Gray Wolf Island

July 15, 2017
To fulfill the final wish of her late twin sister, a girl embarks on an adventure to find buried treasure.After Sadie's death, white teen Ruby Caine flounders. But she has one thing left: the promise she made to Sadie that she'd find the buried treasure on Gray Wolf Island. Ruby has no intention of fulfilling the request, until one day at the library she stumbles upon a poem hidden in a copy of Treasure Island--a map to the treasure that enthralled her twin. Despite her protests, a ragtag group forms to hunt the treasure. Elliot Thorne, the white nerd-turned-bad boy, Gabe Nash, the white heartthrob born (as local legend has it) from a virgin mother, Charlie Kim, the Korean boy with visions of his own death, and Anne Lansing, the Native American (nation never named) girl who hardly sleeps, make up Ruby's merry band. But they discover that not only is Gray Wolf Island perilous, it also causes, even exacerbates mental anguish. They begin hearing whispers, urging them to speak their truths. But Ruby's secret is too damning, and her need to conceal it may cost them more than treasure. Rich in atmosphere and characters with real depth, Ruby's adventure sings. But an alternating perspective from an amnesiac boy whose story is connected to the origin of the treasure cuts the tension, and the reveal of the boy's past feels far-fetched. An engrossing but uneven mystery. (Paranormal mystery. 13-18)

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August 1, 2017

Gr 7-10-Ruby made a vow to her twin sister, Sadie before she died that she would find the legendary treasure on a nearby island. A year after Sadie's death, Ruby attempts to keep her promise after she discovers a treasure map in the form of a poem tucked inside a copy of Treasure Island. Her research leads her to Gabe, who, along with his two friends, insists on helping her. They need someone with a boat and sailing experience, which brings them to Anne. The five of them plan for a week's adventure. According to the poem, once on the island, they must let go of their secrets before they locate the treasure. Ruby's afraid to tell her secret; now that she's found friends, she doesn't want to them to think less of her. This lyrical debut novel weaves the concept of forgiving evil acts into a treasure hunt novel, and creates a dialogue about second chances and redemption. Ruby needs to forgive herself and, in doing so, her transformation from her twin's shadow into her own person becomes the highlight of the story. Though most of the book is narrated by Ruby, some of the chapters are told from the perspectives of two other characters; these chapters create confusion and might pull some readers out of the story. The conclusion feels anticlimactic and might infuriate teens. VERDICT Recommended exclusively as a secondary purchase; give only to patient and sophisticated readers.-Jennifer Rummel, Cragin Library, Colchester, CT

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