Nim's Island

In this modern survival story Nim and her scientist dad live on a private tropical island supported by 21st-century gadgets--from laptop and cell phone to solar panels and satellite dish. When Nim's father sails off to study plankton, they communicate by email or notes carried by frigate bird. With a dearth of human characters--Nim's three friends are wild animals--the story's serious threats come from storms and volcanic eruptions. With a perky tone Kate Reading keeps listeners engaged as the descriptions of daily tasks alternate with descriptions of the pleasures of island living. Through unlikely plot twists, Reading keeps suspense alive as a marvelous cyberfriendship, built on mistaken identities, develops in this satisfying adventure. R.H.H. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

May 26, 2008
Coinciding with the release of the movie, this finely produced audiobook captures the spirit of Orr's (Peeling the Onion
) fantastic tale. Nim has lived on a remote island with her scientist father, Jack, ever since when she was a baby and her mother died. And when Jack sails off on a three-day trip, Nim has no trouble staying behind with her three friends: a sea lion, a marine iguana and a green sea turtle. The three days turn into two weeks when a storm disables Jack's boat, and father and daughter communicate through notes delivered by a frigate bird. Reading lightly differentiates characters' voices, but her real strength lies in her expressive delivery. Children will savor the slivers of information about the tropical habitat, the adventure and survival themes, and the imaginative twists that Orr works into the story. Ages 9–12. (Reviews, Feb. 19, 2001).