The Adventure Is Now

by Jess Redman

A middle grade novel about a boy who learns about protecting the environment, finding real friends, and living in the now while spending the summer on a remote island.

Sometimes it's hard to be Milton P. Greene. He says all the wrong things, his family is falling apart, and everyone at school avoids him because of the very embarrassing Bird Brain Incident. But when Milton plays his video game Isle of Wild, he becomes someone else--Sea Hawk, the brave and brilliant naturalist explorer who conquers danger at every turn.
Then Milton's parents ship him off to the remote Lone Island for the summer, where his uncle Evan is an environmentalist researcher. The island is chock-full of spectacular species, and Milton realizes this is his chance to become the brave and brilliant naturalist he's always wanted to be--and even meet some fellow explorers!

But as it turns out, the future of the Lone Island is in some pretty serious peril, and the only thing that can save it is a field guide full of cryptic clues. If Milton and his unexpected new friends are going to protect the island, they'll have to trust each other, discover new truths, and embark on a wild and wondrous adventure all their own.

Genres: Middle Grade, Adventure, Fantasy, Childrens, Nature, Friendship, Environment

336 pages, Hardcover

First published May 4, 2021

About the author

At age six, Jess Redman published a poem entitled “I Read and Read and Read All Day” in a local anthology. She knew then, reading her printed words in a real book, that she wanted to be an author when she grew up.

She spent the next couple of decades doing things like surviving middle school, traveling around the world, becoming a therapist, and having two kids. She wrote the whole time.

Then one day, she realized that she was probably an official grown up and it was time to try to get some more of her words printed in real books.

Her middle-grade debut, THE MIRACULOUS, was published by FSG/Macmillan in 2019. Her second middle-grade, QUINTESSENCE was published in 2020, and her third, THE ADVENTURE IS NOW will be out on May 4, 2021!

She still reads and reads and reads all day.

Visit her at www.jessredman.com, on
Twitter and Instagram at @Jess_Red, or on FaceBook at www.facebook.com/pg/Jess.Redman.Books.

Reviews

[Thibault Busschots · Rating 4 out of 5]

Milton P. Greene is a boy who doesn’t have any friends anymore. His only pleasure in life is locking himself up in his room to play his favorite video game, where he can be a brave explorer. Then life decides to throw him a curve ball. His parents are splitting up and they don’t want him to be caught in the middle of their messy divorce. So they send him to a remote island for the summer to visit his uncle, an environmentalist researcher. Milton does not like the situation he finds himself at first. But he quickly realizes that this remote island provides him with a unique opportunity to become an actual explorer. And when he realizes the island is in danger, he’ll do anything in his power to save it.


This is a coming of age story done right. I really like Milton’s character arc. The only other people on the island are a handful of researchers and their kids. But the other kids aren’t really interested in becoming Milton’s friend. Milton gains confidence by pretending to be someone he’s not at first. And over the course of the story, he evolves into the person he always wanted to be. He grows confident to a point where he can really start to open himself up to others. And I like how the writer shines the spotlight on a very important aspect of friendship. If you’re afraid of sharing your flaws and your lowest moments in life with your friends, because you know they’ll judge you for it, can you truly call them your friends in the first place? Though I have to admit, the writer does lay it on a bit thick here.


On one hand, the story is quite slow, scientific and realistic in its approach of teaching us more about the environment and what exploring is really like. But on the other hand, there are also some fantasy elements to make the adventure just that little bit more exciting to read for children in particular. And who doesn’t love a bit of fantasy in a heartwarming read like this?


