The Cay
Ratings1
Average rating4
15
Ratings1
Average rating4
When the freighter on which they are traveling is torpedoed by a German submarine during World War II, an adolescent white boy, blinded by a blow on the head, and an old black man are stranded on a tiny Caribbean island where the boy acquires a new kind of vision, courage, and love from his old companion.
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We listened to the entire book today as an audiobook from the Overdrive READS library system. I know it's one of those we read in fourth grade but in my mind it blends a bit with my experience of reading the Scott O'Dell dolphins book and Lord of the Flies et al. I was surprised by how much I was interested and actually enjoyed it.
The three year old and baby actually took a two plus hour nap while he five year old listened to almost all of it before she ran off to play. Yet then the rest if the afternoon was spent talked and acting on being on a raft, saving rain water for drinking, and surviving the hurricane.
While I know that racism is a big deal theme in the book, even as said by the author in the interview following the book, the main thing I took away is the survival. The will to live and truly live not just get by. He found things to do and eat but he found joy in things. That I think is an incredibly powerful message that I think kids need to read. Makes me think back to my first fav route book of The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi and Jennifer Holm's Boston Jane series. Lots of ideas for when the kids are reading and enjoying this level on their own.
Add to Wayfarers Ancients shelf. WWII.
