Islands and Enemies

The Imagination Station #28

by Marianne Hering

Over 1 Million Sold in the Series!When kids step into the Imagination Station they travel back in time and across the world with cousins Patrick and Beth. Each book is historically accurate, and readers will grow in their faith and knowledge of history as they race through each unforgettable story.“I find you two children guilty of witchcraft!” Captain Magellan said. “The penalty is death.”Patrick and Beth board the Victoria in 1521 on its journey to try and sail around the world. But they make a bad first impression when they meet Captain Ferdinand Magellan. The cousins are accused of being witches and must prove their innocence. The crew members watch their every move, looking for an excuse to throw the cousins overboard.Meanwhile, Patrick finds a friend who has a secret. Beth becomes the new scribe for the voyage, stirring up jealousy from Antonio Pigafetta, one of Magellan’s best friends. After a surprising miracle happens on the island, the crew—and the cousins—must take Who thinks Magellan is unfit to lead? Who is loyal to Magellan and willing to risk their life to prove it?

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade

147 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2022

About the author

Marianne Hering is a prolific writer, having written hundreds of articles and a number of books for children and parents. For nine years she worked for several magazines in Focus on the Family’s periodicals department and became the editor of Clubhouse, a Focus on the Family children’s magazine with a circulation of more than 100,000.

As a book developer for Focus on the Family, she and coauthor / creative director Paul McCusker launched the Adventures in Odyssey book series The Imagination Station in 2010. Currently the series includes 19 books, with two more contracted for 2017 release. Paul bowed out of his role in 2015 to pursue other creative avenues. The combined sales are more than 450,000.

Currently Marianne is a freelance writer taking assignments. She and her husband live in Colorado with their twin sons.

Reviews

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This is definitely a me thing, but this is the kind of historical fiction I don't like. This is the first book I've read in the series so I don't know much about the kids or the way the Imagination station works, but basically these 2 kids are transported to the 1500's on the Victoria with Magellan, etc. They get thrown in to the battles, etc. but also they are persecuted because people think they're witches since they know so much from the future. I don't know very much about that time period and I felt like this could've used a lot more context. If you were reading this as a companion to or wrap up of a unit study about this time period it would definitely be better, but it wasn't very enjoyable to just pick up and read.

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to my 4 youngest kids, ages 5, 7, 9, and 11. Every one of them LOVED it! They wanted me to read chapter after chapter. It reminded me of a Christian Magic Tree house, but, according to my 11 year old, "more exciting because there's fighting and stuff in it."

They already want more Imagination Station books.

[Alley W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Islands and Enemies is about another adventure that cousins Patrick and Beth take in Mr. Whittaker’s Imagination Ststion. After the cousins become upset with one another after a fall out after school Mr. Whit knows the solution an adventure to Cebu to meet the real life Magellan and learn a lesson in loyalty and what it means to be a true friend. Mr. Whit has given them some new inventions to try out on this adventure that make their trip more memorable.

[Ruth Aguilar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any book that I have read from the Imagination Station Book series has been a beautiful story that has combined history and biblical values.

[Kristi Drillien · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 / 5)

After cousins Beth and Patrick have an argument about loyalty and betrayal, Whit sends them on an adventure in the Imagination Station. They arrive in 1521 and become part of Magellan's expedition to circumnavigate the globe for a few days and along the way learn a little something about loyalty and betrayal.

I like the idea of the Imagination Station so much more when it's more like a holodeck adventure. Since it's apparently meant to be actual time travel in this series, some of the things that happen are just a bit too unbelievable to me. Still, I like the way it brings moments of history to life for young readers, and this one was no exception. Some of the details shared by Beth (who may know more than makes sense for her age, even after having just done a report about one of Magellan's ships) were interesting to learn about.

The time travel aspect and historical characters aside, the actual characters of Beth and Patrick took a hit in this story, in my opinion. While it certainly makes sense that they wouldn't be perfect kids and would even sometimes get into fights with each other, Beth did not know when to keep her mouth shut, and Patrick was just a little jerk at times. Overall, though, it's a fun look at historical accounts, written for kids, from a Christian viewpoint.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers/Focus on the Family for providing me a copy of this book to review.