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Island Sting
Kenzie didn't expect her first summer in the Florida Keys to be murder. Or cute guys, awesome boats, endangered species, and gun-toting thugs... When city girl Kenzie Ryan moves to a Florida wildlife refuge, she plunges straight into an eco-mystery. Kenzie trades New York streets for Keys pollution cleanup, and now, instead of hailing cabs, she's tracking down a poacher of endangered Key deer. Her new home does have some benefits-mainly Angelo, an island native, who teams up with her to nab the culprit. But will they both survive when the killer turns from stalking deer to hunting humans? Island Sting includes notes on the endangered Florida Key Deer and the National Key Deer Refuge.
280 pages
First published January 6, 2010
1 person is currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Bonnie J. Doerr
5 books3 followersKidlit author. I observe. I read. I write. I dig. I pull. I plod. I need wide open spaces. Room to make my big mistakes. And if I can't be a good example, I'll just have to be a dire warning.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 17, 2010
While in college, I picked up a copy of John Grisham’s The Pelican Brief at about 10:00 at night the week of finals. I was worn out from studying and I just needed a little break. Big mistake. I finished the book at about 4am and then spent the next day of finals sub existing on coffee and cursing Grisham’s name. He wrote an un-put-downable book. That’s all well and good for adult novels about lawyers and conspiracies, but can such an experience be recreated in a book for younger readers?
Esteemed Reader, it can. Bonnie Doerr has done it. Island Sting is an un-put-downable book. Don’t believe me? Try reading the first chapter. Heck, the first page! You will flip that page, and then you will read the next, and you will not be able to stop until the book is finished. In fact, my first time through I read it so fast I forgot to make any notes for this review and so I had to go back through it a second time, which was sort of like watching a magic trick in slow motion to see how it was done. Fortunately, studying the way a book was crafted doesn’t ruin the trick, but instead deepens my appreciation for it.
That’s all good and well for me as I already had the experience of enjoying the book when it was fresh and new, but I don’t want to ruin it for you, Esteemed Reader. So here’s the plan: I’m going to do a summary and review and those of you who don’t care for having your magic tricks ruined before you see them should stop there. Those of you who have read the book or don’t mind having it dissected before hand can stick around and we’ll talk craft.
The story of Island Sting is thus: Kenzie Ryan and her mother have moved from New York to the wildlife refuge of Big Pine Key 30, just outside of Key West. In addition to adjusting to her new home among the critters, Kenzie is also dealing with her parent’s recent divorce. After rescuing a dear from drowning, Kenzie is drawn into a rollicking environmental mystery involving a poacher who enjoys torturing and murdering deer, and who might just enjoy torturing and murdering a certain nosey girl. Who is this poacher? Well, that’s the mystery. Along the way, Kenzie hooks up with Angelo, a smoldering hunk of boy who is an area native and well informed about the local wildlife. Will Angelo and Kenzie catch the poacher and stop the slaughter of innocent deer, or will the poacher catch them? Will Angelo and Kenzie share a kiss in the woods? Will Kenzie enjoy the silence of the deer (and dog) ala Clarice Starling style redemption? Will I stop asking these questions and get on with it?
Yes. Yes I will. Island Sting is a fast paced adventure mystery that readers will love whether they’re green teens or older ninjas. It comes highly recommended from me if you’re a lover of books, and extra recommended if you’re a writer looking to hone your craft. You’re going to have a good time and you’re going to learn a lot about the environment in the Keys. But not in a science class sort of way; in a Michael Crichton we’re-learning-about-genetic-engineering-and-palentology-to-better-appreciate-it-when-the-Tyranosaurus-Rex-tries-to-chomp-folk sort of way. In fact, there’s an educational section at the end of the book so that Island Sting easily lends itself to the classroom setting .
My review in three words: read this book. Bonnie Doerr knows her way around the woods, so to speak, and she will show you a heck of a good time. That’s that. Review finished. From here on out, I’m going to talk about how there were actually two people in the box Doerr cut in half, and that’s why the legs kept kicking. If you’re not interested in that, thanks for reading and check back on Friday when we’ll have Ms. Doerr herself here to face the 7 questions. I’ll give you a paragraph break to navigate away now.
