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August Isle
For years, Miranda has stared at postcards of August Isle, Florida. The town her mother spent her summers as a girl. The town Miranda has always ached to visit. She just never wanted it to happen this way.
When she arrives on the Isle, alone and uncertain, to spend the summer with her mother’s best friend, “Aunt” Clare, Miranda finds a town even more perfect than the one she saw in the postcards. And she finds a friend of her own in Sammy, Aunt Clare’s daughter.
But there is more to August Isle than its bright streets and sandy beaches, and soon Miranda is tangled in a web of mysteries. Noises coming from a haunted lighthouse. An old seafarer with something to hide. A name reaching out from her mother’s shadowy past. As she closes in on answers, Miranda must reckon with the biggest question of all: Is she brave enough to face the truth she might uncover?
When she arrives on the Isle, alone and uncertain, to spend the summer with her mother’s best friend, “Aunt” Clare, Miranda finds a town even more perfect than the one she saw in the postcards. And she finds a friend of her own in Sammy, Aunt Clare’s daughter.
But there is more to August Isle than its bright streets and sandy beaches, and soon Miranda is tangled in a web of mysteries. Noises coming from a haunted lighthouse. An old seafarer with something to hide. A name reaching out from her mother’s shadowy past. As she closes in on answers, Miranda must reckon with the biggest question of all: Is she brave enough to face the truth she might uncover?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 16, 2019
39 people are currently reading
2923 people want to read
About the author
Ali Standish
19 books332 followersAli Standish, author of the critically acclaimed The Ethan I Was Before, split her time growing up between North Carolina and several imaginary worlds. The only award she ever won in school was for messiest desk, but that didn’t stop her from going on to get degrees from Pomona College, Hollins University and and the University of Cambridge. She still spends most of her time in her imagination, but you might just spot her walking her two rescue dogs with her Finnish husband around her neighborhood in Raleigh. You can visit her online at www.alistandish.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
May 12, 2019
5/5 stars
Wrecked. Destroyed. Utterly emotionally devastated, in the best way possible.
I went in completely blind, zero expectations, and came out with a new favourite.
Review to come once this has sunk in.
Wrecked. Destroyed. Utterly emotionally devastated, in the best way possible.
I went in completely blind, zero expectations, and came out with a new favourite.
Review to come once this has sunk in.
December 8, 2018
A beautiful middle grade novel about the changes families go through and gaining perspective.
Because her parents are busy with work, Miranda is sent to spend a month of her summer at August Isle, an island in Florida, where she stays with her mom’s friend and family. There, she develops a friendship with Sammy, the friend’s daughter, and Miranda learns to face her fear of water with sailing lessons.
Though the Isle is new to her, it’s a place her mother knew well, and Miranda is determined to learn more about the reason her mom stopped coming. Through this process, Miranda uncovers a series of mysteries that lead her to learn that families are complex and that “stories change depending on who’s listening to them.”
A heartwarming book about fear, bravery, family and perspective that middle grade readers will love. Publishes in April 2019.
Because her parents are busy with work, Miranda is sent to spend a month of her summer at August Isle, an island in Florida, where she stays with her mom’s friend and family. There, she develops a friendship with Sammy, the friend’s daughter, and Miranda learns to face her fear of water with sailing lessons.
Though the Isle is new to her, it’s a place her mother knew well, and Miranda is determined to learn more about the reason her mom stopped coming. Through this process, Miranda uncovers a series of mysteries that lead her to learn that families are complex and that “stories change depending on who’s listening to them.”
A heartwarming book about fear, bravery, family and perspective that middle grade readers will love. Publishes in April 2019.
October 13, 2018
A beautiful brilliant story that will stay with you, Miranda, a wonderful, vulnerable heroine estranged from her mother. What starts as s summer story turns into a mystery and twists into a wonderful treatise on family, friendship, and longing to be seen. Al is an amazing writer and this book a must-read!
January 7, 2019
This book broke my heart in all the best ways! Miranda is a very relatable and likable protagonist, and I found myself rooting for her immediately. Beautiful writing, excellent pacing, and a storyline full of twists and revelations, this story touches on so many important things: what it means to be family, the importance of stories, friendship, and being true to yourself, plus the magic of baking. Highly recommended.