It’s a very cozy and fun adventurous story full of exploration. It highlights the importance of protecting the environment and the value of true friendship.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Milton P. Greene is stuck with the nickname Bird Brain after an unfortunate event involving his favorite teacher and the taunting that follows. His hero is Sea Hawk, the protagonist in Into the Wild, the video game that is Milton's current obsession. When Milton's parents send him to spend the summer with Uncle Evan on remote Lone Island, Milton decides to reinvent himself in an effort to impress the handful of island inhabitants. What Milton may discover is that the best version of himself is somewhere in between the reviled Bird Brain and the revered Sea Hawk. The island is chock full of exotic flora and fauna (like being immersed in a video game) and a guide with ink illustrations is included in the back of the book. May inspire kids to put down the controller and explore their own backyard.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars, rounded up to 4. With a The Twenty-One Balloons like setting (they both take place on fantasical islands), this is the story of Milton P. Greene (aka Sea Hawk) who embarks on the adventure of a lifetime when he is sent to live with his scientist uncle on a remote island for the summer. There he meets Fig, Rafi and Gabe. When he discovers a letter and guidebook from a deceased scientist, he and his new friend Fig set out to uncover its mysteries. Could it lead them to treasure? What about frenemy Rafi and his younger brother Gabe? Are they allies that can help them out or foes who will do anything to prevent them from learning the answers? When the four embark on a camping trip together, they learn that self-discovery and honest answers are the only way they're going to survive.
If you like adventure stories, treasure hunts or stories with whimsical Dr. Seuss like creatures, you'll enjoy this.

[Brigid · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a FUN AND WILD ADVENTURE! The Adventure is Now is a truly wonderful and clever book by Jess Redman. I was sucked in the moment the story began and absolutely loved the main character Milton P. Greene. This fast paced Middle Grade adventure tale reminded me of Jumanji and the Goonies meets Willy Wonka and The Westing Game. What's not to love about a book that is chock full of puzzles/codes and set on a beautiful island with a great cast of characters and unique flora/fauna/creatures? I laughed out loud many times yet also felt for Milton as his family is changing in ways he doesn't want. Written with both humor and heart, The Adventure is Now was a 5 star read for me. One of my favorites of 2020!
(Thank you to the author Jess Redman for the advanced copy. This review is all my own.)

[Kathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

I love Jess Redman’s lyrical writing, and it’s the perfect tone to tell the whimsical story of Milton B. Greene and his adventurous summer on Lone Island. This light-hearted and humorous story has a secret treasure hunt, mysterious creatures, and incredible scientific discoveries but is rooted in relationships between people and their environment. This story comes out on May 14th, 2021.

Milton’s had a very rough school year. After the Bird Brain incident, his best friend no longer speaks to him, and he’s an outcast at school. Milton’s dad moved out three months ago, and his parents are getting a divorce. He’s obsessed with his video game called Isle of the Wild, where he can escape reality and spend time with Sea Hawk Ferox, a naturalist and explorer who goes on incredible adventures. When Milton’s parents decide to send him to spend the summer with his uncle on a small island, he decides to leave Milton P. Greene behind and embody the brave and outgoing Sea Hawk. He finds a hidden treasure map with clues to decipher a secret on the island, and he teams up with other young explorers to try and make sense of it. But they discover that the island is in jeopardy, and time is quickly running out to solve the mystery before a development company takes it over and destroys what hides behind the vines.

This story is realistic fiction but feels like it has a magical element. The vivid descriptions of the jungle and its unusual creatures are as colourful as the landscape itself. I especially enjoyed the guide at the end of the book with further information about the island’s species. My favourite part of this story was the character development; I loved watching Milton find people that accepted him and his quirky ways. We watched him learn to put the past behind him and blossom in an environment where we didn’t have to pretend to be someone else. I also loved watching his interactions with the other kids on the island and the growth of their relationships. The story was uplifting and fun, with short chapters, and left you hopeful for the future of the island and its inhabitants.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read-an epic summer adventure for sure! Milton deals with some pretty serious things before leaving for his summer adventure-his parents fighting constantly & maybe divorcing-& in the process neglecting him & becoming not great people to be around-then he has a humiliating event at school no one will forget, & he loses his only friend.

So Milton can try a little too hard, is a little kooky, & can honestly sometimes be annoying-but that’s all realistic after everything he’s been through. I wanted to shake his parents because they were so wrapped up in their anger & resentment with each other-they couldn’t even take that stupid video game away from him?! Ugh I was so happy when he met Fig, & I loved watching their friendship & bond grow, & how much they helped each other. The whole backstory & current storyline of the island, Dr. Paradis, & even Milton’s uncle & the other kids parents, was so creative & intriguing! Even the names of everything were so creative & phenomenal! I loved it!