For those of you still here, let me ask you: when’s the last time you read a book that was too suspenseful, or too exciting? I’ll wager you’ve never read that book and if I told you I had, you would want to know the title of that book so you could read it. The secret ingredient in Island Sting is conflict, conflict upon conflict upon conflict upon glorious conflict. There is not a chapter in this novel that is not driven by conflict from the first page on. Angelo and Kenzie never just shoot the breeze, they spar back and forth, and beneath their apparent bickering, we sense the tension of romance. Even as they are discussing science, they are at odds and the reader plows through exposition without recognizing it or being slowed by it because there is conflict to be enjoyed.
The book opens:
Splash!
Ripples circled across the dark water farther down the canal. Kenzie scrambled through the mangrove thicket, stumbling over tangled roots toward the disturbance.
Who is Kenzie? What color is her hair, her eyes? What’s her age? What is her background? You don’t know these things and should I reprint the entire first chapter of this novel, which I would like to do but might get in trouble for, you would not know them. And those things do not matter. Doerr doesn’t slow down to tell us. Instead, she focuses on the disturbance in the water, which is a drowning animal, and Kenzie’s will to rescue it. Kenzie puts herself in harm’s way and is nearly killed just after this (is it a spoiler if I tell you she doesn’t die in the first chapter?). And that is all you need to know about this character to be drawn into the story at once. Eye color, background—these things do not a character make. A willingness to put one’s self at risk for the life of an animal makes a character. At the core, this is who Kenzie is and why we care about her. After this chapter, we know that anytime an animal’s life is at risk, Kenzie will be compelled to act.
Now, of course, Doerr does work in exposition along the way, and that’s how it should be done. If you want to write a book as exciting as Island Sting, start with conflict and fill in only the most necessary exposition only when it is needed. If you start your book with character detail rather than character conflict, you’re less likely to hook the reader, and the longer you delay conflict, the longer you test reader patience. Doer knows this, which is why she starts her conflict with the first word: Splash!
I see we’re nearly out of time. So let me make two more observations and close with some excerpts from the book. When we do learn about Kenzie’s back story, we learn most of it through an argument with her mother. That’s right. The conflict doesn’t stop for a little thing like exposition. We are interested in the fight and just happen to learn the back story along the way, just as we learn science through sparing matches between Kenzie and Angelo. This method works. Pages keep turning and the job of informing the reader gets done.
The exposition that is most essential, Kenzie’s motivation for saving animals, is what Doerr wisely focuses on. It turns out Kenzie feels responsible for the death of her dog and has vowed never to allow another animal to die on her watch. This is Batman vowing never to let what happened to his parents happen to other citizens of Gotham. This is the hero cop whose partner is gunned down in the opening scenes of the movie, and now it’s personal. It’s a tried and true formula that works. Island Sting is above all things an excellent example of proven methods of creating suspense and it works. If you want to write an exciting story readers will not walk away from, study this book.
Okay. That’s it. I’ll leave you with excerpts and the thing to notice is Doerr’s sparse use of words and great use of white space. In sections, the prose reads like a sort of action poetry. Island Sting is engineered to be read fast:
The ground collapsed.
Splash!
She plunged into the canal.
Splatter. Splat.
A landslide of gravel tumbled after her.
There had to be an opening in the edge of the dense undergrowth. Yes. A trail. Prickly branches grasped her clothes, caught her hair. She ducked and scrunched sideways as she squeezed along the deer trail.
Pop. Pop.
Kenzie jumped. Rustle. Rustle.
She cringed.
A lizard scurried through the underbrush.
She flinched. A giant winged shadow swooped across her path.
Whoosh!
Kenzie hit the dirt.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Face down. Hands on head.
Air rushed. One huge bird. Wings flapped. Two. Another and another brushed by.
She peeked between her arms.
Swoosh!
Savage hooked beak.
Zoom!
Massive wings.
Visit me at WWW.MIDDLEGRADENINJA.BLOGSPOT.COM to read an interview with the author, as well as other writer interviews and book reviews.
Esteemed Reader, it can. Bonnie Doerr has done it. Island Sting is an un-put-downable book. Don’t believe me? Try reading the first chapter. Heck, the first page! You will flip that page, and then you will read the next, and you will not be able to stop until the book is finished. In fact, my first time through I read it so fast I forgot to make any notes for this review and so I had to go back through it a second time, which was sort of like watching a magic trick in slow motion to see how it was done. Fortunately, studying the way a book was crafted doesn’t ruin the trick, but instead deepens my appreciation for it.
