Moonpenny Island

Gr 4–6—Flor and Sylvie are more than just best friends; "they are each other's perfect friend." But when Sylvie is suddenly sent away to live with relatives, Flor must fend for herself on isolated Moonpenny Island. Friends are hard to come by in such a tiny town, but Flor soon meets Jasper, the odd daughter of a geologist doing research on the island. Through the study of ancient fossils, Flor learns about the evolution of eyesight and applies her newfound knowledge to her own personal experience. She learns that, when dealing with people, eyesight can be clouded by preconceptions and judgment. Springstubb has written a heartwarming coming-of-age story, reminiscent of Kevin Henkes's Junonia (Greenwillow, 2011) and Jeanne Birdsall's "The Penderwicks" series (Yearling). The community of Moonpenny Island is both isolated and intimate; nature plays a major role. There is family strife in the story—alcoholism, physical fights, abandonment—but they are dealt with very gently. The language has a quaint, old-fashioned feel: young characters use phrases such as "despicable boy" and "birdbrained." The (over)use of exclamation points in the narration can be distracting, particularly at the story's denouement. However, sensitive readers will be able to relate to Flor's widening worldview when she perceptively remarks that "'no man is an island,' but apparently eleven-year-old girls can be."—Laura Lutz, Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City