October 21, 2018
I could not let this story go. It gripped me from the beginning and I know middle grade readers will fall for it. Beautiful writing with lines I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
August 29, 2018
Another wonderful book by Ali Standish. Beautiful writing, a realistic group of kids, and a touch of mystery make this a warm and engaging read. Ali Standish tackles tough topics with lots of heart and just the right amount of grown-up wisdom. A must for every classroom library. Kids will love the story and will relate to the characters fears and frustrations. Teachers will love the discussions it will prompt.
August 9, 2018
I absolutely loved August Isle! Like Standish' first novel (The Ethan I Was Before), the main character is learning to deal with several tough situations, including some struggles with her family. I appreciate the way that Standish writes about the kind of issues that kids face in real life. The main character, Miranda, spends a summer in August Isle, an island off the coast of Florida, that allows her to grow and explore. But while August Isle might be a new place for her, it's a place her mother knows well and Miranda ends up learning more about her mother in the process. It's hard for kids to see their parents (and even their friends) as complex individuals who are the protagonists of their own stories. I love the way that Standish shows Miranda's perspective change as she learns more about the people around her and begins to understand that all of the side characters in her life are also on their own journeys. I think August Isle is the perfect book for any kid (or adult) who is working through insecurities or who feels out of place in their families. August Isle is a book for any kid who knows they have a good story deep inside them, even if it hasn't happened yet.
August 9, 2018
August Isle is a beautiful, emotional novel with complex and compelling characters. The central story is about young Miranda, who spends a summer on an island in Florida her mom used to visit frequently, but hasn't been back to for years. Miranda believes her mother has been growing distant from her, and Miranda internalizes that as a fault of her own. As Miranda unravels a series of mysteries over the course of the summer, she learns more about her family, and her mother in particular. I love how Standish shows how both children and adults grapple with the complexities of life. This story addresses real-life issues with heartwarming lessons for all.
March 25, 2020
BEST BOOK EVER I LOVE IT i would give it a billion stars.
August 11, 2022
Wow! Yonder by this author blew me away, & now this 1 by her has as well. This was phenomenal! Read the last 50% in 1 sitting. A highly atmospheric amazing summer mystery story, with family, secrets, friendships, & important issues at its core. Your heart breaks for Miranda, because she Carrie’s so much on her shoulders she shouldn’t. She remembers being very young & her mom loving her & always wanting to be with her. Then something changed, & she doesn’t know why. Her mom stays gone on business trips, & doesn’t seem to want to be around her or even look at her. She thinks there must be something wrong with her, & she’s the reason for her moms unhappiness. She feels this is confirmed when she goes to August Isle to stay with her aunt(moms best friend), & she’s sees all these pictures of her mom actually happy. So she decides to try to be more like Sammy, Aunt Clare’s daughter. Then maybe her mom will like her, & stay around more. She also starts to uncover some of her moms secrets, starts hearing strange cries from the “haunted” lighthouse, & meets a strange & fascinating man that was thought dead. I wanted to shake some sense into Miranda’s mom for what she was doing to her daughter emotionally/mentally. Miranda is such an endearing & relatable character, & you are rooting for her the whole way-whether when she’s trying to be braver & try new things, trying to solve the mystery, or just speak her truth..I was so proud of her. AMAZING character growth/development. I absolutely loved the friendship that formed between her & her “cousin” Sammy, & also Caleb (a boy from Sammy’s school). I loved seeing Miranda realize that while others lives may appear perfect or happy, etc….appearances are deceiving, & every family has problems, & every kid her age is dealing with something of their own as well at some point. Not only did her 2 new friends help her over this time, she helped them too I feel. I LOVED Mr. Taylor, & his house was amazing. I loved the 3 kids time spent there helping him organize his stuff & house. I loved all of his stories he collected from strangers all over the world, along with 1 item to go with the story. I loved how as Miranda is said to be typing his story into the computer, it is written on page for us to read ourselves. Added so much to the book, & every story he collected was so powerful & held an important message/lesson. Mr. Taylor always refused to share his own story though, so even he was a mystery of sorts. Then Betsy, his super sweet housekeeper & her sweets she baked(Miranda herself wants to be a baker, & made me hungry baking some pies in here lol as well lol). Then that adorable dog Slug, & Mr. Taylor’s hilarious bird Safira lol. Beautiful flow to the story, amazing pace, & superb, descriptive, & at times, beautiful writing. I never guessed what the mystery/secrets was gonna be-not even close. The way it all came together was just brilliant, & how little things over the story all clicked into place-genius, & I had goosebumps. Amazing messages/lessons in here. For example, family(usually) are the people who love you regardless of your flaws, & accept & love you for who you are. Also, don’t change who you are for anyone, even family. 1 of my favorites quotes in here: “When you love someone, it’s like giving away a piece of your heart to them. And if something happens to that person, it's like that piece of your heart gets smashed to little bits.” FELT. THAT. HIGHLY recommend. BEAUTIFUL cover by Thy Bui too.💜
August 8, 2018
I loved reading August Isle. It has a fun, compelling story-line that kept me questioning and guessing. August Isle completely transported me to another beautiful time and place.
