Wil Neuton was fifteen years old when he
discovered the island near his new home. An abandoned boat helped him to reach
it. The island seemed to invite him to stay there.
Wil and his parents had recently moved to a
small town in northern Wisconsin from the city of Madison. Will had left behind
the familiar places and people that had shaped his life there. He had no
friends in the new small town, but he soon met Susan, a girl his age who
introduced him to the simplicity and idiosyncrasies of the new place. A new
world of discoveries awaited him…
The island was part of that elusive world,
and he felt he had to stay on it. It dawned on him that staying on the island would
help him to understand things about life. He observed nature around him: the
herons, the turtle, the fish, the lake. Everything made him pause and reflect.
Wil also looked back on his past. His mind
conjured up happy and poignant memories of his deceased grandmother whom he had
loved dearly. Now he began to understand her better as he reminisced about the
time he had spent with the sweet, jaunty woman. He wrote down his thoughts and
meditations. He drew with pencil and painted with watercolors. The island
afforded him a precious space to exercise and move his body, to watch the
living beings around him. A new kind of awareness awakened in him.
Wil did
not know when he would return to his parents’ home. His camping on the island piqued
the curiosity of several people. His parents were puzzled and wondered if there
was something wrong with him.
The Island by Gary Paulsen has a unique voice
that combines humor and wit. It is an introspective contemplation on life, a
quiet reflection, a respite from the chaos of the world. If you have a
teenager in your life who will appreciate this gentle masterpiece, don’t miss
the chance to share it.
There are some hidden treasures of wisdom in
this exquisite novella. I highly recommend it.
This is the second book by Gary Paulsen that I’ve
read. My first one was The Glass Café; you can read my review here.
Photo by Dave Hoefler. Source: Unsplash.
