The Island [Hardcover]

Armin Greder (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

Poignant and chilling, this allegory is an astonishing, powerful, and timely story about refugees, xenophobia, racism, multiculturalism, social politics, and human rights. When the people of an island find a man sitting on their shore, they immediately reject him because he is different. Fearful to the point of delusional paranoia, the islanders lock him in a goat pen, refuse him work, and feed him scraps they would normally feed a pig. As their fears progress into hatred, they force him into the sea. The charcoal illustrations complement the sparse and beautifully understated narrative.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'...offers an important message. Powerful and timely, it provokes discussion about one of the most pertinent issues facing us today...stunning artwork and clear, concise text...appeals to all ages.'Toowoomba Chronicle, 18/8/07'...an important book, and no less important for being pitched at young children as well as adults. The way it reveals the prejudice inherent in humanity is superb...a kind of anti-fairy tale...There are many aspects of The Islandwhich make it wonderful...belongs on bookshelves everywhere.'blogcritics.org, 28/8/07

About the Author

Armin Greder is an art instructor and a former graphic designer. He is the award-winning illustrator of Danny in the Toolbox, An Ordinary Day, Princess and the Perfect Dish, and Uncle David.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Allen & Unwin; Tra edition (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1741752663
• ISBN-13: 978-1741752663
• Product Dimensions: 12.6 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #225,083 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Island, July 27, 2008

By 

Alexandro C. Telander "Alex C. Telander" (Roseville, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Island (Hardcover)

The Island by Armin Greder: Originally published in 2002 in German, and winner of multiple German and French book awards, Armin Greder's The Island is now available in English. While this picture book might be disturbing for the very young, it is an allegory that can be appreciated by all ages (the publisher indicates 8-18). It only takes a few minutes to read, but leaves you contemplating its implications and greater meanings.

This is the story of an island where some big, angry, racist people...more The Island by Armin Greder: Originally published in 2002 in German, and winner of multiple German and French book awards, Armin Greder's The Island is now available in English. While this picture book might be disturbing for the very young, it is an allegory that can be appreciated by all ages (the publisher indicates 8-18). It only takes a few minutes to read, but leaves you contemplating its implications and greater meanings.

This is the story of an island where some big, angry, racist people live simple, everyday lives, loving the routine and normalcy of it. When a strange looking man arrives in a shoddy raft, the natives see that he is different from them and immediately despise him, trapping him in a goat pen, hiding him away and ignoring him, going back to their lives. Then one day he comes to them, asking for food, and they are shocked and horrified. They think about who should take care of him, but no one wants him, thinking that he will destroy whatever he touches. Eventually he is put back on his shoddy raft and sent out to sea. They build a giant wall around the island, protecting them from the outside world and people who aren't the same, as well as killing any birds that come to the island, so that it will never be discovered by anyone else.

On the surface it is an unusual short story, but it would be little more to an alien who knows nothing of the history of humanity. For all of us who were born on this planet, this story of hate for anyone different is an all too familiar one that has had many horrific chapters in our history. It is also sadly a reality that continues in today's world. With hard, charcoal-colored, sharp-edged images that evoke Edvard Munch's The Scream as well as the music video to Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall," The Island is a story that will be read and reread, as a commentary on humanity's failings.

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