Scar Island

It's grotesque, compelling, over-the-top, yet fully realized . . . Children who respond to it well will read it over and over again.

The opening chapters of Gemeinhart's (Some Kind of Courage) fast-paced novel, set in a boys' reformatory school on a remote island, immediately bring to mind the sadistic adults and helpless boys of Louis Sachar's Holes, but the situation soon changes to a Lord of the Flies scenario. There are 16 "troubled boys" at Slabhenge, a "hulking, jagged building of gray stone" crumbling into the sea, sent there for a variety of crimes, but 12-year-old Jonathan Grisby believes himself to be the worst; exactly what he has done comes out in bits and pieces until the complete truth is revealed in the book's suspenseful climax. The creepy setting is almost over-the-top, complete with an ancient librarian with a giant pet rat, who gives Jonathan--appropriately enough--a copy of Robinson Crusoe to read to the others. While only a few of the boys are fleshed out enough to be fully dimensional, the group dynamics of leadership and peer pressure are well depicted and will inspire thoughtful discussion. Ages 8-12. Agent: Pam Howell, D4EO Literary. (Jan.)

Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 5-8--Gemeinhart gives readers a poignant, action-packed story with references to classics Robinson Crusoe and Lord of the Flies. Jonathan Grisby is the newest kid to be sent to the remote island fortress Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys. Run by the Admiral and a small group of surly men, Slabhenge reforms boys through hard work, squalid living conditions, and the constant threat of bodily punishment via a torture device known as the Sinner's Sorrow. When a freak lightning strike kills all adults on the island just a day after Jonathan arrives, he convinces the other boys to stay, free from adult interference. They call themselves the Scars, unable to be picked off and thrown away like the scabs of society. When tough guy Sebastian declares himself the leader and becomes a punitive dictator, Jonathan and the other boys who oppose Sebastian find themselves in danger. A storm threatens to sink the island, and Jonathan must confront his troubled past and become the leader the Scars need to survive. Gemeinhart creates a compulsively readable story with enough teasers to keep the mystery alive until the very end. The plot is not too dark and is suitable for middle graders as well as for young teens. The bond between Jonathan and Colin, another boy on the island, is the shining star of the novel, showcasing empathy and demonstrating Gemeinhart's emotional range. This is an unflinching salute to friendship and redemption. VERDICT A heartfelt tale, recommended for most middle grade collections.--Jessica Holland, University of Kentucky, Lexington

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Praise for The Honest Truth

A New York Times Editors' Choice selection

An Amazon.com Best Book of the Month

An Indie Next List selection

*"An emotionally hard-hitting survival story... A gripping page-turner." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

"An impressive combination of suspenseful adventure thriller and cancer narrative... Touching but unsentimental, this is a deeply moving adventure." — Booklist

"Gemeinhart presents a rousingly riveting two-hanky read." — Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Some Kind of Courage

*"This is true adventure with strong underpinnings of moral courage and love... Poignant and real." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*"Exhilarating and enthralling, Courage promises even the most reluctant readers a breakneck adventure that will keep them turning the pages with utter devotion." — Booklist, starred review

"This is a terrific book, morally thoughtful and wonderfully well told, that 9- to 14-year-olds are likely to cover at a gallop." — The Wall Street Journal