The Spirit of Fog Island

Judy Bolton Mysteries #22

by Margaret Sutton

Read but complete with no missing or loose pages. Original binding is intact with no damage.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Young Adult

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1951

About the author

Margaret Sutton was born Rachel Irene Beebe in Odin, Pennsylvania in 1903. She was the daughter of Victor Beebe, a well-known historian, and Estella Andrews Beebe. Being a spirited nonconformist, she dropped out of high school, but in 1920, graduated from the Rochester Business Institute. After graduation, she worked for several years as a secretary and in printing. During that time, she met William Sutton at a church dance in New York City. After a courtship exchanging poems and playing chess, they were married in 1924, and she began writing stories for her husband's daughter, Dorothy. Her first Judy Bolton Mystery was published in 1932 under the pen name Margaret Sutton. Ms. Sutton wove many real events and places into the Judy Bolton stories through the 35-year history of the series. She also wrote numerous stories for children and young adults. She was also active in social causes, joining the historic March on Washington in 1964. In 1965, her husband of more than 40 years died. In 1975, after traveling extensively, she married a long-time family friend, Everett Hunting. They moved to Berkeley, California and made their home there until 1993 when they moved back to Pennsylvania. Mr. Hunting died shortly after they moved. In 2001, at the age of 98, Margaret Sutton died in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, not far from her native Potter County.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read in the context of a YA book written in 1951. There is definitely racism inherent in the portrayal of Native Americans, but also some surprising acknowledgment of their mistreatment given the era, and appreciation for their culture.

[Pamela Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

As pointed out by other reviewers, chances are you are reading this volume because you are a fan of the books and, although as an adult I am reading them for the first time, I am. However, I liked this one better than the reviews below.
It has to be said that Sutton's approach to Native Americans wouldn't pass today. While she is clearly engaged in trying to write about their plight some of it will make you uncomfortable to say the least. However, you have to take the book in the spirit that it is meant and in the time it was written. (I will agree that someone mistaking Judy with her red hair and gray eyes for a Native American is a bit of a stretch though!)
What I like about this book is that it is a period when Sutton's writing starts to change and the stories become more complex. These books are escapism reading for me and yet there was a bit of a thrill in this one of the sense of not knowing how it would work out.
Sutton shed Roberta, the child Judy and Peter mysteriously sort of semi-adopted and, after a plot weenie that separates Judy from Peter, we are free to have a rollicking good all-women time with Judy.
As an aside, I am a bit fascinated by the fact that this book starts the day after the last volume. It seems Judy's books are almost in real time!
Don't judge - just enjoy!
I've written more about the series on my blog and one can be found at: https://pams-pictorama.com/2020/03/28... or by searching Pams-Pictorama.com

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh, gosh, not sure where to start on this one.

You truly have to be a fan to even read Judy Bolton after all these years -- and i am a true fan. I am re-reading all of them after a 40-year absence.

This one does not hold up well. Not sure what the author was trying to achieve with this subject, but it comes across as preachy and heavy-handed. The ending is just a quick couple of pages where all action comes neatly together in some incredibly, over the top coincidences.

Unfortunatly, on some of the boards I belong to that are devoted to teen series books of long ago, people don't take kindly to any criticism of the author or the books or....anything. Saying again: i love this series. I love the timelessness of all of them. But this book is just poorly written and the subject matter is uninteresting and shoved down your throat. It was a chore to get through.

But you must read it if you are reading the whole series. i just hope the next one, Black Cat's Clue, gets us back on track with the Judy we dearly love.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this one has never been a favorite for several reasons. First of all, Judy is all on her own far from her usual stomping grounds in a dangerous and sad environment. This book is an example of Margaret Sutton's laudable commitment to tackling difficult social problems along with Judy's adventures.
Through a crazy mix-up, Judy receives a note she thinks is from Peter while still in Chicago from her last adventure, telling her to meet him on Fog Island, part of an Indian reservation in Northern Wisconsin. While trying to find Peter there she gets involved with victimized Native Americans who are having their homes and sacred burial ground burgled for their valuable authentic artifacts and handiwork. If that isn't sad enough, she meets with people who sometimes view her with suspicion and hostility part of the time while sometimes befriending her. Also sadly, the main villain is a missionary who gains the trust of his victims because he is supposedly a man of God.
There are some bright spots chief among them being the reunion at long last of Peter and Judy and the reveal as to how the mix-up happened. The ending is satisfying and happy if a little unrealistic.

https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....

[Nancy Bandusky · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I love the series, this book I always found to be a disappointment. With the usual characters not involved in the story, Judy has to shoulder it all and at times it becomes tiring. She often sounded like a school girl so it was easy to forget she was a married woman. The preachy tone from the author regarding Native Americans was not necessary and detracted from a so-so story line. The Christian worldview which is always nice to have did run into some conflict that was then easily resolved - at least in Judy's world.

[LuAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the strangest of this series I’ve read so far. A lot of the plot involves Judy and a Native American girl walking around on an island in a Wisconsin(?) Indian Reservation half arguing, half being friendly, all because Judy received a mysterious note in Chicago which she thought meant she should meet Peter there! The author is very favorable to Native Americans, though Judy’s comments of identifying with them are over-the-top. Of course all is connected and resolved in the end.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mystery occurs through a series of mishaps, misunderstandings, and coincidences; all of which send Judy off to an Indian reservation in northern Wisconsin, expecting to meet Peter there. The mystery involves missing (or stolen) Indian artifacts; but this story has much greater depth than most of the series, as it explores the mistreatment and exploitation of the native population. Highly recommended.

[Kristi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is probably the worst written Judy Bolton yet. There are some logical gaps in the plot and the whole story was mostly Judy just listening to Indian folk lore. The plot was a little boring as well as confusing. Many of the 'problems' are conveniently solved at the end with zero explanation. I'm still not sure who stole Judy's totem pole-I suspect the author forgot all about it!
The writer includes the idea that the Christian God and Indian spirits are the same thing. In an ending speech a leader refers to the great white spirit as the same as God and quotes a scripture about praising God in a (Indian) dance. Peter thinks the great white spirit took care of Judy.

[Emma Gallacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually quite liked this book
Although the note from Peter was quite vague and unrealistic I thought her journey to fog island was quite interesting and suspenseful. Ok the ending could have been a bit more elaborate but I still think it deserves more credit than it’s gotten.
Unfortunately halfway through the book I looked at the discussion group and someone gave away the ending in one of the early chapters! I was going to read each chapter then join the discussion after each one but I have learnt my lesson
Read the entire book before joining any discussions!!!!
Love all Judy Bolton’s they are a mostly undiscovered gem in comparison to more widely known series like ND or Dana’s
On to book 23!!!!