October 30, 2020
Miranda's mom has always been distance emotionally and physically, as she travels constantly for her photography job. Miranda feels she can't live up to her mother's expectations to earn her love.
When her mom gets a job out of the country and her dad is working on a case that calls him out of town, Miranda is sent to August Isle to stay with her mom's childhood best friend. There she meets Sammy, Caleb, and Mr.Taylor. During her summer adventures, she learns stories from around the world, and learns the truth about her family.
Another brilliantly written book by Standish. We will read everything she's got, and will await more!
When her mom gets a job out of the country and her dad is working on a case that calls him out of town, Miranda is sent to August Isle to stay with her mom's childhood best friend. There she meets Sammy, Caleb, and Mr.Taylor. During her summer adventures, she learns stories from around the world, and learns the truth about her family.
Another brilliantly written book by Standish. We will read everything she's got, and will await more!
July 20, 2019
3.75
“None of us can escape from the darkness in life, Miranda. But we can choose to look for the stars.”
I thought this was very enjoyable in parts! I loved the seaside town setting and the essence of summer days this book embodied. A heartwarming story of loss and learning to move on through telling stories and making memories.
“None of us can escape from the darkness in life, Miranda. But we can choose to look for the stars.”
I thought this was very enjoyable in parts! I loved the seaside town setting and the essence of summer days this book embodied. A heartwarming story of loss and learning to move on through telling stories and making memories.
July 7, 2024
This book will sit with me for a while! There is so much to learn from the pages of this book about families, sorrow, and how we navigate it all. It was intricately woven with the sea, sailing, and sea turtles too which brought in the love for the ocean; it all intertwined for a great story. It also covers friendship and the friends that become family as well. I bought this just because of the pretty cover and it will be a story that sticks with me.
February 17, 2019
Ali Standish has done it again! August Isle is compelling, creative, and heartfelt. Miranda’s journey moved me to tears and left me smiling. Perfect for readers who enjoy warm stories of friendship, family, and the sea mixed with an overarching mystery.
February 17, 2019
Another beautiful book from one of my favorite authors. AUGUST ISLE is full of hope, friendship, and mystery. As always, Ali Standish creates characters you feel immediately attached to and care immensely about. This one is not to be missed!
March 10, 2023
Slightly disappointed since the description says there is a haunted lighthouse, but this isn’t a ghost story.
February 18, 2019
Such a lovely summer adventure! Beautiful evocation of a twelve-year-old summer, filled with mystery and friendship, sea and sun.
June 10, 2019
When her mom, a freelance photographer, gets a job in Argentina, and her dad has a big law case to prepare for, it is decided that Miranda, 12, would be sent to stay with her mother's old friend, Aunt Clare on August Isle, where her mother had spent her summers growing up. Miranda has always wondered why her mother threw away the postcards Aunt Clare periodically sent and now that she will be on August Isle, she is determined to find out. And then maybe she can figure out why her mother suddenly began to distance herself from Miranda a few years ago.
Miranda had met Aunt Clare and her daughter Sammy four years ago, and the two girls quickly bond again once Miranda arrives on August Isle. Aunt Clare has signed them up for sailing lessons every morning, not knowing that Miranda is deathly afraid of water. And that's where she meets Caleb, who at first makes fun of Miranda for her fear, but soon she, Sammy and Caleb are fast friends.
