Survival (Island Trilogy, Book 2) (Island Trilogy

Island #2

by Gordon Korman

Six kids. One shipwreck. One deserted island. After their ship sinks, Luke, Ian, JJ, Sharla, Will, and Lyssa must find a way to survive. They have no food and very few supplies. They think they¹re all alone‹but they¹re not. And that¹s even worse.

Genres: Adventure, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Survival, Realistic Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

About the author

Gordon Korman is a Canadian author of children's and young adult fiction books. Korman's books have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide over a career spanning four decades and have appeared at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.

Reviews

[Chantal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome sequel to the first book. I liked it even more! Great tention building and easy to read and to understand. What will happen next??

[Kate McMurry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part 2 of a Middle-Grade, three-part, serialized, survivalist novel from 2001, which is frequently, nonsensically and melodramatically poorly motivated

Six teenagers, ranging in age from 13 to 16, Luke, J.J., Will, Lyssa, Charla, and Ian, are condemned by their parents (ranging in motivation for their cruelty from desperate to delusional) to be trapped, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, on a small, two-masted schooner, the Phoenix, crewed by only a captain and a first mate, for a 4-week, seafaring boot camp for juvenile delinquents called Charting a New Course (CNC).

See my review of part 1, Shipwreck. I have written my detailed opinion of this entire serialized novel there.

[Reading Rediscovered · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of adventure, twists and turns all the way through.
The biggest twist at the end was quite a shock (tying in some world history) and it made me immediately pick up book 3.
The characters are becoming more likable, but JJ is still mostly insufferable thinking that this is just a play to get attention for the company.

[Caitlyn Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the book was awesome. There was so much intensity involved. The 6 kids who are sranded on the island are not alone. Criminals who are selling illegal animal parts come to the island to make an illegal trade and go about their business. The 6 kids have to avoid them and can not set out signals in the sky or else their presence on the island would be noticed by the criminals.

[Kat V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this. Better than the last one. Recommend for the age range. 3.8 stars

[Natalie]

I was about 40% through this book and realized I just didn't care. :p I enjoyed the first book but I read too many Korman books all at once and just couldn't read anymore.

[January · Rating 3 out of 5]

Island: Survival by Gordon Korman (2001)
Island #2
2h 57m narrated by Holter Graham, 144 pages

Genre: Juvenile Fiction > Young Adult, Middle-Grade; Adventure

Featuring: Music, Dates, July 2015, Marooned, near Guam, Ship Vocabulary, Young Delinquents, Charting A New Course Program, Survival Trope, Violence, Peril, Know-It-All, Athlete, Leadership, Team Work

Rating as a movie: PG-13

My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🏝🥥🌦🐗

My thoughts: 📱18% 32:43 Chapter 5 Day 2 4:40 PM - It's better than Lord of the Flies and The Cay, but that’s not saying much in my book except the language and action are quick. My kid is hooked and I am waiting for someone to mention Survivor, but maybe this was written before the show's debut.
📱44% 1:17:49 Chapter 9 Day 4 2:40 PM - This is so unrealistic, and it seems like there's a different kid to strongly dislike in each book. I'm still mad about the stick and the bananas.
📱51% 1:39:26 Chapter 10 Day 4 5:25 PM - I have been saying this was gonna happen since the beginning of this book but somehow I was surprised when it happened.
📱51% 2:15:46 Chapter 16 Day 9 10:10 AM - My son, turn off this music and turn on our book the suspense is good I need to know what happens. Also my son, 3 minutes into 📱77%2:15:46 Chapter 16 on a Friday, yeah I'm not waiting - exits the car. So I have to restart the chapter and wait till Monday with 41 minutes left in the book. Ugh.
📱82% 2:25:54 Chapter 17 Day 9 3:40 PM - 🙄 my kid this this great, I think we are getting sidetracked and spreading this plot too thin.

My son is giving this 5 stars, but I'm only giving it 3 because I'm "a hater who doesn't like fun things," according to him. This story was okay, it was very predictable as everything I assumed was going to happen has happened, except for 2 items that still are possibilities for Book 3. It is true I don't like survival stories, especially those set on remote islands, it took me nearly 20 years to watch an episode of Survivor, but if the story is good I give props so I think this is an average story or I'm just too seasoned to be impressed.

Recommend to others: Likely based on my kid's reaction.