Everything was also described in such vivid detail that I felt like I was in the jungle experiencing this adventure with them! So atmospheric. So many great messages in here also. This is the 2nd book I’ve read by Jess Redman, & I really love her writing, & she is just a fantastic storyteller. This is just a charming story full of adventure, puzzles, friendship, clues, courage, honesty, nature, trust, & family. Such a charming story with so much heart. Highly recommend for a fun summer adventure of a read! Beautiful cover by(once again today lol)the AMAZING Matt Rockefeller!💜

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Milton P. Greene is having the “Most Totally, Terribly, Horribly, Heinously Rotten Year of All Time”. Can a summer on a remote island with his naturalist uncle and an ecological mystery turn it all around?

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Milton is a young boy living one of his worst years. Not only does his best friend ditch him, his parents are not in a good place. He heavily relies on his handheld video game for an escape. When Milton is sent to spend an entire summer with his uncle on a deserted island, he embarks on a journey, the adventure of a life time.

Struggling to find oneself and how to fit in is a life lesson that happens to everyone to some capacity. Therefore, having our young protagonist experience this is a clever and useful story tool to connect with readers. I also love how Milton grows and develops throughout the book. He learns so much about himself and the relationships he has with those he cares about.

The plot was fun and I’m sure many middle grade readers will enjoy. From the friendship building to the silliness to the excitement the children in the story go through, there’s so much to enjoy. As an adult, I didn’t find the overarching storyline to be spectacular and is fairly predictable, but I can see how middle grade children would find this a great read.

In addition to its predictable plot points, I’m afraid the names of the creatures and plants on this island are a bit too silly. Names included are Beautimous Lemallaby, Little SmooshieFace, Truth-Will-Out Vines, Yes-No-Maybe-So Tree, and others. The silliness of the names took me out of the story and made it seem a bit too far-fetched.

Overall, “The Adventure is Now” is a simple, yet relatable text that children upper elementary and middle school would enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group) for giving me an the opportunity to read “The Adventure is Now”. All opinions are my own.

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great flapping falcons! the vocabulary in this book is spectacular. I love that the main character is wildly quirky. I thoroughly enjoyed The 'Adridged Long Island Field Guide' included at the end of the story. It was fun to see the illustrations of the flora and fauna compared to how I had envisioned them while reading. I would love to see a screen adaptation; live action or cartoon would be fun.

This checks all of the boxes for a good middle grade novel. And will definitely be one to revisit with my son.

[Laurie Hnatiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux for a digital ARC of this title to read.

Jess Redman's previous two books (The Miraculous and Quintessence) used magic to add to her stories, and her latest book, The Adventure is Now, is no different but instead, the magic is more playful.

Milton P. Greene. is dealing with things that many middle-grade individuals go through; his parents are not getting along contemplating divorce. There are issues at school, especially after the Bird Brain incident, and he is trying to figure out who he is and find out how he can fit in. And like many middle-grade kids, Milton is fascinated with a video game, the Isle of Wild, where the main character Sea Hawk goes on various ecological quests to save the world.

His parents decide to send Milton to a remote island where his uncle is doing environmental research based on the work of Dr. Ada Paradis. Dr. Paradis discovered many new species of plant and animal life. She was the reason Milton's uncle went to the island. Although not thrilled, Milton thinks this could be his chance to become like his video game hero Sea Hawk. Upon arrival, Milton can see that one of these new plant species, the Truth-Will Out Vine covers the entire island. Also, his uncle is depressed because he has not found any evidence of all the other new species Dr. Paradis shared in her guide because of this vine.

