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For fans of Hatchet and Island of the Blue Dolphins comes Theodore Taylor’s classic bestseller and Lewis Carroll Shelf Award winner, The Cay . Phillip is excited when the Germans invade the small island of Curaçao. War has always been a game to him, and he’s eager to glimpse it firsthand–until the freighter he and his mother are traveling to the United States on is torpedoed. When Phillip comes to, he is on a small raft in the middle of the sea. Besides Stew Cat, his only companion is an old West Indian, Timothy. Phillip remembers his mother’s warning about black people: “They are different, and they live differently.” But by the time the castaways arrive on a small island, Phillip’s head injury has made him blind and dependent on Timothy. “Mr. Taylor has provided an exciting story…The idea that all humanity would benefit from this special form of color blindness permeates the whole book…The result is a story with a high ethical purpose but no sermon.”— New York Times Book Review “A taut tightly compressed story of endurance and revelation…At once barbed and tender, tense and fragile—as Timothy would say, ‘outrageous good.’”— Kirkus Reviews * “Fully realized setting…artful, unobtrusive use of dialect…the representation of a hauntingly deep love, the poignancy of which is rarely achieved in children’s literature.”— School Library Journal , Starred “Starkly dramatic, believable and compelling.”— Saturday Review “A tense and moving experience in reading.”— Publishers Weekly “Eloquently underscores the intrinsic brotherhood of man.”— Booklist "This is one of the best survival stories since Robinson Crusoe ."— The Washington Star · A New York Times Best Book of the Year · A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year · A Horn Book Honor Book · An American Library Association Notable Book · A Publishers Weekly Children’s Book to Remember · A Child Study Association’s Pick of Children’s Books of the Year · Jane Addams Book Award · Lewis Carroll Shelf Award · Commonwealth Club of California: Literature Award · Southern California Council on Literature for Children and Young People Award · Woodward School Annual Book Award · Friends of the Library Award, University of California at Irvine Review: Amazing book - ChatGPT "The Cay" by Theodore Taylor is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that left a lasting impact on me. Set against the backdrop of World War II, it tells the story of Phillip, a young American boy stranded on a deserted island in the Caribbean with Timothy, an elderly West Indian man. Through their journey of survival and adversity, the novel explores themes of friendship, prejudice, and resilience. What struck me most about "The Cay" is its ability to delve deep into complex emotions and moral dilemmas. The relationship that develops between Phillip and Timothy, initially marked by fear and misunderstanding due to racial and generational differences, evolves into a profound bond built on mutual respect and survival instincts. The novel's exploration of blindness, both literal and metaphorical, adds layers of symbolism and introspection that resonated with me long after finishing the book. Taylor's prose is both evocative and accessible, effectively transporting readers to the harsh yet beautiful landscape of the deserted island. The themes of courage and acceptance resonate universally, making "The Cay" a timeless and compelling read for readers of all ages. Review: The best - So good. It was read to me as a child and I read it to my kids. Bless me I'm 56 and just read it again. Bless Timothy.
| Best Sellers Rank | #44,594 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #36 in English as a Second Language Instruction #44 in Children's Books on Prejudice & Racism #952 in Children's Action & Adventure Books (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,518 Reviews |
C**W
Amazing book
ChatGPT "The Cay" by Theodore Taylor is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that left a lasting impact on me. Set against the backdrop of World War II, it tells the story of Phillip, a young American boy stranded on a deserted island in the Caribbean with Timothy, an elderly West Indian man. Through their journey of survival and adversity, the novel explores themes of friendship, prejudice, and resilience. What struck me most about "The Cay" is its ability to delve deep into complex emotions and moral dilemmas. The relationship that develops between Phillip and Timothy, initially marked by fear and misunderstanding due to racial and generational differences, evolves into a profound bond built on mutual respect and survival instincts. The novel's exploration of blindness, both literal and metaphorical, adds layers of symbolism and introspection that resonated with me long after finishing the book. Taylor's prose is both evocative and accessible, effectively transporting readers to the harsh yet beautiful landscape of the deserted island. The themes of courage and acceptance resonate universally, making "The Cay" a timeless and compelling read for readers of all ages.
J**H
The best
So good. It was read to me as a child and I read it to my kids. Bless me I'm 56 and just read it again. Bless Timothy.
M**A
Must Read
Every middle school student should read. It teaches students how to accept others and figure their own perspectives.
O**S
Wonderfully written tale about racism and survival!
This was great book with a lot to say about racism and survival. It's listed as teen fiction but to me it seems good for the soul at any age.
K**A
good book
great book for 6th-8th grade
Q**L
My most favorite book of all time.
This is my most favorite book of all time. My 2nd grade teacher read it to our class back I. The 70’s (I just dated myself) and it made such an impact on me. It is so relevant today, even more so. I highly recommend this nook to anyone. I read it to my son when he was 8, and now I have shared it with my daughter. We discussed how the boy in the story, Phillip, treated to other character, Timothy, through the book. We talked about the life lessons Phillip learned. I still shed a tear each time I read it. Don’t pass this one up.
R**Y
A wonderful story
A boy who is raised around people who are racists is shipwrecked at sea with an elderly Jamaican man. He has to confront internally what he was raised to believe as his eyes and ears are gradually opened to the reality. Superficially this is a story of survival at sea and on a deserted island as well as dealing with dangerous storms. That makes for a great adventure. But the real significance is the boy's overcoming prejudice and embracing the old man who teaches him so much. My 8 year old loved it. It opened up frank conversations about the bad old days when black people were treated badly and how people still wrestle with their embedded prejudices.
J**N
Good Book
I loved the book. It was good. I loved the book I loved the book. It was good. I loved the book. It was good.
か**ゃ
老人の思いに感動
1942年、Phillipと母親の乗った船は、カリブ海を航行中、ドイツに攻撃される。 避難中の事故で母親とはぐれたPhillipが気づいた時、 救命ボートの上には、黒人の老人Timothyと一匹の猫しかいなかった。 2人と1匹は、運良く小さな無人島に漂着するが、事故で頭を打っていたPhillipは失明してしまう。 Phillipに、一人で生きていく力をつけさせようとする、Timothyの思いに感動しました。 ただ… イラストが、まるで昔の恐怖漫画のようで、ちょっといただけないです。
G**S
An unusual wartime tale
This is an enthralling read for teenagers and adults alike . It puts across the issues of racism in a simple but direct and unsentimental way. The characters are strong and resourceful. Timothy's use of creole dialect adds a sense of time and place. The location of the story and its time during World War Two is unusual for the British reader, making it interesting and different. The story has a reasonable pace and the outcome is satisfactory, despite the death of a major character. The current edition lacks the fine line illustrations in previous editions, which added to the impact. I can see that the cover has been changed to presumably appeal to an older audience, but it is dark and indistinct and does not immediately arouse the interest of the prospective reader. Don't judge this book by its cover, as it is a very good read.
T**X
Highly recommended
A powerful and heartwarming story of survival and friendship that stays with you long after reading.
J**E
Great story but poor copy
I have enjoyed this story for 40 years and so I ordered this copy for a new generation. It took months to arrive and finally came today. The book is very small with small print. It is not your average size and I doubt the kids will want to read it because of this. Disappointing.
D**R
Good as expected
Good
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