Island
1. Shipwreck (2001)
2. Survival (2001)
3. Escape (2001)

[Royce B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book because it caught my attention. The reading age for me is 4th grade and up. They got stranded on a island and some of them got hurt. A quote from the book is "Aw Will!" she said, voice shaking. "Why is it always you?" Will they be stranded on the island forever? Read the book to find out!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 moved the story along nicely, looking forward to the conclusion

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

all the charaters had the charater strenghth of teamwork because they worked through rough times

[Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

i feel like these shouldnt count because they're literally for children

[Trevor Fletcher]

I think the book "Island Book Two: Survival" by Gordon Korman was a good book. I recommend it to anyone who likes adventures books. I liked how the author put in flashbacks in certain part of the book. The last book I read was by Gordon Korman,and I like that book too. This book was great. I think whoever else reads this book will enjoy it too. The way that the book title became Island was because there were people who went overseas to a different country and the boat crashed into a big rock and sunk. Six kids escaped and washed up on a desert island. There is a lot more to this story,but I don't want to give it away. I would recommend people to read the first book before the second because when I read it, I was lost at first and didn't understand the book until I have got in the middle.

Gordon Korman is a great author. I have read a lot of his books in my life. Most of his books are about adventures and problems that are hard to fix and made the characters be able to figure out how to fix the problems.

This book would be perfect for teenage guys who like outside adventures and ways to survive.

My favorite part in the book was when the kids got caught by the storms because they never saw them coming and always had to rush back to the shelter they made. My other favorite part was when the ship was sinking because there was a lot of action.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this 2nd book of the Island series. This is an easy read with lots of adventure and action. Just when you do not think it can get any worse for the six kids shipwrecked and stuck on the island it does. My 9 year old daughter and my 12 year old son both enjoyed this book and we all look forward to the final book in the series.

[Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in a series. It follows the same six kids on an adventure after they get stuck on an island. This book is very similar to Lord of the Flies, but not as much violence. So, if you liked that, you should like this book.

[Cyndi Goodgame · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the twist in plot having nothing to do with being stranded

[Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best way to tale a story about kids surviving on a island whith pain and drama

[wanderer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My students loved it, and I enjoy reading it aloud. No way to read just one of these, as they end with major cliffhangers.

[Anita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the first one, but still a fun, quick and easy middle grade read.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was originally published in 2001 and went through a rebranding in 2024, I really love the rebranded covers, but the eBook editions still have the old covers. According to Goodreads there are 26 editions of the second volume in this series, including editions in English, French, Japanese, and Spanish. My introduction to Korman’s works was the 39 Clues back in 2009. Since then I have read 80 of his books including this volume. I am two thirds of the way thorough his canon, and have completed all the stand alone books and am now just working my way through the remaining series. Not counting omnibus editions I believe that as of the summer of 2025 Korman has published 109 books. With each that I read I am entertained and often challenged, and I am always entertained. I do plan on trying to read them all. My son, who is 17 often, reads these books to me or with me, and he still loves them.

A description of this volume states:

“The second installment in the survival suspense series Island, from bestelling and award-winning author Gordon Korman
Six kids.

One shipwreck.

One desert island.

Stranded. Separated.

Six kids are stuck on a desert island. They have no food. No shelter. Nobody knows they are lost. They must take from the island in order to survive. But what if they're not alone?”

Each chapter title is a day and time; the first chapter is Day 1, 4:45 P.M. and the final chapter is Day 10, 11:35 A.M. The majority of the story follows four of the youth, as they try and survive on what at first they believe to be a deserted island. Luke Haggerty, Charla Swann, and Ian Sikorsky are trying to find sustenance, drinkable water, and build a shelter. Will Greenfield has been unconscious since before they washed ashore. When he comes to he has amnesia and flees from the other three believe it is a prank by his sister. Not able to risk their own lives the three decide the best they can do is survive and try and find a way to get recued, and through that find a way to help Will.

Things do not go as they had hoped and on many occasions there are setbacks and trouble. When they see and hear a plane and it lands on a different side of the island, they go looking. But sometimes when you get hope and it is dashed it is even worse than not having any hope at all. But things are not all as they appear. And the youths are leaning to work together and fight for survival.

This series is published as three short works, it is also published in an omnibus edition with all three stories in 1 volume. But what I like about the shorter versions is they are great for the classroom, or reluctant readers. This volume is short; but it keeps your attention, readers are drawn in through book one and are desperate for the final instalment by the end of this one.

This story is another excellent read from Korman’s pen.

I still have about 30 books from series left to read to have completed the canon of Korman’s works. I am grateful I finally gave this a read it is an excellent start to a series! This is a great volume than even reluctant readers will love this book and series.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Island series, which I'm reading aloud to my younger daughter.

Miraculously, all the kids wind up on the same island. Will regains consciousness, but he is suffering from short-term memory loss and doesn't recognize any of the others. He thinks they are still in Guam, and he doesn't remember being aboard the Phoenix or anything that took place once they were at sea. Frightened, Will takes off into the jungle on his own. Luke, Charla and Ian are reunited with Lyssa and J.J., and the group tries to find Will.

