Amazing!

I absolutely adore children's fiction, but I do think it is one of those genre's that takes a lot to get it right, and can be very hit or miss depending upon the book and the author.

But oh my goodness. I think I have found a new favourite.

This is such a beautiful story, set in Dewees Island, SC, just off the Isle of Palms. Her writing is so vivid and descriptive, that I felt absolutely immersed in the story, to the point where I almost forgot that I wasn't actually there alongside the characters.

This middle grade book is such a fun and well written story, that not only appeals to children, but also adult readers too! It explored so many themes, and I think it will not only entertain but educate and teach children about how important family is, friendships, and what it means to love and care for nature.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tender and heartwarming book. It is one of those stories that I will be thinking about for a long time to come, and I highly recommend adding it to your TBR.

A beautiful story of loss, healing and friendship. A lovely middle grade book that is a must read for all ages

I love this book and can’t wait to share it with other teachers. I couldn’t have been more exited when I found out that Mary Alice Monroe wrote a book for the younger generation! I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

When I think of literary fiction, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and can satisfies just about every reader's heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day.

Eleven-year-old Jake’s life has just turned upside-down. His father was wounded in Afghanistan, and his mother is going to leave to care for him. That means Jake’s spending the summer on tiny Dewees Island with his grandmother. The island is a nature sanctuary—no cars or paved roads, no stores or restaurants. To make matters worse, Jake’s grandmother doesn’t believe in cable or the internet. Which means Jake has no cell phone, no video games...and no friends. This is going to be the worst summer ever!

He’s barely on the island before he befriends two other kids—Macon, another “summer kid,” and Lovie, a know-it-all who lives there and shows both Jake and Macon the ropes of life on the island. All three are struggling with their own family issues and they quickly bond, going on adventures all over Dewees Island. Until one misadventure on an abandoned boat leads to community service. Their punishment? Mandatory duty on the Island Turtle Team. The kids must do a daily dawn patrol of the beach on the hunt for loggerhead sea turtle tracks. When a turtle nest is threatened by coyotes, the three friends must find a way to protect it. Can they save the turtle nest from predators? Can Jake’s growing love for the island and its inhabitants (be they two-legged, four-legged, feathered, or finned) help to heal his father?


Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy! I wish I lived in that island...what a sweet story and full of emotion! A very beautiful cover too!

This book would perfectly fit into our 6th grade unit about overpopulation in the oceans. All of the information in the book is really connected. In the book, 3 young friends spend time on an island together. They learn to take notes while observing the ocean and island life. They also learn to grow in the friendships with each other. I have already purchased this for my middle school library.

The Islanders is a Middle Grades novel by Mary Alice Monroe, and I’ll definitely be purchasing it for my school library. The main character is a military kid who has to spend the summer with his grandmother, Honey, on a small island off of Charleston. Jake meets two friends - Lovie (who’s biological dad is in jail) and Macon (who’s mom is pregnant after a miscarriage) - and they spend the summer exploring the island and serving on the sea turtle patrol.

Thanks to @NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for my ARC!

4 stars = Great! Might re-read.

The author does a great job of telling a strong friendship story alongside a personal growth story for Jake. There was great balance between the two, and I never felt like one was more interesting or engaging than the other. I liked the kids at the center of this. And the conservation/environmental pieces of this are never heavy-handed. So many kids love animal stories - and I think they will enjoy the ideas presented here of keeping a journal and drawing and writing about new animals. I'm thrilled this is going to be a series - kids are going to love this.

I always read Mary Alice Monroe whenever I get a copy of any of her books and review them when they come out on the other platforms. I sometimes forget to review them on here. This was a wonderful book by her as always.

Trigger warnings: military injury/loss of limb, miscarriage (mentioned), incarcerated family member

Jake Potter is a tween who is so not excited about being forced to spend his summer in Dewees Island, SC without restaurants, stores, video games, TV, or WiFi. He is visiting his grandmother while his father recovers from an injury.

Helen Potter (Jake calls her Honey) is Jake's grandmother who is suffering from the loss of her husband who recently died. She feels anxiety about her son, Jake's father, and has become withdrawn from normal life. Jake is told that Honey needs him, and the statement proves to be true.

Jake is able to shake Honey out of her sad existence. She has stopped cooking and has spoiled food in the fridge when Jake arrives, no longer cleans her house, and has stopped helping the local Turtle Team protect nests on the beach. With Jake there, Honey comes out of her shell and begins to live life again.

Jake makes two friends on the island and they go on many adventures together. They spend a lot of time at the Nature Center learning about the birds and marine life that live on Dewees Island. Each of Jake's friends has a family struggle of their own; Lovie's biological father is in prison and she doesn't have contact with him while Macon's mother has lost several children and is on bed rest to prevent miscarrying her current pregnancy.