Pretty soon, mysteries are uncovered. First, the three discover an old abandoned house and Miranda is dared to go in. Which she does, but gets caught by an elderly man who is now living there. As punishment for breaking and entering, the three friends have to spend afternoons helping Mr. Taylor unpack his many books, acquired on a sailing trip around the world and writing down the stories he collected from different people and places.
They discover the second mystery while walking down the street. There, carved into the sidewalk cement are three names - Clare, Beth, Ben. They know Clare is Sammy's mother, Beth is Miranda's mother, but who is Ben and why have they never heard of him?
The third mystery is who is in the lighthouse on Keeper's Island across the water from August Isle. Legend has it that it's haunted, but someone is definitely there at night.
While these are the main threads of the story, like summer days, there are other things going on as well. There are the turtle eggs that are getting ready to hatch and be gently guided to the ocean; there are problems between Caleb's parents at home; and my favorite is Miranda learning to bake pies with Aunt Clare's help, something she had always wanted to do with her mother.
I've always loved books set in the summer, so August Isle was right up my alley. I particularly liked the companionable way the three kids hung out together, getting ice cream after sailing lessons, and sitting under an old tree eating it, and their secret afternoon visits to Mr. Taylor (this part is never creepy, there is a housekeeper named Betsy always present). I also like how kind the young sailing instructor was about Miranda's fear of water, letting her do it all at her own pace. This is the kind of book my 11-year-old self would have loved to read during the summer when I could whatever I wanted (confession - I still look forward to reading exactly this kind of summer book).
I enjoyed watching the mysteries get solved, even though parts of them were very sad, but I really liked Miranda's resolve that from now on she is going to be "Miranda - brave and bold," facing her fears and learning to speak up for herself, even though sometimes it was really hard. Sammy, who is part Indian, part white, has always felt too white in India and too Indian in America, struggles to come to terms with her identity, even though she has always being proud of her Indian heritage.
On the whole, August Isle was a wonderfully inspiring book to read and although Standish has used the usual tropes of family, identity, overcoming fear, and finding courage, she's managed to give them all a new look. Young readers are sure to count Miranda, Sammy, and Caleb among their book friends at summer's end.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
Miranda had met Aunt Clare and her daughter Sammy four years ago, and the two girls quickly bond again once Miranda arrives on August Isle. Aunt Clare has signed them up for sailing lessons every morning, not knowing that Miranda is deathly afraid of water. And that's where she meets Caleb, who at first makes fun of Miranda for her fear, but soon she, Sammy and Caleb are fast friends.
Pretty soon, mysteries are uncovered. First, the three discover an old abandoned house and Miranda is dared to go in. Which she does, but gets caught by an elderly man who is now living there. As punishment for breaking and entering, the three friends have to spend afternoons helping Mr. Taylor unpack his many books, acquired on a sailing trip around the world and writing down the stories he collected from different people and places.
They discover the second mystery while walking down the street. There, carved into the sidewalk cement are three names - Clare, Beth, Ben. They know Clare is Sammy's mother, Beth is Miranda's mother, but who is Ben and why have they never heard of him?
The third mystery is who is in the lighthouse on Keeper's Island across the water from August Isle. Legend has it that it's haunted, but someone is definitely there at night.
While these are the main threads of the story, like summer days, there are other things going on as well. There are the turtle eggs that are getting ready to hatch and be gently guided to the ocean; there are problems between Caleb's parents at home; and my favorite is Miranda learning to bake pies with Aunt Clare's help, something she had always wanted to do with her mother.
I've always loved books set in the summer, so August Isle was right up my alley. I particularly liked the companionable way the three kids hung out together, getting ice cream after sailing lessons, and sitting under an old tree eating it, and their secret afternoon visits to Mr. Taylor (this part is never creepy, there is a housekeeper named Betsy always present). I also like how kind the young sailing instructor was about Miranda's fear of water, letting her do it all at her own pace. This is the kind of book my 11-year-old self would have loved to read during the summer when I could whatever I wanted (confession - I still look forward to reading exactly this kind of summer book).
I enjoyed watching the mysteries get solved, even though parts of them were very sad, but I really liked Miranda's resolve that from now on she is going to be "Miranda - brave and bold," facing her fears and learning to speak up for herself, even though sometimes it was really hard. Sammy, who is part Indian, part white, has always felt too white in India and too Indian in America, struggles to come to terms with her identity, even though she has always being proud of her Indian heritage.
