Abel's Island

Abel's Island
By William Steig
Published by Square Fish Publishing
1976
image retrieved - http://www.scls.lib.wi.us/sunprairie/images/AbelsIsland.jpg

Plot Summary

During a lovely picnic, a rainstorm sweeps Abel (a mouse) away from his wife. He finds himself stranded on a deserted island in the middle of a river and far from home. Abel must now learn to survive, alone, in the wild. He has shelter and food, but finding a way off the island proves to be a challenge. He comes up with many creative plans for his escape over the fast flowing river. Abel ends up staying on the island for one year for he has many failed attempts to cross the river. Abel never gives up hope. He builds himself a comfortable and safe sleeping place, he takes up carving as a passion and pass time and he continuously brainstorms new ways to escape his island to rejoin his wife.

Comments

Although Abel faces challenges as a survivor on a lone island, his challenges can represent those that face us as young people. Life can often times throw many surprising siturations that had previously not been anticipated. This is the story of just that. Abel learns to make the best of his situation by remaining creative and focused on his end goal, that of getting off of the island. He learns to foster and accept himself as he is and he remains calm and optimistic through all of his alone time on the island. This book enabled me to escape onto the island with Abel as he learned many of life's lessons. Found in many young adult sections in libraries, I think that this book is most suitable for older children or young teens. It is written in the same way a fairy tale is conveyed and it offers several positive morals. I think that older teens would find this book too juvenile, however they may like it for its simplistic approach.

Age Range - 8-12

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