Michael Crouch's higher-pitch voice is perfect for a prepubescent teenager.

Recommended for children interested in nature, adventure stories, or marine biology.

A good story that can be appreciated by children and adult. The plot flows and it's compelling, the characters are realistic and fleshed out.
I appreciated how the author deals with the different issues.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was a good Middle Grade book, that I would have absolutely loved when I was that age!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

In The Islanders, Mary Alice Monroe transports the reader to the lowcountry of South Carolina. After Jake's father is wounded in Afghanistan, he is sent to live with his grandmother on Dewees Island. He soon makes friends with Macon and Lovie, and their summer adventures begin. Monroe also introduces the reader to the importance of preserving nature and helping to save the sea turtles. As someone who used to call the lowcountry home, this story touched my heart. I loved it so much, I sought out a signed copy while visiting Charleston this month. A must read!

I. Loved. The Islanders! And already am wishing for a sequel! Mary Alice Monroe so seamlessly transitioned from the well-scripted beach read to middle grade novelist - I truly was surprised how quickly I flew through this novel. The characters are relatable with authentic problems/feelings/reactions and dialogue and the plot moves quickly through the summer. It has been a while since I've read a book that would be a good fit for so many different types of readers, and The Islanders definitely fits the bill. I've already picked up a copy for my classroom and am working on my book talk! Thanks so much to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #TheIslanders by Mary Alice Monroe. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to sharing it with my students.

This was a fabulous, heartwarming read. Jake’s father is wounded in the war and Jake is sent to live with his grandmother on Dewees Island. Jake is miserable at first, forced to be away from his family and in a place with no wi-fi. But, Jake quickly makes new friends and realizes his summer is going to be filled with amazing adventures.

I loved how this book tackled some heavier topics in a lighthearted way. Jake is the son of a soldier and many children who have parents in the military will relate to Jake and his emotions about that aspect of his life. The turtles provided a way for Jake to work through some of his insecurities and learn to be apart from his family. Grandmother Honey was warm and nurturing but also was mourning the loss of her husband, and Jake had to work through processing that loss by helping her and connecting with her. Watching him struggle with her grief and being unsure how to make her feel better is important for children to realize that everyone can have a hard time after a death and sometimes what people need is just being around loved ones.

Macon and Lovie both deal with family issues. Macon’s mother is pregnant and his father is barely around, which is a big burden for a kid to deal with. Lovie has her own secrets to hide about her father.

This one is powerful with great messages and a science heavy message about nature and ecology that kids will love.

This was an adorable middle grade story that I would recommend to young and adult readers alike. I enjoyed learning about the turtles.

Mary Alice Monroe has long been my favorite adult author. She and Angela May did not disappoint with this new middle grade book. Jake dreads the move to Dewees Island with his grandmother after his dad is wounded in Afghanistan. He’s not used to be completely disconnected: no internet, cell phones, or video games. What he finds is so much better! With the help of his two new friends, Macon and Lovie, he becomes quite the naturalist, falling in love with the Lowcountry. Many surprises and adventures await on Dewees, and he must learn how to adapt. This novel shows readers that yes life is full of unexpected ups and downs. Life throws us challenges, but if is how we deal with those challenges that matter. This wonderful novel is full of family, friendship, nature, and fun! It is a must read for all ages!

I love that it has adventure as well as teaches about the nature you can find on Dewees and of course other areas. This novel has inspired me to do my own research. I’ve always been passionate about turtles, but now I’m curious about so much more.

Do yourself a favor, purchase this book! (I received this book as an advanced copy in exchange for my honest reviews. My views however, are true, and my own.) #BookPosse

When I got this book granted to me on Netgalley I got extremely excited! This book written by Mary Alice Monroe was more than I ever could have asked for in a book written in my state! This book is geared towards older children but, being twenty three I still enjoyed it thoroughly! In this book we follow our main character who has ran into an issue at the beginning of Summer vacation and thinks his life is going to be ruined. We follow a military family in this book so of course there are rollercoasters of emotions that ensue. I loved the bond that Macon, Lovie and our main character developed over the course of the plot. Deep down I feel like this book has a theme of being able to get over your fears no matter if you think you can't do it. All you have to do is reach for the dream and you can achieve it! I recommend this book to anybody at any age and I will definitely continue to read her works.

The Islanders is an adorable children’s character book. I enjoy reading about Jake’s adventures. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Just from the first glance, I liked this colorful cover that promised a nice story.
Wonderful, sweet and great book that is not just for middle-grade children...It is for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Characters are likable and the storyline is built excellent. Me as a teacher will use the book for my students, but I recommend it for everyone who likes to read about nature, family, relationships/friendships.