Determined to create an adventure, Milton introduces himself as Sea Hawk to the other three kids on the island. Getting off on the wrong start with two brothers, he manages to befriend Fig, a girl his age. When he finds a box left from Dr. Paradis with clues to search for the new species, he and Fig go searching for the elusive species and guide that reveals how and where to find all the living specimens on the island. It turns out finding these species now takes on a more imperative role as the island is now up for sale and has a potential buyer. Now unless they can share evidence the island is unique, a corporation will own and develop it, and the race is on.

I had read somewhere (unfortunately, I have forgotten where) that The Adventure is Now is very Roald Dahl-Esq, and I would agree with this statement. The story is very imaginative with lots of creative species (all described in a handy field guide in the back) that I know will appeal to many readers. I can see this being an excellent read-aloud for anyone studying habitats and thinking about ways plants and animals adapt. I know many teachers in grade four in our province have students create a species and can see some fun ways to compare and contrast.

Also appealing will be the characters, especially Milton. Readers will connect with trying to fit in and worried about perceptions after an incident they have had. I also know the video game will also be an easy connection for students and liked how Ms. Redman used an ecologically-based game. Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop talks about books being mirrors and windows so everyone can see themselves in a story, and I loved how Milton may seem a bit different than your typical main character but allows readers to see themselves.

Released May 4, this will be a captivating read for those students who love adventures and exploring with the bonus of using their imagination to become acquainted with new friends, both human and otherwise.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I discovered Jess Redman’s work about a year and a half ago with her book The Miraculous. I was 9 months out from having lost my best friend grandma, Gorgeous. Grams was my person and while her passing was expected and welcome at age 93 and after a hard battle with Alzheimer’s and dementia, her death left a ginormous hole in my heart. I still feel the loss keenly. I spent a weekend dog sitting for a friend and had been looking forward to spending some down time reading and snuggling a canine pal. The Miraculous was one of the books I brought with me and I ended up hard core sobbing my way through it. It is a truly beautiful, soulful, cathartic read about grief and healing and hope and magic. And I very much needed it in my life. I instantly became a huge fan of Redman’s.

All that to say, that when the opportunity came up to read this newest book early, I jumped at the chance! Milton P. Greene is burrowing deeper and deeper into his handheld video game in order to escape “the Most, Totally, Terribly, Horribly, Heinously Rotten Year of All Time.” With parents divorcing, zero friends at school, and an awful nickname ridiculing him, Milton wants nothing to do with the real world. But a letter arrives summoning him to The Lone Island. Milton is about to rediscover the world, and himself.

I absolutely loved this book! The themes of what it means to be human and how we deal with heart hurt and how we relate to other people are all beautifully on display, as I’ve come to expect from Redman. This book felt a lot more humorous to me than The Miraculous did. The clever wordplay and stellar vocabulary of the writing had this word nerd grinning throughout! It is an ingenious character study and guide for self-reflection. I can’t recommend this book highly enough!

[Ben Gartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lone Island awaits! What a fun, light-hearted, Seuss-ian adventure. Milton P. Greene (aka Sea Hawk) is a character that my grandfather would call a “kick in the pants.” Milton is hilarious with his cheeky, sophisticated diction and animated mannerisms. He’s easy to root for amid the challenges he faces on the island, and amid his Most Totally, Terribly, Horribly, Heinously Rotten Year of All Time.

Young readers will love the imaginative flora and fauna (my personal favorite was the Push-Pull Centopus because the name reminded me of Dr. Dolittle), as well as the trials, puzzles, and clues the kids must untangle in order to save the island.

This book would make a terrific read-aloud. In fact, I often wanted to read it aloud just to myself in order to act out Milton’s royal flair. Enjoy!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back during all of the COVID shelter-in-place and cancellation of activities; I got our kids a book box subscription and we would have book clubs. Well, once all the kids' activities started up again we didn't really have time for this anymore. This was the last book from that subscription. I enjoyed this fun middle grade book. I find that middle grade books have so many good "lessons" to teach. This one touched upon friendship, family, trust, and adventure. I really enjoyed it and got through it pretty quick once I sat down to read it. 4/5 stars

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess Redman is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I cannot wait to share with students in my elementary school. I really want to visit the Lone Island and hang out with this awesome group of characters.

