Not yet ready for the warm, sunny
days of summer to end? Looking for that
last great summer read? On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves is
just that. It’s a story about Anna
Emerson, a 30-year-old English teacher and private summer tutor who is hired to
help 16-year-old, cancer surviving teen T.J. Callahan catch up on all his high
school assignments so he can return to school in the fall. But On
the Island is not your typical shipwreck story; this book is about
survival, determination, loyalty and romance.
It is a fantastically unbelievable story made believable.
The story begins with Anna telling readers
that the plane they were flying on crashes into the Indian Ocean. There is also much foreshadowing as Anna and
T.J. embark on their survival adventure; T.J.’s instant liking to Anna, Anna’s
insistence that T.J. pack an extra bottle of water, Mick the pilot devouring a
greasy cheese burger and fries before the flight.
After their plane crash-lands, they drift
in the dangerous shark infested waters. Their life jackets keep them afloat. T.J. clings to an unconscious Anna, in attempts
to keep her head above water. As the sun
rises in the sky Anna and T.J. awake on an uninhabited Island in the middle of
the Indian Ocean, Anna bleeding and in and out of consciousness from a huge
gash in her head and T.J. desperately trying to keep her alive. From this time forward they unknowingly form
an unbreakable bond. As the sun dips
through the sky they begin planning their survival strategy: stay alive until
the rescue planes come. Days soon turn
into weeks and their weeks soon turn into months as Anna and T.J. realize help
is not coming and they must work together to endure the heat of the sun, gather
fresh water, food and build a fire and shelter.
Both Anna and T.J. must rely on their
knowledge, natural skill, wit and even luck to survive. With their basic needs met, and the months on
the island turning into years Anna and T.J. find themselves encountering plenty
of obstacles; tropical storms rage, the surrounding waters have dangerous
unseen depths, illness affects both their lives and supplies threaten to run
out.
Besides all the dangers and near
death experiences time passes on the island rather predictable. T.J. turns nineteen on the island and soon
after makes his feelings for Anna known.
Despite her better judgment and all her cautiousness Anna falls for the
man T.J. has become. They grow even
closer and soon a slow building and strong burning romance binds their story.
There is no doubt both Anna and T.J.
fought hard to survive; between the trauma of the crash itself, long, hot
sunburned days, the dangers in the water and their hope of being rescued; Anna
and T.J. gave more than they thought they had to survive for each other.
On
the Island is a quick, easy
read with a sweet, romantic story at its center. Tastefully written, about an older woman and
a younger man’s romance Tracey Garvis Graves gives you the opportunity to join
Anna and T.J. on the island as a witness of their survival and love. On the
Island is fully equipped with romance, a compelling conflict and a
satisfying ending. If you’re planning on
reading one last summer read choice On
the Island.
