alredThis book review of The Skeleton Tree by Iain Lawrence is brought to you by Book Boy Jr (11).
Title: The Skeleton Tree
Author: Iain Lawrence
Publisher: Tundra/Penguin Random House
About the book
“Less than forty-eight hours after twelve-year-old Chris sets off on a sailing trip down the Alaskan coast with his uncle, their boat sinks. The only survivors are Chris and a boy named Frank, who hates Chris immediately. Chris and Frank have no radio, no flares, no food. Suddenly, they’ve got to forage, fish, and scavenge the shore for supplies. Chris likes the company of a curious, friendly raven more than he likes the prickly Frank. But the boys have to get along if they want to survive.
Because as the days get colder and the salmon migration ends, survival will take more than sheer force of will. Eventually, in the wilderness of Alaska, the boys discover an improbable bond-and the compassion that might truly be the path to rescue.”
I picked up The Skeleton Tree by Iain Lawrence during a recent visit to Canada. It was recommended by Sarah at Kidsbooks, Vancouver, but you can also buy it in Australia. The book is about two boys who are survive a shipwreck off the Alaskan coast. They are stranded on an island with no food, water or shelter and no means of connecting with the outside world. This book is built on friendship and loss.
What I thought
I thought this book was heart-pounding and very lonely, but I loved it because of the survival feel and I liked reading about the boys slowly building their life on the island. I’ve already recommended this book to many other people. I would suggest it is for readers 10+ because it is sad at times.
Find more book reviews by BookBoy and BookBoy Jr here.
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