That’s all good and well for me as I already had the experience of enjoying the book when it was fresh and new, but I don’t want to ruin it for you, Esteemed Reader. So here’s the plan: I’m going to do a summary and review and those of you who don’t care for having your magic tricks ruined before you see them should stop there. Those of you who have read the book or don’t mind having it dissected before hand can stick around and we’ll talk craft.
The story of Island Sting is thus: Kenzie Ryan and her mother have moved from New York to the wildlife refuge of Big Pine Key 30, just outside of Key West. In addition to adjusting to her new home among the critters, Kenzie is also dealing with her parent’s recent divorce. After rescuing a dear from drowning, Kenzie is drawn into a rollicking environmental mystery involving a poacher who enjoys torturing and murdering deer, and who might just enjoy torturing and murdering a certain nosey girl. Who is this poacher? Well, that’s the mystery. Along the way, Kenzie hooks up with Angelo, a smoldering hunk of boy who is an area native and well informed about the local wildlife. Will Angelo and Kenzie catch the poacher and stop the slaughter of innocent deer, or will the poacher catch them? Will Angelo and Kenzie share a kiss in the woods? Will Kenzie enjoy the silence of the deer (and dog) ala Clarice Starling style redemption? Will I stop asking these questions and get on with it?
Yes. Yes I will. Island Sting is a fast paced adventure mystery that readers will love whether they’re green teens or older ninjas. It comes highly recommended from me if you’re a lover of books, and extra recommended if you’re a writer looking to hone your craft. You’re going to have a good time and you’re going to learn a lot about the environment in the Keys. But not in a science class sort of way; in a Michael Crichton we’re-learning-about-genetic-engineering-and-palentology-to-better-appreciate-it-when-the-Tyranosaurus-Rex-tries-to-chomp-folk sort of way. In fact, there’s an educational section at the end of the book so that Island Sting easily lends itself to the classroom setting .
My review in three words: read this book. Bonnie Doerr knows her way around the woods, so to speak, and she will show you a heck of a good time. That’s that. Review finished. From here on out, I’m going to talk about how there were actually two people in the box Doerr cut in half, and that’s why the legs kept kicking. If you’re not interested in that, thanks for reading and check back on Friday when we’ll have Ms. Doerr herself here to face the 7 questions. I’ll give you a paragraph break to navigate away now.
For those of you still here, let me ask you: when’s the last time you read a book that was too suspenseful, or too exciting? I’ll wager you’ve never read that book and if I told you I had, you would want to know the title of that book so you could read it. The secret ingredient in Island Sting is conflict, conflict upon conflict upon conflict upon glorious conflict. There is not a chapter in this novel that is not driven by conflict from the first page on. Angelo and Kenzie never just shoot the breeze, they spar back and forth, and beneath their apparent bickering, we sense the tension of romance. Even as they are discussing science, they are at odds and the reader plows through exposition without recognizing it or being slowed by it because there is conflict to be enjoyed.
The book opens:
Splash!
Ripples circled across the dark water farther down the canal. Kenzie scrambled through the mangrove thicket, stumbling over tangled roots toward the disturbance.
Who is Kenzie? What color is her hair, her eyes? What’s her age? What is her background? You don’t know these things and should I reprint the entire first chapter of this novel, which I would like to do but might get in trouble for, you would not know them. And those things do not matter. Doerr doesn’t slow down to tell us. Instead, she focuses on the disturbance in the water, which is a drowning animal, and Kenzie’s will to rescue it. Kenzie puts herself in harm’s way and is nearly killed just after this (is it a spoiler if I tell you she doesn’t die in the first chapter?). And that is all you need to know about this character to be drawn into the story at once. Eye color, background—these things do not a character make. A willingness to put one’s self at risk for the life of an animal makes a character. At the core, this is who Kenzie is and why we care about her. After this chapter, we know that anytime an animal’s life is at risk, Kenzie will be compelled to act.
Now, of course, Doerr does work in exposition along the way, and that’s how it should be done. If you want to write a book as exciting as Island Sting, start with conflict and fill in only the most necessary exposition only when it is needed. If you start your book with character detail rather than character conflict, you’re less likely to hook the reader, and the longer you delay conflict, the longer you test reader patience. Doer knows this, which is why she starts her conflict with the first word: Splash!