When the kids finds a plane on the other side of the island, they are elated at the prospect of being rescued and returning home. However, their would-be rescuers are actually criminals and the kids witness a murder. Thankfully, the thugs don't realize yet that they are not alone on the island and the kids have to remain hidden to keep safe which doesn't help their chances of being rescued!

The title of this installment is definitely fitting, because the kids have to learn how to survive on the island. They need to set up a shelter and find food, yet remain under the radar so that they aren't discovered by the men on the other side of the island. Ian's addiction to the Discovery Channel comes into use time and again, and the group looks to him for advice with his fountain of knowledge.

J.J. drives me crazy! He still thinks that everything that has happened has been an elaborate set-up by CNC. I guess it's his way of dealing with reality, which is to NOT deal with it!

I'm looking forward to seeing how the kids get off the island in the trilogy's conclusion, Escape.

This review was posted on my book blog:
https://darlenesbooknook.blogspot.ca/...

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-CycleOne thing that I really enjoy about this series is how seamlessly Korman works in various facts and educational tidbits. The adventure and survival aspects of the story are so exciting to read that you don't even realize you are learning as well (mostly thanks to Ian, the information-packed TV-addict). It was interesting to learn about various topics such as history and smuggling. As the survivors learn more about the island they have landed on, things really heat up.I will say I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first one. The story was good and well-written, but the plot got so intense that it was hardly believable. Despite my best efforts to suspend my disbelief, there was just too many random hardships thrown in for me not to question. How can anyone's luck be that bad? But it does make for an interesting story.While this book is best read after the first one, I do think it can be read as a standalone as there is a good deal of recap worked into the narration. Although, I do highly recommend the first book, especially if the reader is interested in ships.This was still a very good read filled with adventure, suspense, (sneaky education,) and excitement. I am looking forward to the third book to see how all of this craziness ends.

[Frances Koziar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and well paced, but full of factual errors that the plot is dependant on. The author would have benefitted from doing more research, and some camping. (e.g. You can’t just break a coconut by throwing it -- it can take hours for an adult even with rudimentary tools! You can’t collect inches of rainwater from just a short flash storm! A kid can’t make a bow out of a stick and a vine and fire a sharpened stick arrow with so much power that it pierces the flesh of a wild animal! Also the description of the dead body, the boar, the lack of malnutrition and dehydration impacts, even how the mosquitoes were handled...[sigh] There were also some survival decisions that I found a culturally unbelievable -- when actually starving to death, you’re telling me the thought doesn’t even cross the kids’ minds to eat the giant worms, or the snakes, or even the durian again just because it smells bad?

This is generally an enjoyable light read (many frustrations aside), but there are better survival books out there -- I thought that when I was in the target audience of grade 7/8 and think it even more so rereading this as an adult.

[Shayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't read the first book and jumped right into this sequel, which works out fine because there are plenty of recaps. Started out really enjoying the book (survival stories are my favorite) with the three survivors figuring out how to collect food and make shelter. But then other characters showed up and I didn't have time for their ridiculous reactions. A child reading this book probably won't find the extra characters as annoying as I did, so they could adjust my review with a few more stars. There is a great secret on the island that was really interesting and added to the intrigue. I'm glad that the story didn't shy away from the hardships of dehydration and violence that come with survival. Left me wanting to read the sequel.

[William Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As they woke up, they were greeted with the raft on land. As they woke up, they saw sand, they saw the forest, they saw hope. Without knowing where the whereabouts of the others, Luke set off to find is most important necessities. He needed water, food, and shelter. Since he was the only one conscious, he had to save the lives on his little wooden raft. The lives of Will and Charla were in his hands. He was first blessed with rain. He desperately uses the rain hat and collected as much as he could. With his help, he was able to awaken one of the others. Now that Charla was awake, they had to start their journey to help Will, who was in big danger.

[Dayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just looked at the date that this series was published and omg, I would have been the same age as one or two of these characters LOL. This is an older series and you can kind of tell because of how these kids talk and handle their situation. Also, the constant reminder of the Discovery channel brought back memories of my own childhood in front of the TV. I'd binge so much Discovery tv that I should have really turned out smarter.

There was one arc in this that was kind of annoying, but I liked how all of the characters came together to solve their problem. The character growth in this wasn't too big, but that's okay because there's one last book in the series!

Happy reading!

[Douglaseng04 · Rating 4 out of 5]

1.Did you enjoy the book? Why? Why not? SPENCER VADNEAU ADV 205
The book Island was very detailed and realistic,I could really understand the situation the characters were in,for example when Ian
woke up with amnesia and frantically ran into the jungle with Will
Luke and Charla chasing him,it really described the characters
emotion towards what is happening and the danger they are really in.
Another thing I liked is the connection between the characters,and
how they new that in order to survive they had to work together,this
teamwork is shown when after they crash on the beach they all decide
to work together to find food.One thing about the book that I did
not like is the use of similies and metaphors,I think that if they
author could of used more to help describe what is happening in other
parts of the story for some readers who might be confused.
Overall I enjoyed this book and I give it a good review.


