It is said that guilt is perhaps the most painful companion of death, but Jonathan Grisby feels he deserves far worse. After a terrible accident that leaves his family in despair, Jonathan takes responsibility for a crime that he did not commit. He is soon sent to the Slabhenge Reformatory School, a place that was once a prison and, in some ways, still is. As time passes on the forlorn island, chaos erupts like magma from the Earth while Jonathan sinks in guilt. Scar Island is a thrilling work, for author Dan Gemeinhart did an exceptional job crafting this story. The moment he arrived on the island, Jonathan faced his harsh treatment. The head supervisor of the island, the Admiral, kept a firm grip on everything that took place. The boys were forced to take care of every task that needed to be done, leaving the Admiral and his colleagues living in luxury. To ensure their comfortable and extravagant life was eternal, they extended the stay of many boys much longer, excusing themselves by saying, “There’s still more work to do.” Although he faced an excruciating life, Jonathan made a few friends who helped guide him in his new life. Just as he seemed to be getting used to Slabhenge, a strange event occurred on the island. On the second morning of Jonathan’s stay, a brutal storm swept through the island. The Admiral lifted his sword into the air during the morning’s event, completely unexpecting what was about to happen. As all the officials were standing in deep puddles, the outcome was inevitable. They were dead before they hit the ground. By this point, the magma had become lava, seeping through the crevices of the island, melting any form of peace to little more than dust. While this novel incorporates many thrilling elements, it also contains some meaningful value. Throughout the book, Jonathan struggles with guilt that he doesn’t deserve. In life, you should never blame yourself for things you did not do because it will only cause the downfall of your mental health. As the book goes on, Jonathan begins to understand this, something important for everyone to recognize. Altogether, Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart is an excellent book with ideas scarcely found in others of its genre. Author Gemeinhart managed to compose a riveting plot and convey a strong message at the same time, something that made this book a wonderful read. Thus, I recommend this book to the ages of 10-13, as it holds components perfectly suited for those of this age. Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart. Scholastic Press, 2018. Buy the book here and help support Stone Soup in the process!
Dan Gemeinhart
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, Reviewed by Grace, 11
Throughout my entire eleven years on this earth, a handful of books have truly spoken to me. One of these books is called The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise. The story begins with the introduction of a twelve year old girl named Coyote Sunrise who lives on a school bus called Yager with her dad, Rodeo. They live in Yager because of a terrible incident that happened when Coyote was younger, in an attempt to run away from their painful past, her dad changed both of their names, (hence the reason she’s now called Coyote), moved into a new house, er, school bus, and forgot about their old life in Washington State. They use Yager to travel around 47 of the 50 states in the USA (subtracting Hawaii, Alaska, and the state Coyote’s dad never wants to see again). However, one day, Coyote is on the phone with her grandmother when she hears the worst news ever: the park that she and her now deceased mother and sisters used to play on is getting torn up and turned into a parking lot! Now, you’re probably wondering, “what could be so bad about that?” Well, before her mother and sisters passed away, they created a “memory box,” which is basically just a time capsule in which they placed memories, photos, drawings, and strands of hair, then buried it in that park. Coyote doesn’t want to lose the last thing she has left of her mother and sisters, so she’ll have to create an insane plan to travel to Washington without Rodeo knowing. Will she make it to the memory box in time? Or will it get destroyed forever? With the help of her new friends (and pets!), can Coyote pull this off? Well, I’m not going to spoil anything for you, so you’ll have to find out for yourself! I’m 100% percent positive that if you like heart wrenching and meaningful yet hilarious stories that take you on an emotional rollercoaster, you will enjoy The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise. The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart. Henry Holt & Company, 2019. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