I see we’re nearly out of time. So let me make two more observations and close with some excerpts from the book. When we do learn about Kenzie’s back story, we learn most of it through an argument with her mother. That’s right. The conflict doesn’t stop for a little thing like exposition. We are interested in the fight and just happen to learn the back story along the way, just as we learn science through sparing matches between Kenzie and Angelo. This method works. Pages keep turning and the job of informing the reader gets done.
The exposition that is most essential, Kenzie’s motivation for saving animals, is what Doerr wisely focuses on. It turns out Kenzie feels responsible for the death of her dog and has vowed never to allow another animal to die on her watch. This is Batman vowing never to let what happened to his parents happen to other citizens of Gotham. This is the hero cop whose partner is gunned down in the opening scenes of the movie, and now it’s personal. It’s a tried and true formula that works. Island Sting is above all things an excellent example of proven methods of creating suspense and it works. If you want to write an exciting story readers will not walk away from, study this book.
Okay. That’s it. I’ll leave you with excerpts and the thing to notice is Doerr’s sparse use of words and great use of white space. In sections, the prose reads like a sort of action poetry. Island Sting is engineered to be read fast:
The ground collapsed.
Splash!
She plunged into the canal.
Splatter. Splat.
A landslide of gravel tumbled after her.
There had to be an opening in the edge of the dense undergrowth. Yes. A trail. Prickly branches grasped her clothes, caught her hair. She ducked and scrunched sideways as she squeezed along the deer trail.
Pop. Pop.
Kenzie jumped. Rustle. Rustle.
She cringed.
A lizard scurried through the underbrush.
She flinched. A giant winged shadow swooped across her path.
Whoosh!
Kenzie hit the dirt.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Face down. Hands on head.
Air rushed. One huge bird. Wings flapped. Two. Another and another brushed by.
She peeked between her arms.
Swoosh!
Savage hooked beak.
Zoom!
Massive wings.
Visit me at WWW.MIDDLEGRADENINJA.BLOGSPOT.COM to read an interview with the author, as well as other writer interviews and book reviews.
February 1, 2010
A very interesting mystery novel focusing on one girls' quest to help protect the wildlife on the small island that has become her new home.
Island Sting is a fun young adult read paired with a mystery that is solved by the teenagers involved. Kenzie has just moved down to Big Pine Key and on her first day there gets involved with a local boy and a mystery of who is harming the local deer population. Focusing on a real problem in a real area of the Florida Keys makes this book even more interesting. Kenzie and Angelo make good characters, though we never learn a lot about them. Maggie, Kenzie's mom also plays a small role. Her and Kenzie have a typical mother/daughter teenage relationship - one moment fine, the next moment at odds. Maggie wants the best for Kenzie and wants to protect her, while Kenzie is impulsive and acts without thinking.
The mystery is simple but interesting. I kept guessing through the book and the author does a good job at throwing suspicion in different directions. The plot moves quickly and comes to a satisfying conclusion. I look forward to more books in this series to get to know the characters better.
I think my one minor complaint and the reason I knocked points off of my rating was that there were a lot of different characters that made brief appearances here and there through the book and when they would come back I would be slightly confused on who was who. But that may just be me. I think overall this is a very enjoyable book and well-worth the few hours of reading time I spent. It has a feel-good element to it while still be realistic and that makes it great in my opinion.
Island Sting is a fun young adult read paired with a mystery that is solved by the teenagers involved. Kenzie has just moved down to Big Pine Key and on her first day there gets involved with a local boy and a mystery of who is harming the local deer population. Focusing on a real problem in a real area of the Florida Keys makes this book even more interesting. Kenzie and Angelo make good characters, though we never learn a lot about them. Maggie, Kenzie's mom also plays a small role. Her and Kenzie have a typical mother/daughter teenage relationship - one moment fine, the next moment at odds. Maggie wants the best for Kenzie and wants to protect her, while Kenzie is impulsive and acts without thinking.
The mystery is simple but interesting. I kept guessing through the book and the author does a good job at throwing suspicion in different directions. The plot moves quickly and comes to a satisfying conclusion. I look forward to more books in this series to get to know the characters better.
I think my one minor complaint and the reason I knocked points off of my rating was that there were a lot of different characters that made brief appearances here and there through the book and when they would come back I would be slightly confused on who was who. But that may just be me. I think overall this is a very enjoyable book and well-worth the few hours of reading time I spent. It has a feel-good element to it while still be realistic and that makes it great in my opinion.