[Henry Everett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book for people who like action and adventure.

[Melissa Dassori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, funny and fast-past adventure with an entirely original feel and great group of friends at its core, plus a whacky and whimsical tropical setting.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally! The new go-to book for every time a kid asks me for a book with an "adventure." Short chapters, lots of action, some feelings, and silliness. Also I think I might use the list of misspelled words on p. 118 as a brainteaser for my students.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Channeling my inner Milton when i say this book is “Indescribably undoubtably incredible!” What a wonderfully spectacular journey Jess led me on with this novel. Everyone read this and get ready for your island adventure!

Shout out to Jess, MacKids and Netgalley for the ePub!!

[Emmett Egley · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is very interesting and adventurous

[Blakely Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love all of Jess Redman’s MG books!

[Jennifer Perkins Propes · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a fun adventure that I almost felt as though I had taken a trip on The Magic School Bus!

Milton, the main character, struggles with friendships in a way that will be almost painfully relatable to young readers—yet in a good way. A way that will make them feel seen and give them hope.

As a child of divorced parents who admits that it absolutely affected me, I like being able to suggest books to my students also going through that at home. Related to that plot point, I appreciated that it has a happy but “imperfect” ending.

Excellent book that will delight a diverse group of readers thanks to the realistic aspects, adventure, light fantasy, and environmental elements. All three of Redman’s releases have been highly enjoyable reads that I’ve happily recommended to students. Her debut is a beautiful one to not miss. I’m thankful to NetGalley for the ARC.

[AllyP Reads Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Started off good but then just got tiresome. The names of the plants and animals were ridiculous (Menu-You Plant? Just call it a human Venus flytrap. It’s easier to say and clearly indicates the dangers involved.) The end presented numerous plot holes. The kids are out looking for the treasure which turns out to be the last will of Dr. Paradis. If keeping the island safe was so important to her why would she hide her wishes? Developers were ready to bulldoze the whole island and would have. Why didn’t she leave her book with another researcher? Why wouldn’t she have told the other researchers how to get through the also ridiclously-named vines? Then even when the kids return home with proof that would save the island, they do nothing. None of them. Yeah, you just got back from an amazing adventure in the jungle filled with one-of-a-kind plants and animals and can save the island from destruction, but you just eat dinner in silence and go to bed instead of telling these scientists everything you found. You can’t be that tired; that’s just nonsense.

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

OUABC sent me the Brave Explorer middle grade box. I was excited for Simon to have this fun reading experience where you get to open a gift at various points throughout the story. He read the first 20 pages of the book, opened the first gift, and then set it aside. Oh well, more fun for me. ⁣The featured book in this box was The Adventure Is Now by Jess Redman, which was a fun book about Milton, who is struggling with a lack of friends, bullying, and his parents’ considering divorce. They send him to visit his uncle on a remote island and it’s like his favorite video game came to life – with all kinds of new species to discover and even new friends to hang out with. Milton becomes his alter ego, Sea Hawk, and sets out to find his own adventure with the help of a field guide with clues to the island’s mysteries (some of which is included in the book!) An adventurous, puzzle filled quest ensues. Young readers who long for adventure will enjoy this book! For me, it was sweet and funny and I hope to share it with a young reader who will appreciate it more than Simon did!⁣ If you want your own Once Upon a Book Club Box, you can use my code NOTINJERSEY for 10% off. Of course, there are boxes for adults available too. ⁣

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE ADVENTURE IS NOW is a delight! Vividly imagined and full of heart, this book tells the story of quirky, adorable Milton, who is spending his summer with his Uncle Evan on the wild and mysterious Lone Island. As Milton explores the island and deepens his relationships, we learn more about who Milton is .... and the truth about the Bird-Brain Incident in his past. Will Milton and his friends be able to solve the clues and save the island from destruction?