On the whole, August Isle was a wonderfully inspiring book to read and although Standish has used the usual tropes of family, identity, overcoming fear, and finding courage, she's managed to give them all a new look. Young readers are sure to count Miranda, Sammy, and Caleb among their book friends at summer's end.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
May 20, 2020
"None of us can escape from the darkness in life, Miranda. But we can always choose to look for the stars."
I don't know how to explain my love for this book. It's been a long time I read a middle grade book that left a huge mark in me. The Secret Summer left me the same feeling as when I finished reading The Apple Tart of Hope. It warmth my heart more than I ever knew it could.
First of all, oh my gosh! The writing in this book??!!!!!!!!! I believe she could write any stories and I'd ended up crying anyway. It is so heartfelt and so beautiful!
"There was a good kind of fear that made you careful. The kind that kept you on your guard when walking through a dark forest, or that made you remember to wear your life jacket on the water. And then there was the kind that held you back. The kind that kept you from going to school and had kept me frozen on the beach that first lesson. If you let that kind of fear take over, you could stay frozen forever - never changing, never growing. Never feeling the wind on your face or learning down to let the water rush between your fingers as you skimmed over the waves."
The Secret Summer is the UK edition of August Isle. It is a story about a girl name Miranda who is struggling to understand whether her mom loved her, as she is mostly away to work. So one day Miranda was sent to August Isle for a month, where Aunt Clare (who is her mom's best friend, but not her real aunt lives, along with Clare's daughter, Sammy). This because Miranda's parents had important job. And the story goes from there, in August Isle.
This is a story about family and friendships. About being brave and bold. But it is also a story that is dealing with guilt, death, and grief. How it feels like to have a guilt within you, to regret things you've done, to lost someone, to have a courage to live. There is nothing I did not like about this book. The beautiful thing is that Ali Standish know how to dealt and present the issue in a gentle way. No, I did not mean that everything is sugar coated so that it looks easy and all rainbow. What I meant is that Ali Standish manage to talk such hard topics, the messiness of life and explain it in a gentle way.
The friendships between Miranda, Sammy and Caleb, is just amazing! Everyone need a Miranda, Sammy and Caleb in their life. I am sure you'd agree with me if you have read the book :)
"Being brave wasn't just about overcoming your own fears, I decided. It was about standing up for our friends, too."
All of the characters in this book has something to give, and even though there are many characters, I remember who is who straight away. And I love every single one of them. I also love the different kind of relationships presents in this book. It shows the flaw, the realness, the human-ness of a human, that makes this book feels soooo real.
There is nothing I did not like about this book, and I will keep their story in my heart forever and ever. Please someone send me to August Isle!
Ali Standish, you are amazing!
January 14, 2021
i loved this book, a relationship between a daughter and mother is on stake for Miranda to find out her mothers secret.....and how miranda overcomes a fear, i really did enjoy the suspense, the supportive friends and family, and how Miranda puts aside her fear to learn the truth.......
Enjoy :)
Enjoy :)
October 28, 2025
Family secrets, a mysterious island, and a shocking truth that's been buried deep within the sands of time....
✏️ Review ✏️
August Isle starts out on a promising note, lulls into a less interesting storyline for a while, and then at the very end delivers a dose of secrets, mysteries, and lies untangling themselves in an unexpected way to finish off the story with a dynamic conclusion. The very beginning and the last one-fourth of this story were my favorite parts. While some mystery threads are woven throughout, the middle of the plot lost the story's focus and dipped below the line of interest — or that undesirable point where instead of thinking about the story in front of you, you begin to think about all the other books you'd rather be reading. Perhaps one of the main reasons for this is the inclusion of many mini-narratives that a minor characters tells. The small importance of these short tales isn't readily apparent until the very end, so the plot seems severely disjointed. Also, the MCs outright lie to authority figures on many occasions (more info in Random Comments below), so that lowered my enjoyment of August Isle.
The characters were actually a bit better than what I imagined at first. Especially towards the end, Miranda, the narrating MC, receives a good amount of dynamic development. And her two friends (Sammy and Caleb) compliment the story well and bring a varied personality to this tale, even if they don't feature much in the way of development.