2.What was your favourite part/scene of the book?
When the characters crash on the beach it is probably one of the
most exciting parts of the book for me,it makes me ask so many
questions like will they survive? If they do survive what will they
eat? My questions were answered all through out the book which is good
because I dislike books that give me un-answered questions.Another
scene in the story is when the characters discover the island they
are crashed on,when the characters describe the setting it puts a
picture in my mind and its like I am there with them especially when
Charla says ''the forest is so green and vibrant''.

3.What was your least favourite part/scene of the book?
When Ian dashes into teh forest yelling ''Who are you people?'' or
''What have you doen with my sister?'' With Will,Luke and Charla
chasing him it makes me think why can't they just grab him and calm
Ian down? It would not of been so hard for me to have pinned him down
long enough to help him realize where he is and the situation he is
in,Im sure one of the others could do so as well.For this reason this
is myl east favourite part of the book.

4.Did you learn anything from the book that you didn't already know?
When Will mentions how dangerous it would be on the island in Ian's
condition where there are wild boars and venomous snakes..I always
thought being on an island would be a paradise,but in Will's
description it sounds nothing like that,I have learned from this book
that not every Island is just a hidden paradise but most of them are
just a home for many vicious animals and its a fight for survival.

5.Were the characters realistic? Would you want to meet any of the characters?
The characters were realistic enough for me to feel the emotion and
the drama between each of them,I could understand the fear and
presseur the characters were under,when they crashed on the beach
and Ian had amnesia the author really helped me understand the fear
the other characters were feeling for Ian.The author really did a good job helping me understand the characters and he made the realism
believable the way he wrote the characters felt about certain parts
in the book.

6.How would the book have been different if it had taken place in a
different time or place?
If the book would have taken place in a different area like near a
town it would of been way more different,the characters would of had
alot of an easier time getting food and keeping warm during the
nights,the only danger they would be in is mabe if a storm began or
a group of thugs decided to cause trouble with our characters,but otherwise they would of had a less of a rough time surviving.Plus they
would not have to worry about Ian and his amnesia.

7.Did the actions of the characters seem plausible? why? why not?
When the characters Will luke Ian and Charla crashed on the island
I think they reacted a good way to what had happend,the first checked if anyone had any cuts or serious bruises. (except for Ian) Afterwords
they looked for food above everything,because they knew starvation was a serious matter and was not to be avoided or ignored.A bad way they could of reacted is they all panicked like Ian and ran into the jungle looking for help,they did not know what the island inhabitants
were so they could of been seriously injured..Compared to the way
they really responded was good and it kept them alive.

8.What do you think the book was about?
The book Island was about 4 cahracters Ian,Will,Luke and Charla,
They had shipwrecked on a deserted island with only each other and
there knowledge of the jungle along with there instinct.They are trying to survive on this island until rescue arives..some of there hopes are low at the moment and that is what they could use the most,
they have managed to find food and shelter but they have one problem
there are bandits and thugs far in the jungle armed with deadly
weapons,so they have to be quiet and remain unknown to these
hostile people.

9.Did you feel that the book fulfilled your expectations? why? why not?
Island gone far more greater than fulfilling my expectations,not only
that but it had sucked me in with the plot and theme,it was supenseful
and exciting but what I expected most of all is the drama between each character,and the fact that they had treated the situation so well.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for kids, a huge adventure with a borderline scary and horrifying prospect of being shipwrecked on a deserted island. We dream of what we do as kids if ever in a situation like this. These kids are, and they have no idea what to do or if they will even survive. The thrilling conclusion of this book in the story leaves the kids threatened with the intervention of unwelcome and possibly dangerous adults.

[David Rough · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Book #2 Six kids; One shipwreck. This second story of the trilogy shifts from the open ocean to an island… a deserted island (or is it?)…a not-on-the-map island… They have no food, no water so they must plan to survive on their own.

I liked the short book, although there were some unbelievable aspects that made me laugh just a bit. I am the wrong target age for this audience for this novel, but I really do enjoy middle-grade materials (for the most part).

[Heather Larr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading this book series at the recommendation of my 4th Grade son. I liked this one even more than the first book - since we already knew the characters the story could move along faster. Action-packed and exciting, a fun and quick read. I wanted to pick the last book up right away to finish the series!

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an adult, it is hard to maintain suspension of disbelief. For my students I'm sure they'll enioy it a lot more than me! It is interesting to see how each character responds to the challenges the group faces. There are good teaching points to be made and the book is short enough to entice kids to read it through.