Smuggler's Island

by Avi

Disgusted by the inactivity and helplessness of his family and neighbors, Shadrach Faherty sets out to take on the group of liquor smugglers terrorizing his island home, in a story set during the Depression and Prohibition period. Reissue.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

178 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Avi is a pen name for Edward Irving Wortis, but he says, "The fact is, Avi is the only name I use." Born in 1937, Avi has created many fictional favorites such as The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Nothing but the Truth, and the Crispin series. His work is popular among readers young and old.

Reviews

[Kammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 11-year-old son told me he loved this book because it was nonstop action. I think the story is interesting, and I understand the appeal for kids. I would recommend it for reluctant male readers especially. Maybe 10-12 ish age? It's a little scary in a few places, but easy reading.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of books my cousin has reviewed lately (thanks Kammy!). Her 11-year-old son loved this book and sure enough, mine did too! I always enjoy reading something together, but I'll admit as a mom I mostly just wanted Shad to stop doing stupid, reckless things.

[Sandi Mascio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disliked the main character, and agree with many previous reviewers. Shadrach is a belligerent, disrespectful tween who endangers his younger brother and parents by his impulsive decisions and misguided alliances.

[Sarah Eagle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Avi is known for realistic likable characters that can get through authentic real-world situations in a way that can touch on deeper themes than what's initially written.
SO WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?
Shad is a character so riddled with paradoxical character traits between "wanting to do what's right" i.e. not listening to anyone who tries to reason with him that his actions could get him OR HIS FAMILY killed for the sake of his own selfish pursuits that the reader is supposed to believe is "noble", and "wanting to help people". But the reader is never really given all that much to work with in terms of Shad's desire to help his friends or his town, (he wants to defend his parents' honor after THEY were threatened for something ENTIRELY HIS FAULT) or the depths of the antagonist's convictions we normally see that convince us that he/she is bad news. Kinlow never struck me as a very well-developed villain. There's not really much to go on to make me scared of Kinlow, or anything on Shad's part that makes me believe that people will be better off without him, or even that Shad is a decent hero.
Shad's actions to undermine Kinlow are just a jumble of fortunate coincidences that all work in his favor for almost no reason other than sheer dumb luck. Every single time he tries to be sneaky, or a detective, or even simply move the plot along, people see him, they yell at him, and the reader has no reason to believe that Shad could be at all successful, which completely lets the wind out of the plot twist's sails much later on at the betrayal of one of the main characters and at the "trap".
The whole thing was a disappointment.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was well written. A boy lives on an island and the most of the residents become intimidated by a smuggler who comes to the island and begins to control everyone. One boy decides to try to make a difference. He goes against the instructions of his parents several times to try and spy on the smuggler, and try to "catch" him.
For those interested in bad language,
pg 16, bottom paragraph, "by God"
Pg 73, bottom paragraph, "Lord, yes"
Pg 83, about 1/3 of the way down the page, "You damn fool kid."
Pg 83, third paragraph from the bottom, "by the good Lord, I'll..." I did not take offense at this instance, but I wanted to mention it in case others would.