprise ending. Perfect for youngsters 5-9, The Castaway is a manic, fun-filled romp that shouldn't be missed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stevenson does it again!, April 7, 2002

By 

Dirk Maurins - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Castaway (Hardcover)

As usual James Stevenson comes out with another great book. Hubie is back! I am a big fan of James Stevenson. Everything he writes always takes me back to my childhood. I highly reccommend this book. Your children or students will enjoy!
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