Nim's Island (Paperback)

by Wendy Orr (Author), Kerry Millard (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In a starred review, PW called this novel about a girl living on a remote island "as welcome as a breath of fresh tropical air." Ages 8-12. (June)n
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5-Nim lives on the most beautiful island in the world (its location is a closely guarded secret) with a marine iguana, a sea lion, and her scientist dad, Jack. When he goes off to explore the world of plankton, the child occupies herself with typical Swiss Family Robinson-like chores and keeping her dad's batteries charged so she can check his e-mail on the laptop computer. When his boat becomes disabled, Nim's link to humanity becomes Alex Rover, the author of the novel she's reading, who has e-mailed Jack with some scientific questions. They correspond frequently, Nim giving Alex advice on building a raft out of coconuts, and Alex uncannily picturing spots on the island in her current book. A violent storm and volcanic eruption toward the end result in Nim saving the day, and the three characters set up life together on their paradise. And all of this occurs amid a clever plan to divert evil tourists from ever finding the island. If readers can suspend belief long enough to accept this plot, they will have a great time with this modern survival/adventure story. Children will love this unshakable, strong female character and the zany things that happen to her. They'll also enjoy the way adults seem to bungle everything. There are plenty of sketches to add visuals to this wild tale, which never loses its momentum. Teachers can springboard many geographic or scientific studies off this novel as they read it aloud, but kids can just enjoy the fun.
Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (June 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440418682
• ISBN-13: 978-0440418689
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #528,884 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you could bring only one book to an island, would it be this one?, May 28, 2006

By	E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Julia, January 19, 2005

A Kid's Review

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!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book I've Ever Read, January 8, 2002

By	Anne Boynton (Lynchburg VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Nim's Island (Hardcover)

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.