About this title: Washed up on a desert island in the Pacific, Michael struggles to survive on his own. He can't find food or water, and lies down to die. When he wakes up there is a plate of fish and fruit and a bowl of fresh water beside him. Then he realizes he is not alone on the island after all.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Scholastic
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780439591812ISBN:0439591813
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Very light edge and corner wear. No marks. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 164 p. Audience: Children/juvenile. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: EGMONT CHILDREN
Date Published: 2005-10-03
ISBN-13:9781405221740ISBN:1405221747
Description: Good. Some shelf wear on cover, minor spot on side of book, pages in good reading condition. Ships promptly in a padded mailer w/ delivery confirmation. read more
Description: Fair. Purchasing this DVD supports the North Central Regional Library. Thriftbooks and NCRL have partnered to help raise additional funds for the library system. Library ID found on DVD and case. Ex-Library book-will contain library markings. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Good. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Good. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
"The Times (London) review quoted on the back of this edition calls Kensuke's Kingdom a "dazzling adventure," but those looking for a traditional adventure-survival story will be disappointed in this book. The main thrust of the book is the tentative friendship that develops between Michael and Kensuke and the gradual unraveling of the mystery of Kensuke's existence on the island.
When Michael and his parents set out to sail around the world, they were low on experience, but high on enthusiasm. A moment of carelessness on a rough sea sends Michael and his dog overboard, only to be washed up on the sands of the stereotypical deserted island. Except the island isn't deserted; it the home of Kenuske, an elderly Japanese man who has befriended the gibbons and monkeys native to his tropical home. By turns terse and tender, Kensuke slowly befriends Michael and shares with him the story of how he came to the island after his shipped was bombed in WWII. Convinced that his family in Nagasaki must have been annihilated, Kensuke has no desire to return to conventional civilization, and struggles to understand why Michael is desperate to reunite with his family.
Although the premise of Kensuke's Kingdom is interesting, the execution is predictable and somewhat dull. Despite being in completely foreign surroundings, Michael has an incredibly easy time surviving, even without Kensuke's help. Under Michael's tutelage, Kensuke goes from a limited knowledge of English to nearly proficient in an extremely short time. The final rescue scene, in which Michael's parents return for him after more than a year apart, is particularly unrealistic. Overall, the growing friendship between the old man and boy is the strength of the book, but it is probably not enough to recommend this book to intermediate readers accustomed to much more action in the survival books they read."
"This readable survival story is a great addition to book lists for boys (4th-9th grades), yet it is, refreshingly not exclusively a "boys' book" or a "girls' book"--all can enjoy it. The sentences are short and direct, but the vocabulary is quite rich, and compassion and trust are strong themes. I can imagine it a good story for those yet too young for Terry Pratchett's wise and bitingly satirical "Nation." Bias disclosure: I think I'm particularly fond of sailing, castaway, and desert island stories!"
"A family on the dole end up at sea and then their son falls off the boat. He survives with the help of a 40 year veteran of the island where he beaches. At first their is a barrier of fear, then of language, then of distrust, and finally an understanding. It is a cross cultural tale told in a way that it does not feel as such. WW II and the story of Nagasaki is in the background, but the powerfulness of the event in all its sadness is still profound. An 11 year old boy comes of age as he is lost and when he is found he will never be the same."
"I always have these grand visions of my children being transported when I read to them out loud. Sadly, the reality of that hasn't matched up. We have begun many books but just haven't had the interest level to finish them (sniff, sniff). This is the 2nd book we have ever finished! Ethan was mildly interested in the adventure of Michael who goes to sea with his parents as they take a break from horrible recessionary pressures at home to sail a yacht around the world. Things aren't always wonderful (scary storms, etc) but Michael really loves it. One night, Michael is on deck and tries to get his dog away from the edge when both fall into the sea. His parents are below deck sleeping and don't know. Michael and his dog Stella wash ashore a seemingly deserted island. How will they survive?
So Ethan was mildly interested and I began reading the book with just him. Julia became drawn into the story after the first few chapters and was the one to ask daily, "Can we read that story about the boy on the island now?"
The story brought up a lot of things to discuss and some of those things were intense, it wasn't too overwhelming for my kids."
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