As always, Ali Standish's writing style shimmers with energy, descriptive vocabulary, and smooth flow. Standish certainly knows how to bring the sights, smells, sounds, and atmosphere of the setting right to the reader's home.
In conclusion, I didn't enjoy August Isle as much as I did the the author's other books. But some readers will enjoy this slower-paced contemporary story: a story that explores the burden of keeping secrets, the freedom that comes with embracing the truth, and the long-lasting joy that comes with valuing the bonds of family and friends.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The beginning part and the last one-fourth of the plot — the most interesting and engaging part of the story.
• The dynamic development that takes place in the MC.
• The writing style — it's descriptive, smooth, and engaging.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• The middle portion of the plot — seemed to be disjointed more than necessary and veered from the story's focus.
• The many times that the MCs tell lies to authority figures.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yes.*
— To whom? To those who enjoy slower-paced MG stories that contain a bit of mystery, a dynamically developed MC, a descriptive writing style, and an obvious array of summer vibes.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 3/5)
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 2.5/5
— 📝 Writing: 4/5
— 👥 Characters: 3/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 1/5
• One vain use of God's name.
— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5
• Thematic elements of death including child death (could be triggering for some readers).
— ⚠️ Sexual: 1/5
• A one-sentence scene of a male and a female character kissing.
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📣 Random Comments 📣
• Content notes: (1) The MCs tell lies to authority figures on many occasions throughout the story. While there are consequences and repercussions at the end and Miranda, an MC, does feel bad once or twice about having her friends tell falsehoods, one of the MCs expresses the sentiment that she'd still do it — tell lies — again if she was in the same situation. So, was there really a lesson learned or reinforced in this story about how telling lies is wrong? I'll leave that conclusion up to you, dear reader. (2) A few of the characters consider belief in the idea that people who die become stars in the sky (one of the minor characters believes that his grandson spoke to him as a star). (3) There is a brief discussion about reincarnation and how it supposedly works.
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💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• "[T]he most exquisite things are the first to fade away.... And life is the most exquisite thing of all. So we must never take it for granted." (p. 111; italicized in the original)
• There was a good fear that made you careful. That kept you on your guard when walking through a dark forest, or that made you remember to wear your life jacket on the water.
And then there was the kind of fear that held you back. The kind that kept you from going to school.... If you let that kind of fear take over, you can stay frozen forever — never changing, never growing. (p. 165-166)
• "[W]hen a person loves you, their love continues to echo on, even after they're gone." (p. 216)
• "When you love someone... it's like giving away a piece of your heart to them. And if something happens to that person, it's like that piece of your heart gets smashed to little bits." (p. 306-305)
✏️ Review ✏️
August Isle starts out on a promising note, lulls into a less interesting storyline for a while, and then at the very end delivers a dose of secrets, mysteries, and lies untangling themselves in an unexpected way to finish off the story with a dynamic conclusion. The very beginning and the last one-fourth of this story were my favorite parts. While some mystery threads are woven throughout, the middle of the plot lost the story's focus and dipped below the line of interest — or that undesirable point where instead of thinking about the story in front of you, you begin to think about all the other books you'd rather be reading. Perhaps one of the main reasons for this is the inclusion of many mini-narratives that a minor characters tells. The small importance of these short tales isn't readily apparent until the very end, so the plot seems severely disjointed. Also, the MCs outright lie to authority figures on many occasions (more info in Random Comments below), so that lowered my enjoyment of August Isle.
The characters were actually a bit better than what I imagined at first. Especially towards the end, Miranda, the narrating MC, receives a good amount of dynamic development. And her two friends (Sammy and Caleb) compliment the story well and bring a varied personality to this tale, even if they don't feature much in the way of development.
As always, Ali Standish's writing style shimmers with energy, descriptive vocabulary, and smooth flow. Standish certainly knows how to bring the sights, smells, sounds, and atmosphere of the setting right to the reader's home.
In conclusion, I didn't enjoy August Isle as much as I did the the author's other books. But some readers will enjoy this slower-paced contemporary story: a story that explores the burden of keeping secrets, the freedom that comes with embracing the truth, and the long-lasting joy that comes with valuing the bonds of family and friends.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The beginning part and the last one-fourth of the plot — the most interesting and engaging part of the story.
