Stranded [Paperback]

Ben Mikaelsen (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

A compelling, emotionally satisfying novel of a young girl's determination to do the right thing and to prove herself to her peers and her parents. When Koby, who lost her foot in an accident at the age of eight, aids a mother whale about to give birth, she sets off a chain of events that changes the course of her life forever.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7?Self-conscious about her appearance and her abilities ever since she lost her foot in an accident four years ago, 12-year-old Koby feels most at home on the water. Not only does she love living on her family's sailboat, but she revels in her time alone aboard a dinghy that she navigates through the Florida Keys. When she discovers a wounded pilot whale and helps it deliver a calf, then later rescues the animals when they're beached, the independence and attention generated by these incidents give her an improved self-image as well as new, admiring friends. Her parents' separation and a hurricane that threatens her father's livelihood as well as the whales' lives are other obstacles that must be overcome. Mikaelsen's writing is strongest when describing rich scenes of the seascape and wildlife behavior. The characters, however, seem to be of a type (gruff sailor; bouncy, popular classmate, etc.), fulfilling a purpose in the story but never coming alive, conveying humor that is forced and often speaking in a moralizing or patronizing tone. Although the theme of rehabilitation is evident, with the exception of the rescue there is a lack of tension and a juggling of plots that lead to a predictable, and at times sentimental, story.?Susan Knorr, Milwaukee Public Library, WI
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 6^-8. Mikaelsen's latest has many of the same elements that made Sparrow Hawk Red (1993) so successful: strong, well-developed characters, an intriguing plot in which an engaging main character is repeatedly placed in danger, and an exotic setting so clearly described that readers will feel they have been there to visit. When 12-year-old Koby saves the lives of two injured pilot whales near her home in the Florida Keys, she doesn't imagine that her own life will change as a result. Koby's parents have separated, and the ugly artificial foot she wears seems to have ensured her isolation: she feels as stranded and wounded as the whales. Yet as part of a team that is nursing the whales, Koby gains a new sense of self-worth and learns that breaking down self-imposed obstacles to friendship and truly exposing herself may be as risky, and as satisfying, as rescuing the great beasts. Then, in a desperate attempt to save her father's boats from a hurricane, Koby and her parents not only must confront the raging storm, but also the emotional barriers that threaten to destroy the family. Mikaelsen's dramatic conclusion is full of hope as Koby, surrounded by new friends and her reconciling parents, helps release the healthy whales. Chris Sherman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (January 1, 1900)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786811099
• ISBN-13: 978-0786811090
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,102,492 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ben Mikaelsen has won the International Reading Association Award and the Western Writers Golden Spur Award. His novels have won critical acclaim, as well as several state reader's choice awards. These novels include Rescue Josh McGuire, Sparrow Hawk Red, Stranded, Countdown, Petey, and Touching Spirit Bear. Ben's articles and photos appear in numerous magazines around the world. Ben and his wife, Melanie, live in a log cabin near Bozeman, Montana, with a 700-pound black bear they have adopted and raised.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stranded, March 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Stranded (Paperback)

Stranded
By: Ben Mikaelsen
Reviewed by: W.Yoon
Period: P.5

This book, named Stranded, is one of the greatest book I ever read. This book pulled me into the book cause it was amazing. It grabed my attention. So I kept on reading the book and it got better and better. It was about a girl named Koby. She has one leg that is fake. She moves into a new school and a has no friends there. Everyone looks at her cause she's the only one with a fake leg. She gets frustrated at them looking at her leg. She got used to it so after few days she forgot about it and no one looked at her fake leg. She is one of those people who doesn't give up if they fail. They just try their best. She has no friends at this school. After school she goes and finds a stranded dolphin on the beach. She takes care of it. She is really good at taking care of animals. What will she do?
I like this book because of many things. The book is interesting, fun, wild, and has lots of things in common with me.
I like it cause she helps other animals and tries to do other thigs too, like bringing their family together and getting some friends."Dad, I want to help." Koby just wanted to get her parents together, get friends, and save the dolphins. She is just caring about everything. She is just a kid. That is why I like this book.
I dislike this book because it was sad and mean. Koby couldn't get any friends. She was new so no one liked her. They always stared at her fake leg. It was so sad. How would it feel? If you were Koby and you had no friends how would you react? It is so sad. She is just trying to fit in the school and people don't welcome her and they make her sad.What bad friends.That is so mean. I would tell my mother to move out of her. It is so sad and mean. "Koby walked up,a couple of girlsturned and noticed her exposed leggy. They smiled."
My favorite part of this book was when she was having P.E. and there was an activity she was good at. The captain was the most popular girl in school, Becky, chose Koby 7th pick. Their team was losing and Koby caught up and won the race. They were so happy to win. They got to be friends and were really close friends after that. Koby was so happy. That was my favorite part of the book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Enchanting Plot, Most Encouraging Story, December 9, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Stranded (Paperback)

Stranded, this book has an amazing plot. The way Koby, the main character is presented is outstanding. In the story, Koby overcomes many obstacles in her life. It is amazing how she always finds a way around her troubles. Ben Mikaelsen makes it so Koby never gave up, that is very encouraging to not only people who have a leggy like Koby, but everyone. I have had the pleasure of enjoying this book over and over again. I really like it. Even though Stranded is set in such a strange place, it seems to be so well described that it makes the readers feel like they are Koby or that they are at least there watching what is going on in the book! This is one of the best books I have ever read and I will continue to read it, not only to myself, but also to my friends and family.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stranded, December 29, 2002

By 

anonymous (Carmel, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stranded (Paperback)

The book "Stranded" is a wonderful book that tells a story about a girl named Koby that is having a hard time in her life and escapes it by meeting 2 whales. Koby experience something that had changed her life around. She wasen't able to do normal day to day things like other kids. Until one day she finds two whales. She grows attached and finds them again but this time stranded. Staying all night with lots of fears running through her head. She saves them and since then she made new friends and found a connection between her and the whales. They treated her as if nothing was wrong with her. Not only does this book teach you to look inside a person and not just the outside but to trust people and yourself. I strongly recomend this book because I simply could NOT put it down.