Customer Reviews

Nim's Island

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I run a homeschooler bookgroup with incurably picky tastes. The kids love books. They devour them by the cartload. But if you want to get their attention and really get them to love a given book, that book should contain lots of enjoyable cuddly animals. Finding them books of this nature has fast become my life's calling. I want to give them worthwhile reading material on the one hand, but also let them read the kinds of books they can really love on the other. So when, "Nim's Island" fell into my lap it was like manna from heaven. Cute animals? Check. Small pictures for the kids who still need them? Check. Fast-paced enjoyable storyline with a fairly original conceit and wonderful location? Check, check, and check. All in all, "Nim's Island" could have been written purely for the sake of giving kids books they'd really like to read. It's fun and funny and when it comes to bookgroups, few titles are more ideal than this.

Nim Rusoe and her father don't live your ordinary life. Some people dream of a tropical island entirely of their own. Nim and her father Jack live that dream. When her mother was taken to the bottom of the ocean by a whale (all do to a tourism company's interference), Nim's father picked up his baby girl and took her to a remote isle hidden away behind deadly coral reefs. There, Nim has grown up alongside the motherly sea lion Selkie and her best iguana pal, Fred. Now her father, a scientist specializing in plankton, has gone off to find a particularly interesting strain. He'll only be gone a day or two and Nim should be safe enough on the island. Should be. Unfortunately, when Jack's boat gets delayed by a break, things start to get dangerous for Nim. Invading tourists and tropical storms and even an injury may beset our heroine, but with the help of her mighty faithful friends, our heroine is able to best each of these problems, one by one.

The book gives obvious nods to "Robinson Crusoe" and "Swiss Family Robinson", of course. So obvious, in fact, that at one point both books are literally looked at by one of the characters. When I first picked up the book I expected something more along the lines of the latter book rather than the former. Not the case. Right at the beginning we establish that the tourism company Troppo Tourists was responsible for Nim's mother's death. So in a way I expected the tourists to besiege the island for days on end once Jack took off the other way. Instead, the fooling and banishment of the tourists is a very small part of the book itself. Author Wendy Orr knows exactly how she wants this book to go, and its entirely according to her own authorial whims. Orr takes time to explain the inner-workings of the island. Where Nim gets her food. Her chores. How she gets to play. The result is that the island is a realistic place. Kids reading the book really believe that they could exist entirely on their own with sea lions, iguanas, and sea turtles for company if they really wanted to. At the same time, these descriptions aren't boring at all. They aren't drawn out or so meticulous that you find yourself snoring. Orr keeps the action and adventure going at a steady clip while at the same time never skimping on the important details. This makes for a particularly amusing story.

The characters in this book are also fun. Heroines like Nim are sometimes in danger of being too perfect to be lovable. Instead, this Nim is a fun frolicsome young gal who gets unreasonably angry and none-too-bright personal-safetywise like any other kid. Orr has anthropomorphosized Nim's animal acquaintances, but it all fits within the reality of the story. Top all this off with some rather nice pen and inks by illustrator Kerry Millard (including a lovely map of the island) and you have all the makings of a small story classic.

With its small page count (125) and exciting imaginative tale, "Nim's Island" is ideal for bookgroups or just imaginative kids who fancy getting away from it all. And hey, if they get into this, why not try a little, "Swiss Family Robinson" as a follow up? There are plenty of tales in the island-survival genre. Consider this a gateway book.

Wendy Orr is a great author! Nim is a girl who has some rough times! Her mother died when she was young, and her father left her to go on a trip for an experiment. She is very brave! This is a five star book, and I love it because I've always wanted a little tree house or a place of my own. Nim has her own island! Nim's Island is a book for 8-10 year old kids who always wanted a place of their own like me. Using her father's laptop, she meets a famous but shy author named Alex. Alex has many questions about Nim and her animal friends. Will Nim survive, and what will her adventures be? Will Nim's and Alex's relationship become more than just e-mailing each-other? Will you ever know the answer to these questions? I bet you will if you follow my advice and read this amazing survival fiction story, Nim's Island!

It is the best book I've ever read, and I've read lots of books. It is exciting but not too scarey. It's got animals in it (I'm a great fan of animals). The vocabulary is easy and the story zips along. The characters are realistic enough to make the story seem true. It makes me feel excited, like I am going to go to Nim's island. It has a good sense of humor but not so funny that the humor takes away the sense of adventure. The only thing that could be better is if there are more books about Nim! I think that this book is suited for all ages above 5. Anyone with a taste for adventure and who appreciates the beauty of nature will love this book.

In this book Wendy Orr describes the island very well. It has helped me describe things in my writing. Nim's mother died. She had drowned, and was never seen again. Nim has a long adventure while her father is away. Nim has her pet iguana and mother-like friend, Selkie to help her along the way. One day Nim answers her dad's email, and starts emailing her online friend, Alex (Alexandera). Alex is an author. Nim and alex build a strong relationship. If you would like to hear the wonderful endig, read the book. I read this book for the global reading challege, but I still enjoyed this descriptive tale of a girl named Nim alot.

This book was really good. I read it when i was in 4th grade. I would recomand this book to anyone who likes andventures. The illistrations where very good. It was about a girl stuck on a island with out her parents. While she is on the island she trys to figure out where her parents are. But i thought this book was really good.

Great read! My child just poured through this book before the movie was even out. Loved the book so much more than the movie!

This is a great read for children and adults, alike. I read this before giving it to my 7 year old grandaughter and I fell in love with all of the characters and the animals. What a delightful book of an island adventure! It has action, mystery, adventure, excitement and love. It teaches you to use your imagination to visualize the island and its animals. It encourages bravery, commitment and learning about new places and things. Books like this one encourage children to read more. What else can you want from a good book?

This book is a book that you should read if you didnt get to yet. If you didn't I will tell you only a little bit of it because I don't want to give the whole story away. This book is kinda about a girl named Nim she lives on a island with her Dad she dosen't live with her Mom because she died when Nim was little. Also Nim lives with animlas on the island but I can name them all. If u haven't read this book and you want to all I'm going to say is you will love this book. If you like to.

Nim's Island is a fun and well-developed and complete adventure. Wendy Orr has crafted a great story with all the elements that entertain and transport the reader into the story--a well-developed and thoughtful plot, colorful, cute and interesting characters and simply a good story to be told. As a teacher and fellow writer, I am always looking for children's books that demonstrate a complete story that includes characters you care about, a plot that has a strong beginning, middle and end, and enough actions, adventure and places to stop and dream. Also, I appreciate how Orr references modern-day technology with a secluded island life and makes technology use familiar and common (great for incorporating discussions about technology and communication within the classroom). This book is a great choice for a classroom, whether for reading aloud, using to teach writing or discussing within a book group.

Great book for reluctant readers. My kids liked it much better than the movie (although I thought the movie was fabulous). Good, strong, resourceful girl character. Lots of fun. A good choice for a mother-daughter book group. Highly recommend for second or third grade girls.