MMGM--Scar Island and the River of Doubt

Gemeinhart, Dan. Scar Island.
January 3rd 2017 by Scholastic Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Jonathan arrives on Slabhenge Island, where there is a windswept reform school administered by evil, grasping, gnarled men. At roll call one morning, when the fifteen boys are made to say they are present and "content and well-cared for", all of the adults on the island are electrocuted and killed in a freak lightning accident. The boys are dumbstruck, but having been treated badly, are not sad that their oppressors are gone. Headed by the oldest inmate, Sebastian, the group decides to neglect to inform the mail carrier, who is the only person to visit the island regularly, of this turn of events. Instead, the boys break into the wardens' rooms, eat their food, and generally enjoy throwing off their yokes. Of course, there are dark secrets to why the boys are there, power struggles, and changes of allegiances. Jonathan befriends Colin, as well as a librarian who never strays from the bowels of the school, and comes to terms with why he has been sent away from home. Sebastian tries to wield his power, and ends up punishing the boys for minor infractions in the same way the wardens had punished him. When a storm hits the island, the boys must band together in order to survive, and realize that being on their own might not have been the best idea. 

This has a Series of Unfortunate Events feel to it, especially at the beginning, when it is difficult to pin down the place and time of Scar Island. It has a prewar, almost British feel to it at first (all of the wardens are wearing wool, and the head warden wields a sword), but the setting is never confirmed. It doesn't really matter-- the boys are on their own with limited adult contact, but are well-provisioned with food and coal for the generator. In this way, it is very much a middle grade fantasy, although there is no magic or actual fantastical elements. 

With nods to both Lord of the Flies and Animal Farm, this is a fast-paced adventure for readers who want to envision a world where children who are mistreated are able to turn the tables. The encroaching storm adds an element of survival to this, and there is also a bit of a mystery concerning Jonathan's placement in the institution. 

While this was not a book that I personally enjoyed, I can see it appealing to a lot of readers in the target demographic. It is unlike most of the middle grade books I've come across, although it does have some elements of sadness, and yet shows a tremendous understanding of what tweens want to read. Hand this to reluctant readers who like survival, adventure, or books that show children overcoming adversity. 

Some Kind of Courage was a story I really liked, while The Honest Truth wasn't. I do appreciate the fact that the covers for Gemeinhart's books are all the same style! The covers are growing on me.  I hope this doesn't change! They look nice together, like Gratz's Code of Honor, Prisoner B-3087, and Projekt 1065.

Seiple, Samantha. Death of the River of Doubt
January 3rd 2017 by Scholastic Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Seiple has done it again-- come out with a narrative nonfiction book filled with odd facts I never knew as well as adventure. I adored Ghosts in the Fog, and it's been wildly popular with my WWII fanatics, and her Byrd and Igloo was one that an 8th grader loved so much that he said "I don't normally like nonfiction, but that was really good! Can I have another like that?" (He ended up with No Better Friend.)

We all have this vague idea that Teddy Roosevelt was an adventurer, but I had no idea the depth of his passion! Seiple wisely starts with an overview of his early life and career, which just prepares us for this description of the Roosevelt and Rondon expedition to map an unknown river in Brazil. Roosevelt was 55 at the time, and not in the best of health. He brought along his son Kermit, who also was fond of adventuring. 

Personally, I'm not sure that I would have been as motivated to map an obscure river in an area with piranhas, understandably hostile indigenous people, and large bugs. This is also why I will never live south of the state of Ohio! But this group felt that it was important enough that they kept going despite wounds, catastrophes, and danger of starvation. 

A lot of students will have a picture in their minds of Roosevelt ala Night in the Museum. This is a great adventure tale that will make them understand and appreciate not only how dedicated Roosevelt was to conquering new experiences but to what lengths people went, not too long ago, to discovering unknown parts of the world. There are no longer that many opportunities to do this!