The Island That Didn't Exist

By Author / Illustrator

Joe Wilson

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

Oxford University Press

ISBN

9780192775092

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

06-08-2020

Synopsis

When twelve-year-old Rixon's great-uncle leaves him an island in his will, Rixon can't quite believe it. Things get even more confusing when the mysterious island can only be located on a very ancient map, and only then by using a big magnifying glass. Does the island actually exist? And if so, does it really belong to him? There's only one thing for it. Rixon is going to have to go there and find it for himself.And what he finds when he gets there might just hold the key to the future of the planet: four children hidden away from society with an altogether different set of values. But soon Rixon is fighting for his own life, left in a cave with a rising tide, floating out to sea on a leaky inflatable and fending off the attacks of a multimillionaire tech giant and his super yacht. Can Rixon keep the island's secrets? And will he even want to. . .?

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Reviews

Reading a book to travel to another world full of magic and surprise is exactly what The Island that didn't Exist was written for. This story is perfect for adventure seekers looking to set sail.

When 12-year-old Rixon's great uncle, who he has never met, dies, he leaves him his very own island. An island that doesn't appear to exist, is not on any maps and has only been heard of in legendary tales told around campfires. Bored of his humdrum life, Rixon sets sail in search of his island but what he finds when he gets there is most surprising and reveals dark and dangerous secrets, which in the wrong hands would lead to the end of the planet. Explaining why his great uncle went to such lengths to conceal the island in the first place.

This story has the feel of Katherine Rundell's The Explorer but for a younger audience. Characters are fused together by circumstance depicting how power, strength and belonging can overcome opposing odds.

The underpinning theme is of large tycoons using bullying tactics and power to overthrow smaller entities. I would recommend this for lower LKS2, it is an easy to follow story, although I felt it was missing that extra bit that grips adults in children's literature.

256 pages / Reviewed by Kelly Buxton, teacher