I had a great time with this one. It took me a while to actually pick it up because the genre and theme aren´t what I tippically read. But I had a lot of fun and I really liked the characters. I would recommend this.

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4

Island of Spies is a bit slow out of the gates, but it’s worth sticking with it. Author Sheila Turnage’s pacing could be tighter for her intended audience, though slower bits do allow for reflection.

At the center of the story is Stick, a bright scientist-in-the-making who doesn’t always get things right, but learns along the way. Rain and Neb excel and their own talents, rounding out the Dime Novel Kids crew. It’s a strong trio of characters that will appeal to young readers.

Set against the backdrop of WWII, readers will be fascinated by communication of the time — radio, newspapers and letters were the name of the game back then. Island of Spies offers a unique comparison of how we piece together information now and then. More interesting still is the overall island lifestyle of the 1940s.

Island of Spies is full of mysteries and quirky characters. It’s a fairly strong historical fiction read that’s worth checking out from the library.

It is 1942, and everyone knows that war has broken out in the world; but nobody expects it to come to Hatteras Island, North Carolina. Neb, Rain, and Stick are three friends who live their lives based on what they have learned from their extensive collection of dime novels, and they are determined to gain notice and esteem from the FBI itself. Not only have they been solving mysteries in their island community, but they have also been keeping a wary eye out for spies, especially when new people move to town. When the war finally reaches their doorstep, Neb, Rain, and Stick must put their skills to the test and do all they can to protect their community from the threat of destruction.

This story is written from the perspective of Stick, whose given name is Sarah Stickley Lawson. At twelve years old, she is wise to some of the world, but there is much that she does not yet understand. Despite this, she is determined to attend college and study science even when girls in her time were not often able to do so. Interestingly, she is described as being bright compared to others her age, but she often uses “me” in place of “I,” which demeans this overall perspective. Nonetheless, Stick does a good job introducing readers to the nuances found in her close-knit community, especially the closed-mindedness felt by many. Readers easily become a part of Stick’s world and feel connected to the characters in her life.

There are many books written about World War II, but few of them are focused on middle grade readers, and even fewer of those discuss the feelings of people in the United States. This book gives readers a sense of how people lived during the 1940s in a small island community while also intentionally including details of the war in as much as the characters would have known them. Without Internet or reliable news, Stick and her companions must piece together what they can from the information they do receive, and their steadfastness and ingenuity become even more important as time goes by. Though slow at times, the narrative has a smooth flow, and middle grade readers will be gently introduced to World War II from an accessible perspective. This is an interesting historical fiction adventure that is sure to please middle grade readers who enjoy quirky characters, mysteries, and a strong sense of community.