First published 1999
Swept overboard during a storm, young Michael washes up on a remote Pacific island, alone and afraid. But he soon discovers he's not the only castaway. Kensuke, a former Japanese soldier haunted by the horrors of war, has built a solitary existence here. As an unlikely bond forms between the pair, Kensuke faces a wrenching decision: abandon his peaceful isolation to help reunite Michael with his parents, or let the boy fend for himself.
Genres: survival, historical-fiction, adventure, coming-of-age
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
176 pages · Paperback · Scholastic Paperbacks
Content warnings: violence, war