The Island Keeper [Paperback]

Harry Mazer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 1982

Tired of being fat, rich, and miserable, Cleo Murphy runs away, desperate to prove herself.



Her destination is a deserted island her father owns in Canada. She is determined to stay and survive, through her supplies are scanty and she knows nothing about living out of doors.



As the summer months pass, Cleo does fend for herself, and finally she feels ready to face her family on the mainland. But by a cruel twist of fate her canoe is destroyed, and instead she must prove herself again and face the brutal Canadian winter.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Tired of being fat, rich, and miserable, Cleo Murphy runs away, desperate to prove herself.

Her destination is a deserted island her father owns in Canada. She is determined to stay and survive, through her supplies are scanty and she knows nothing about living out of doors.

As the summer months pass, Cleo does fend for herself, and finally she feels ready to face her family on the mainland. But by a cruel twist of fate her canoe is destroyed, and instead she must prove herself again and face the brutal Canadian winter.

From the Inside Flap

Tired of being fat, rich, and miserable, Cleo Murphy runs away, desperate to prove herself.



Her destination is a deserted island her father owns in Canada. She is determined to stay and survive, through her supplies are scanty and she knows nothing about living out of doors.



As the summer months pass, Cleo does fend for herself, and finally she feels ready to face her family on the mainland. But by a cruel twist of fate her canoe is destroyed, and instead she must prove herself again and face the brutal Canadian winter.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (June 15, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044094774X
• ISBN-13: 978-0440947745
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #443,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Harry Mazer is the author of many books for young readers, including A Boy at War and A Boy No More, which introduced Adam Pelko; The Wild Kid; and Snow Bound. His books have won numerous honors, including the Horn Book Honor List and the ALA Best Books for Young Adults citations. He is the recipient of the ALAN Award. Harry Mazer lives in New York City and Montpelier, Vermont.

Harry Mazer says, "After I finished A Boy at War, I wanted to write about Adam Pelko again, but what was the story to be? It wasn't until after the tragedies of September eleventh that I found the focus I needed to continue his story." Periods of war and national emergency have never been kind to personal liberties. In the aftermath of September eleventh many Arab and Muslim Americans find themselves under suspicion and their rights jeopardized. In some ways this is what happened after Pearl Harbor, when Japanese Americans were demonized and their rights were trampled. I know that history never simply repeats itself, but I hope that through Adam and Davi's story readers will recognize the parallels--and the perils."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing that my own story is so similar to anothers., August 27, 2004

By 

Heather Deitchman (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Island Keeper (Paperback)

While I was in middle school I checked the book out numerous times. I loved the book. I loved Cleo, I loved her story and her strength. I even knew the exact location of that book and what the hardcover picture looked like. Move on in time to high school and college and every so often I would scour for the book (the title of which I had forgotten but I knew the authors last name began with an 'M'.) So finally after finishing college I went back to my old town and asked to go into the junior high library. I found the book. On the same shelf, same location and with me being the last person to have checked it out.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book about finding yourself, August 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Island Keeper (Paperback)

Wonderful book that I discovered in junior high. Several years later I bought a copy and this novel has become one of a treasured few I read again every year. The central character (indeed, practically the only character for most of the book) grows so much during her experience that you remember her life changes long after you put down the book. As always, great fast-moving, realistic storytelling from Harry Mazer.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An adventure which doesn't leave your thoughts, April 4, 1999

By 

Jenny Flowers ([e-mail]) (Louisville, Ky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Island Keeper (Paperback)

I first read this book when I was in ninth grade. Ever since, I have kept Cleo's experience on that beautiful island in my heart. When I began college memories from the book kept resurfacing. I knew I had to find it! I couldn't remember the author's name or the title, so my search was pretty close to hopeless. Finally, after asking many librarians and looking through endless card catalouges over 8 years, I accidentally found it in January while using the WWW.AMAZON.Com search engines. I ordered it immediately and read it as soon as I recieved it. To read it again now as a 28 year old was a whole new adventure, but it also brought back old memories and feelings that I had as a 14 year old. I recommend this book to any teenager or adult looking for an escape. The experiences that Cleo goes through are so real, and well-researched. I'm so glad to have found this wonderful book after such a long search!