January 23, 2010
When I read this book it reminded me a bit of Hoot by Carl Hiaasan in the way that Kenzie and her new friends are trying to stop something harmful going on in a natural environment. What's different is that it is centered around trying to find the one person that is set on poaching these endangered deer.
I admit I was a bit skeptical after reading the first two chapters - thinking I really wouldn't like this one. As the story progresses, however, I really started to enjoy what was going on. There's a bit of crushing on Kenzie's part when she meets the good-looking boy Angelo, but it's not the main focus. I was worried that it would become more of a center to the story line then the more interesting plot of poachers and a plan to help clean up the island - of both a poacher and trash.
Island Sting was a fast and engaging read that involved a bit of mystery, some adventure and a teensy bit of a possible budding romance. It will be interesting to see what Bonnie's next book holds for Kenzie and her new life in the Florida Keys.
Read more: http://www.bookworminginthe21stcentur...
I admit I was a bit skeptical after reading the first two chapters - thinking I really wouldn't like this one. As the story progresses, however, I really started to enjoy what was going on. There's a bit of crushing on Kenzie's part when she meets the good-looking boy Angelo, but it's not the main focus. I was worried that it would become more of a center to the story line then the more interesting plot of poachers and a plan to help clean up the island - of both a poacher and trash.
Island Sting was a fast and engaging read that involved a bit of mystery, some adventure and a teensy bit of a possible budding romance. It will be interesting to see what Bonnie's next book holds for Kenzie and her new life in the Florida Keys.
Read more: http://www.bookworminginthe21stcentur...
March 4, 2015
Ugh. Nothing like a preachy environmental cheesy book for 8 year olds to tick this reviewer off in an airport! I mean, really, what kid would pick this up for fun? I can see it being assigned reading in an Environmental Science class in junior high, but, oh, it's not fun. What kid says "holy ship!"? Add in the childish illustrations and you have a book most students wouldn't check out. The deer pictures are childish and sappy. The bullet holes on the cover hint at adventure, but unless you consider creating a green ecology club adventure, you'll be disappointed.
May 17, 2019
This book is terrible. One, it has bad writing, two, it introduces a ton of unnecessary details that have no addition to the story whatsoever (*Ahem* Chekhov's gun *Ahem*), three, it has blood on the cover, and the back of the book says that "But will they both survive when the killer turns from stalking deer to hunting humans?" that never happens. The closest to that is that Angelo, a boy in the story, makes a poacher mad and the poacher threatens to shoot Angelo so he doesn't get in trouble. NOTHING about actually hunting humans. What a letdown. Written like it is for under 15-year-olds with drawings that both are childish and appeal to children, but the plot is like something someone 70+ would read. Terrible. Would not recommend for anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2011
More like 3.5 stars.
The Short Of It:
Island Sting is a quick read that is part mystery and part eco-thriller that carries a good message.
The Long Of It:
Kenzie and her mom move from New York City to the Florida Keys after her parents’ divorce. The island of Big Pine has a close knit community, where everyone knows everyone else. It is also home to the National Key Deer Refuge. On their very first afternoon on Big Pine, Kenzie goes on a rescue mission when she tries to rescue what she thinks is a drowning dog. This rescue sets Kenzie off on a series of adventures in which she helps solve several mysteries and help coordinate an island clean up day.
Island Sting was one of those books that had been on my radar, but I had never gotten the chance to read it. When it came up for a blog tour, I was excited that my chance to read it had finally come. I was expecting something along the lines of Hoot or Scat for older teens. Instead, it was a story about a newcomer to the Florida Keys learning about Key Deer combined with a small mystery. I say small because the information surrounding the mystery was handed out piece by piece, so that halfway through you know which character’s hunch will end up being correct.
There was an interesting dynamic between Kenzie and her mother. It was obvious that there were in the Florida Keys for a fresh start, to make a new life for themselves. So it was odd that at first they both have negative feelings about their new home. Also, you would think that Ms. Ryan would want Kenzie to explore a bit and become familiar the island, but instead she scolds Kenzie for going out. Maybe I’m buying into the stereotype, but I hear New York City and I think “savvy, I can take care of myself teen.” Ms. Ryan isn’t the only adult that treats Kenzie like she has no clue about keeping herself safe and this made me question her age. There was mention of cars and driving amongst the Kenzie and the other teens, so I assumed that they were around 15 or 16. However, they aren’t always treated like they were in high school and didn’t always act that age. That plus the illustrations that were spread throughout that book, make we lean towards recommending Island Sting to tweens and middle grade readers as well as teen who like stories with an environmental theme.