This was such a fun read. I am sure I would have loved this book no matter when I read it, but it feels especially just-right for our current times, when I think everyone is yearning for a little adventure and escape! Every description of nature in this book absolutely sings ... it's the type of writing that makes you feel like you are right there experiencing every "spectaculous" sight and sound. The field guide at the end is wonderful. So much love and joy for this book about friends working together and learning to trust each other.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about a boy who needs to learn the value of living without the internet and his video game for a summer. This story is a humorous tale of Milton who is excited to spend the summer away from his friends after an “incident” that he would love to forget about. He can’t wait to hang out with his uncle and just chill playing his favorite video game on a secluded island. Until he finds out how secluded the island is. Milton finds out the island is in danger and he and some of his new friends need to protect it. And to do that, they need to learn to trust each other.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Milton has had a rotten year. First there was the Bird Brain Incident (which he does NOT want to think about), then the de-friending by Dev, and now his parents are getting divorced. He's retreated into the Isle of Wild game where he can be brave explorer Sea Hawk. But when his parents announce that he's going to spend the summer with his scientist uncle on the very real exotic Lone Island where adventure and nature abounds, Milton isn't very excited. He just wants to get lost in Isle of Wild. Which proves hard when his game console runs out of power and he realizes there's no electricity anywhere in his uncle's hut! The Lone Island is supposed to be this amazing place abounding with never-before-seen creatures, but all anyone can see is the ever-present Truth-will-out-vine. The scientists are getting discouraged, and it looks like the island might get sold for development. But when Milton stumbles across the guidebook of the island's original discoverer with clues to a treasure, he and the other 3 kids on the island think just maybe they can find the treasure and save the island from the sale. But what can 4 kids do that scientists haven't been able to do in 9+ years?

This story is just as much about personal growth, and the freedom admitting fears and baggage you've been carrying around can bring. Milton lies to the other kids and tells him his name is Sea Hawk. He starts talking like his favorite video game character (using words like egad and peril and things that don't normally come out of a middle graders' mouth). But the adventure will force him to confront why he lied to them and why he is trying to be someone else. The island and the discoveries they make are wild, imaginative, and utterly fantastical. Fig is Milton's best friend. She's a bookish nerd, who had retreated from others after her father's death. Rafi and Gabe are brother. Rafi is standoffish and a bit mean, but they come to learn it is because he's tired of moving every couple of years and wishes he was at his parents' last posting. Gabe is just a cute little goofball. I liked where the author took the story and the things the kids learned. I liked the imaginativeness of the island. The only thing holding me back from liking the story (well, at first you want Milton to snap out of it) and then secondly, the copy I got had horrible typesetting errors with odd spaces appearing in the middle of words on a fairly regular base (percent was always spelled per cent and every time there was a dash, an odd space appeared in the word following, sometimes in the middle of a contraction like I'm would be I' m). I've never come across anything like it. I hope they get it fixed in the next printing because it was distracting.

Notes in content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: The kids are attacked by some creatures, and Milton is even eaten by a plant at one point. No one is seriously hurt. Death of a parent is part of Fig's back story. There's a broken nose that results in a lot of bleeding at one point. One person falls into a sink hole and gets a little scratched up (some bleeding is described).
Ethnic Diversity: The descriptions of the people are vague enough it is kind of left up to the imagination. The boys' last name is Alvarez so I assume they have a Latino background.
LGBTQ+ content: None
Other: Divorce is talked about a bit. Rafi is dealing with third culture kid issues from moving a lot.

[Farah G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Milton P. Greene is having a rotten year so far - he's no longer on talking terms with his best friend Dev, an unfortunate incident at school has led to him being bullied (and nicknamed "Bird Brain"), and his parents appear to be heading straight for a divorce.

Milton's only escape from this harsh reality is daydreaming about his alternate existence - albeit in his imagination - as Sea Hawk, adventurous naturalist extraordinaire, and hero of the video game Isle of Wild, to which Milton is addicted.

If things weren't bad enough, Milton's parents take an executive decision, sending him to spend summer with his Uncle Evan on Lone Island. There he meets Fig, a girl who is dealing with a loss of her own, as well as brothers Rafi and Gabe, not all of whom are entirely welcoming - even after Milton, determined not to be seen as a loser in this new location, decides to introduce himself as Sea Hawk!

