Classic Starts: Robinson Crusoe (Classic Starts Series) [Abridged] [Hardcover]

Daniel Defoe (Author), Deanna McFadden (Editor), Jamel Akib (Illustrator), Arthur Pober Ed.D (Afterword)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up | Series: Classic Starts Series

A shipwreck. A sole survivor, stranded on a deserted island. What could be more appealing to children than Robinson Crusoe’s amazing adventure? Set in the 17th century, and unfolding over a 30-year period, it offers plenty of suspense and everyday detail about how Crusoe manages to stay alive. Additionally, it paints a fascinating portrait of the age—including references to slavery and Europe’s view of the “New World.”  

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 4-7. The latest title in the Classic Starts series simplifies Defoe's famous survival adventure story, one of the first novels ever written, reworking the tortuous prose into a relaxed, chatty style ("I felt awful") with short sentences that will be accessible to a grade-school audience. True to the 1719 original, the first-person narrative relates how Crusoe defies his parents, runs away to sea, has various adventures, and survives alone on a desert island until he finds a native man whom Robinson calls Friday. The big difference here is that the two men become friends, pals, and equals. There is not a racist word, nothing about Defoe's "savages." For contrast, to spark classroom discussion, pair this with Timothy Meis' retelling, discussed in Focus: "Survivor" (BKL Mr 1 03), which stays true to the prejudice in the original. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Sterling; Abridged edition (March 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402726643
• ISBN-13: 978-1402726644
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,687 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Books for 4th graders and up., July 31, 2011

By 

Mari "Mari" (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Classic Starts: Robinson Crusoe (Classic Starts Series) (Hardcover)

I almost bought all the books in this collection for my boys to read this summer. My husband read one or two chapters of Tom Sawyer every night before bed and soon enough my oldest son, who is 9 years old, wanted to read out loud some pages. Since then he has read about 5 of these great story books to his brothers at night. It has become a great family time and they look forward to read. I think the stories are easy to read and keep the kids interested. There are some pictures in the book too. The adaptation of the stories is just right for elementary school kids, chapters are 2 to 5 pages long and the adventure is unforgettable.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for the age group, January 13, 2011

By 

Grety (the Nutmeg state) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classic Starts: Robinson Crusoe (Classic Starts Series) (Hardcover)

This is a good version for the age group (grades 4-7). My daughter started reading the original version and it was very difficult. This version does not mention cannibalism or Christanity, two main points of the original.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Democrats would mess up a free meal, December 3, 2011

By 

Ger - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classic Starts: Robinson Crusoe (Classic Starts Series) (Hardcover)

too bad that the politically correct idiots of the world have ruined what is great for the future

this book should be burned