Island Boyz Book

An island boy himself, Graham Salisbury has written many books for teens that draw on his understanding and appreciation of the rich culture of Hawaii. His finest novel to date, Lord of the Deep, shows his growing ability to portray the subtleties of relationships as well as the colorful flavor of Hawaiian life. In Island Boyz he makes good use of that skill in 10 stories and a poem set in this Pacific society. Some are poignant and tender, some are comical, others dark and suspenseful, and all are enriched with the delightful pidgin patois of Hawaiian common folk. The book opens with a richly evocative poem drawn from the author's own teen days of surfing, stolen papayas, and warm nights on the beach. The last piece is a strongly constructed story of a boy whose older brother regains his dream of owning a deep sea fishing charter boat after he returns from Vietnam missing a leg. Although five of these stories have been published elsewhere, they make a fine coherent collection with broad appeal for teens. (Ages 10 to 14) --Patty CampbellRead More