I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Jake is spending his summer on a remote island that doesn't have cable, internet, or restaurants with his grandmother. His father has been injured in Afganistan and his mother is off to care for him. This is going to be the worst summer ever or so he thinks. Instead, Jake immediately makes new friends and helps some turtles along the way.

Jake is 11 years old, and is heading to Dewees Island, SC to spend the summer with his grandmother, Honey. His dad has been seriously injured in Afghanistan, and is recuperating in a military hospital. On the boat trip over, his phone falls overboard, and when he learns that Honey doesn’t have wifi, he fears the summer will be awful. He meets two new friends, Lovie and Macon, and together they learn about the natural world on the island, including helping the team that works with the nesting loggerhead turtles. Jake knows his dad kept a nature journal when he was growing up on the island, and writes to him almost every day to tell him what they are doing. With all of their challenges and adventures, the summer winds up being the best ever, even without video games, texting, and wifi. Recommended for readers of Carl Hiaasen’s books for young readers, or for anyone who enjoys nature. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jake visits his grandmother Honey on Dewees Island off Charleston, SC, for the summer when his mom leaves to help his dad who’s been injured in Afghanistan. A military child, Jake is used to new situations but he’s unprepared for the depression his grandmother is suffering from. He also fearful of how he will survive with no WiFi and limited tv. He meets two friends, Lovie and Macon, and together they explore the island for the summer. A misunderstanding results in their having to perform six weeks of community service. Together with Honey they become the Dawn Patrol looking for loggerhead nests every morning. Mary Alice Monroe has written a number of adult novels which have included much information about turtles but this is her first for middle schoolers. It is excellent. As a middle school science teacher, I especially enjoyed the artwork, discussions on species identification and the nature of the Low Country together with the engaging story. This will be a great addition to school libraries and would make an outstanding summer reading book for grades 5-8. I highly recommend it. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this title. This review is my thoughts in reference to the title, The Islanders by Mary Alice Monroe.

I really enjoyed this trip to Dewee’s Island. For a children’s book, this one covered emotions, love, family and friendship. It’s amazing how so many children do not know how to express their emotions and this title does a great job at providing examples through Jake’s story. The best part, no electronics on the island. Most children today would find that absurd, but these children were able to explore, learn and set goals for themselves to accomplish. The best of all was how they felt after accomplishing those goals.

Great story and the illustrations were well done too! It was fun to escape to Dewee’s Island with these three children and their families.

Wonderful middle grade fiction set on Dewees Island, off the Isle of Palms in SC. Monroe has written The Beach House series and Lowcountry Summer series for adults. If you have read these you’ll recognize one of the characters. You can enjoy this even if you are an adult. I’ll be recommending it to my school librarian friends!

The Islanders by Mary Alice Monroe I loved the story. I think middle graders will mind the story fascinating the turtles stories were great and interesting. Parents are always trying to get their children away from video games and I think middle schoolers would find the book interesting.

I was immediately captivated by this book right from the beginning and enjoyed it right till the end. Mary Alice Monroe is a beautiful writer and her descriptions of nature are so vivid!!

Jake is brought to Dewees Island in SC to stay with his grandmother, Honey, as his father is in the service and has been injured in Afghanistan. His mother needs to go to take care of him and Jake is not looking forward to staying with his grandmother with no WiFi, no TV, no friends and daily chores that will keep him very busy.

Jake meets Lovie and Macon and they quickly become friends and start spending every day together. After making a mistake with a boat, they become members of the Dawn Team of the turtle team and have to patrol the beach at 630am every morning. Each one has been given a journal to draw and write about the nature around them each day.

I believe this incredible book will appeal to a wide range of readers. I loved it and will be recommending to everyone who loves the Beach House series and to elementary school media specialists to purchase for their libraries!!! Mary Alice Monroe has written a spectacular book!!! Loved it!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Aladdin for an early digital copy of this book!!

Have read and enjoyed everything by this author, and this middle grade debut was no exception. When Jake learns he has to stay with his grandmother all summer while his mom visits his injured dad, he is not happy. Worse yet, no WiFi which means no video games for Jake. However, Jake meets Lovie and Macon and the three of them become friends. Because his dad kept journals while on the island, his grandmother encourages Jake to be a naturalist like his dad and so he does, As time passes, the three children join the Turtle Team and help his grandmother and others label stakes for turtle nests, and eventually they get to see a hatching. While this is going on, Jake wonders will his dad be okay. Great book about new friends, nature, and great adventures. Loved this book. I would love to see a sequel.