• The dynamic development that takes place in the MC.
• The writing style — it's descriptive, smooth, and engaging.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• The middle portion of the plot — seemed to be disjointed more than necessary and veered from the story's focus.
• The many times that the MCs tell lies to authority figures.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yes.*
— To whom? To those who enjoy slower-paced MG stories that contain a bit of mystery, a dynamically developed MC, a descriptive writing style, and an obvious array of summer vibes.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 3/5)
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 2.5/5
— 📝 Writing: 4/5
— 👥 Characters: 3/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 1/5
• One vain use of God's name.
— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5
• Thematic elements of death including child death (could be triggering for some readers).
— ⚠️ Sexual: 1/5
• A one-sentence scene of a male and a female character kissing.
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📣 Random Comments 📣
• Content notes: (1) The MCs tell lies to authority figures on many occasions throughout the story. While there are consequences and repercussions at the end and Miranda, an MC, does feel bad once or twice about having her friends tell falsehoods, one of the MCs expresses the sentiment that she'd still do it — tell lies — again if she was in the same situation. So, was there really a lesson learned or reinforced in this story about how telling lies is wrong? I'll leave that conclusion up to you, dear reader. (2) A few of the characters consider belief in the idea that people who die become stars in the sky (one of the minor characters believes that his grandson spoke to him as a star). (3) There is a brief discussion about reincarnation and how it supposedly works.
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💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• "[T]he most exquisite things are the first to fade away.... And life is the most exquisite thing of all. So we must never take it for granted." (p. 111; italicized in the original)
• There was a good fear that made you careful. That kept you on your guard when walking through a dark forest, or that made you remember to wear your life jacket on the water.
And then there was the kind of fear that held you back. The kind that kept you from going to school.... If you let that kind of fear take over, you can stay frozen forever — never changing, never growing. (p. 165-166)
• "[W]hen a person loves you, their love continues to echo on, even after they're gone." (p. 216)
• "When you love someone... it's like giving away a piece of your heart to them. And if something happens to that person, it's like that piece of your heart gets smashed to little bits." (p. 306-305)
July 26, 2019
Another beautiful novel by Ali Standish! It has a little bit of everything. One of my new favorites! The perfect summer read.
July 31, 2019
Miranda knows that her mother travels so much because Miranda is not a good enough daughter for her--too timid, too friendless, too clingy. So when her mother takes a month-long job in Argentina just a week after returning from her last job, Miranda is upset but not surprised. Problem is, her father has to go to Chicago for a month for an important court case (as a lawyer), so who will take care of Miranda? That's when she learns she's being sent to her mother's best friend on August Isle in Florida, a place Miranda's never been. It's a place her mother refuses to talk about, despite having spent many summers there as a kid. It's a rough transition, at first. Although "Aunt" Claire and her family are warm and welcoming, Claire has signed the kids up for a month of sailing lessons--and Miranda is terrified of the water. She has recurrent drowning dreams. But Miranda decides it's time to stop being scared of everything, and forces herself to try sailing. Another attempt to prove her courage through a dare goes askew, but results in Miranda, Sammy, and their accidental friend Caleb, meeting Mr. Taylor. He's been gone ten years on a round the world sailing trip, and needs the kids' help to unpack his crates--and all the stories he's collected. As the summer progresses, though Miranda is enjoying herself, she finds herself wondering more and more about her mother. Miranda knows something happened to her mother on August Isle, but no one will talk about it. Is it the reason that she and her mother have such a bad relationship? Miranda is determined to find out--whatever the cost.
The first half of this book is really a leisurely summer book, with summer activities, friends, ice cream, sailing, helping Mr. Taylor, etc. As Miranda grows braver, though, and starts questioning more, then the second half of the book turns into a mystery and adventure--which is as inevitable as the clockwork driving the plot, from the picture on the cover to Miranda's nightmares to the strange lights she sees on the forbidden Keeper's Island. While the mystery is not too much of a surprise--at least to me--the strength of the book is more in the relationships between people, and how they treat each other. When is it all right to lie to parents? How about lie to them long-term? Does love have to be so painful? Is it really the child's fault if the parent won't deal with their own past? While I worry that kids in search of a straight-up mystery will abandon this book early on, those who want more of a "sad" book will be the better audience. The world building is great, and the characters are complex and interesting. I love all the flavors in the book, since the kids love unusual ice cream and Miranda is learning to bake. It's a multisensory book.
