THE ISLAND OF BEYOND

In an effort to get him to “be more of a boy,” his parents send 11-year-old Martin to live with his elderly great-aunt Lenore on an isolated island in Maine.

Martin quickly learns that his father’s intentions are not quite what he claimed. While he may have hoped to have a more rough-and-tumble son at the end of the stay, his father’s bigger plan was to place Martin in line to inherit the island. In spite of Martin’s reluctance and his father’s duplicity, Beyond Island holds many surprises. There, Martin meets Solo, a local boy who sleeps in a treehouse, forages for food, and lives in the wild. He also meets his mysterious uncle, who encourages him to paint and talks to him like a grown-up. This quiet, coming-of-age story is filled with quirky characters and is distinguished by a beautiful setting. And the timeless quest for love and acceptance will resonate with all readers. However, as Martin finds out, there are no easy answers; there will always be those who disapprove of his choices. But it is his choice ultimately to decide what matters to him. In the middle of nowhere, Martin may just find himself.

Quietly powerful.