When Lone Island comes under threat, the kids find common cause, but will their efforts be enough to save it from those who do not care at all about its unique habitat?

This middle grade book is a wonderful read and lives up to the title - delivering exotic flora and fauna, as well as the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way Milton and his companions learn hard lessons about life, friendship, coping strategies, happiness and nature conservation.

Any serious attempt to save Lone Island requires identifying new animal and plant species in order to declare it protected for research purposes. In this regard, the writer comes up with some delightfully whimsical specimens, including the Earthworm Pachyderm, featured in the field guide provided at the end of the book.

Despite some of the serious messages the book contains, it is so much fun to see how Milton's story transforms the Terribly, Horribly, Heinously, Rotten Year he's been having into something altogether different. Highly recommended for those who enjoy middle grade books!


(I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)

[Stephanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mighty moles and voles! What a stupendous, spectacular adventure indeed! ...egads!

Seriously, this was SUCH a fun kids book. If I had paid more attention to the cover details, I might have realized that for a book set in the real world, this island is full of distinctly fantastical flora & fauna - albeit still framed within the lens of scientific discovery - but NOT realizing that actually just made the experience even more fun. They definitely feel inspired by Dr. Doolittle's travels, which is great.

I also loved Milton "Sea Hawk" P. Greene, in all his nerdiness and endearingly ridonkulous vocabulary & speech patterns (illustrated above, as you may have deduced). My husband said it sounds like a book both of us would have loved as kids, and I have to agree.

The "adridged" field guide in the back, featuring sketches and the full version of notes that are excerpted throughout the story (often in dialogue), was really fun to start studying halfway through the book too. Both for the appearance of the creatures -- LIL' SMOOSHIEFACE. or Lord Snarlsly, as he likes to be called -- and for the fact that it means you too can try to solve the riddles & clues in the guide before the kids spell it out for you.

Between 4 & 5 stars right now (but 5 stars no question for the target audience); I don't know if it's a book I would reread, but I also feel like it should definitely be the start of a series, of which I would read more. There are THOUSANDS more species to be discovered and surely plenty of adventures await!

[Cassie Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew from the beginning that Milton P. Greene was going to be a character, both literally and figuratively. Milton had struggled significantly with this year as his parents divorce was finalizing, his best friend abandoned him, and his realization that he was alone, well except for his game Isle of Wild. After a forced trip to his Uncle’s for the summer on a remote island, Milton starts to discover a lot more than just nature. More of himself, what he labels a RESTART.

I love how this book is full of science. It is so important for those students who love science to see themselves in things they read. Nature is huge, and Jess does a great job hitting a love of nature without making you feel like an outsider for enjoying time spent outdoors exploring. (A past time I enjoyed as a kid that I feel is far too avoided anymore). I am also a huge fan of short chapters for middle grade books. My mind just believes that I’m reading so much more and so much faster - even though it’s not the case, but I love how short the chapters are throughout the entire book.
Themes/topics: Nature, science, friendships/relationships, divorce, character development, emotional understanding. There are great vocabulary lessons engrained in the story and wordplay!

[Lisa McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want to say thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC of The Adventure Is Now by Jess Redman. Milton P. Greene, or Sea Hawk, as he sometimes wishes to be called, is an engaging, fun, quirky character that I just fell in love with! He was relatable on so many levels. Earlier this year, Milton did an embarrassing thing, costing him some friends and earning him a nickname of Birdbrain. On top of that, his parents are getting divorced leading him to title this year the Most Totally, Terribly, Horribly, Heinously, Rotten Year of All Time. So he escapes into a handheld video game titled Isle of Wild pretty much constantly. Until his parents decide to send him to spend the summer with his Uncle on a remote island that is in danger of being sold to developers. In his attempts to help his Uncle save the island, Milton has to forge unlikely friendships, face truths about himself, unravel the mystery of the island and experience lots of adventure!

To sum it up, if you want a lively, fast-paced, adventure middle grade book with a heart, this book is it.