The first half of this book is really a leisurely summer book, with summer activities, friends, ice cream, sailing, helping Mr. Taylor, etc. As Miranda grows braver, though, and starts questioning more, then the second half of the book turns into a mystery and adventure--which is as inevitable as the clockwork driving the plot, from the picture on the cover to Miranda's nightmares to the strange lights she sees on the forbidden Keeper's Island. While the mystery is not too much of a surprise--at least to me--the strength of the book is more in the relationships between people, and how they treat each other. When is it all right to lie to parents? How about lie to them long-term? Does love have to be so painful? Is it really the child's fault if the parent won't deal with their own past? While I worry that kids in search of a straight-up mystery will abandon this book early on, those who want more of a "sad" book will be the better audience. The world building is great, and the characters are complex and interesting. I love all the flavors in the book, since the kids love unusual ice cream and Miranda is learning to bake. It's a multisensory book.
June 19, 2019
In the middle of a very stressful few days of travel prep, I've been stealing moments to read Ali Standish's latest novel, AUGUST ISLE, and it has been exactly the shot of summery calm I've needed to cut through the chaos! This book has EVERYTHING I love: an island setting, sailing lessons, the South, family secrets, storytelling, and—of course—a painful, beautiful character arc. Miranda's journey from being held back by her fears and convinced her mother doesn't love her to being "Miranda, brave and bold" is convincing and inspiring, and the side characters—especially the mysterious and well-traveled Mr. Taylor—are fantastic. As a kid who spent summers vacationing on an island with friends who were as close as family (friends I still vacation with every summer, twenty years later!), AUGUST ISLE was nostalgic in the very best of ways. Standish's writing is sweet and straightforward, capturing Miranda's journey from timidity to courage, along with the truth that we become brave not by miraculously getting past our fears, but by doing things even though they scare us.
If you're a fan of contemporary middle grade, you absolutely MUST add this to your summer reading pile! It's the perfect summertime story. And if you're playing along with our Middle Grade at Heart summer reading bingo, AUGUST ISLE is one of the selections!
If you're a fan of contemporary middle grade, you absolutely MUST add this to your summer reading pile! It's the perfect summertime story. And if you're playing along with our Middle Grade at Heart summer reading bingo, AUGUST ISLE is one of the selections!
June 6, 2019
I gulped this one down in a day. It's a mystery, but even more than that its about the quest for identity and the power of stories. The subplot of the Indian girl who doesn't feel white enough in America or Indian enough in India resonated with the adult book I just read, GOOD TALK. (The search for family and identity, plus old wounds than need the healing of forgiveness also echoes with Renee Watson's SOME PLACES MORE THAN OTHERS.) The main character's search for her true self is tangled in her mother's search, and the ending...well, be prepared to be surprised!
June 2, 2019
I enjoyed this middle grade novel and drew many comparisons to Caterpillar Summer that I also recently read. Readers will be caught up in the "island experiences" that Miranda and her friends Caleb and Sammy experience. I thought the insertion of a bit of "mystery" added intrigue that kids will also enjoy. After finding Standish's first book (The Ethan I Was Before) a strong novel, I knew August Isle would be a hit. At 350 pages, this may look daunting to some children, but with a good book talk, hook them and once they start reading, they will not stop!
May 28, 2019
I loved this book so much, it was amazing. And I cried. It had such good story telling, and I liked how it all came together in the end. I wasn't sure where the story was going, and it was so amazing. I couldn't put it down! I listened to it in one sitting, and am so glad that I was finally able to make time for this book. Everyone needs to read this book!
September 8, 2019
This was boring and depressing. A lot of the story is day-to-day activities. There is a bit of a mystery, but I didn't like it. It was weird and sad. The characters are okay. They did some things that I didn't like, but they weren't bad people. I did like the setting--mostly Florida and briefly Illinois.
August 26, 2020
(4.5 stars) There isn’t a lot to the plot of this book but there doesn’t need to be. It’s a short coming of age story but the writing style is what makes it so great. It is filled with some beautiful, cathartic moments with several lessons that I think really speak to a child that is learning how to navigate our world.
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