Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

 

Jinny lived on the island for as long as she could remember. There could only be 9 at a time on the island, so said the rhyme. “Nine on an island, orphans all. Any more and the sky might fall.” But when the time came for her to go, she stayed. And that brought disastrous consequences.

Jinny is a caring, young girl who has too much stress and responsibility for her own good. She is kind, caring (as mentioned before), and just needs a break from being in charge.
Orphan Island is a rich, poignant book that will pull your heartstrings and make you think about the value of other people. Jinny is the new eldest on the island, due to her friend Deen leaving. She cares for a young child named Ess, who had recently landed on the island.

As one who likes mystery and fiction, I loved the book. The richness and diversity of the characters added to the already great world in which the orphans live. The unknown of the sea is symbolic of death, fear, and calm. As well, the descriptions of the objects were detailed and full, such as: “The stars blazing in the night sky as usual blurred as Jinny ran across the beach.” The flow of the story was impeccable, especially when Jinny had a turning point and decided to leave. “Somewhere out there, beyond the boat, was more. Jinny couldn’t see it yet, but the alternative was too awful to imagine.

If you like mystery, fantasy, and realistic fiction, you will treasure this book! It has a great mix of all 3 genres, and happens to be one of the best blends I’ve seen. For example, the blur between a normal island and a magical one is perfect. I give this book 5/5 stars and recommend this book to everyone, but especially to the aforementioned.

Review by Jackson P.