Other than the age issue, I really like Kenzie. She is inquisitive, clever, caring and willing to work to accomplish her goals. A city girl, now living in a remote town, she learns as much as she can about the Key Deer and puts a lot of effort into helping her new friend, Angelo, solve a mystery that the local law enforcement has not been able to solve. The supporting characters definitely add depth and roundness to the story. In addition to Angelo and his father, Kenzie meets a group of teens, the priest of a local church, and the officers at the National Key Deer Refuge. It’s obvious that Ms. Doerr worked hard to make Big Pine very culturally diverse. I found this to be a nice touch.
The extras like that map of Big Pine and No Name Key and the information on Florida Key Deer were a great addition. It was nice to be able to refer to the map as Kenzie travels to different points of the island. And the author’s note and Additional Information page was perfect for readers who want to learn more about the Florida Keys Deer. Again, I would recommend Island Sting to readers who enjoy reading books about environmental issues, as well as readers who like a little mystery.
The Short Of It:
Island Sting is a quick read that is part mystery and part eco-thriller that carries a good message.
The Long Of It:
Kenzie and her mom move from New York City to the Florida Keys after her parents’ divorce. The island of Big Pine has a close knit community, where everyone knows everyone else. It is also home to the National Key Deer Refuge. On their very first afternoon on Big Pine, Kenzie goes on a rescue mission when she tries to rescue what she thinks is a drowning dog. This rescue sets Kenzie off on a series of adventures in which she helps solve several mysteries and help coordinate an island clean up day.
Island Sting was one of those books that had been on my radar, but I had never gotten the chance to read it. When it came up for a blog tour, I was excited that my chance to read it had finally come. I was expecting something along the lines of Hoot or Scat for older teens. Instead, it was a story about a newcomer to the Florida Keys learning about Key Deer combined with a small mystery. I say small because the information surrounding the mystery was handed out piece by piece, so that halfway through you know which character’s hunch will end up being correct.
There was an interesting dynamic between Kenzie and her mother. It was obvious that there were in the Florida Keys for a fresh start, to make a new life for themselves. So it was odd that at first they both have negative feelings about their new home. Also, you would think that Ms. Ryan would want Kenzie to explore a bit and become familiar the island, but instead she scolds Kenzie for going out. Maybe I’m buying into the stereotype, but I hear New York City and I think “savvy, I can take care of myself teen.” Ms. Ryan isn’t the only adult that treats Kenzie like she has no clue about keeping herself safe and this made me question her age. There was mention of cars and driving amongst the Kenzie and the other teens, so I assumed that they were around 15 or 16. However, they aren’t always treated like they were in high school and didn’t always act that age. That plus the illustrations that were spread throughout that book, make we lean towards recommending Island Sting to tweens and middle grade readers as well as teen who like stories with an environmental theme.
Other than the age issue, I really like Kenzie. She is inquisitive, clever, caring and willing to work to accomplish her goals. A city girl, now living in a remote town, she learns as much as she can about the Key Deer and puts a lot of effort into helping her new friend, Angelo, solve a mystery that the local law enforcement has not been able to solve. The supporting characters definitely add depth and roundness to the story. In addition to Angelo and his father, Kenzie meets a group of teens, the priest of a local church, and the officers at the National Key Deer Refuge. It’s obvious that Ms. Doerr worked hard to make Big Pine very culturally diverse. I found this to be a nice touch.
The extras like that map of Big Pine and No Name Key and the information on Florida Key Deer were a great addition. It was nice to be able to refer to the map as Kenzie travels to different points of the island. And the author’s note and Additional Information page was perfect for readers who want to learn more about the Florida Keys Deer. Again, I would recommend Island Sting to readers who enjoy reading books about environmental issues, as well as readers who like a little mystery.
July 29, 2014
***As originally posted on my blog Ticket to Anywhere***
Island Sting by Bonnie J Doerr was a book that I was really excited about when I first heard about it last year. Its setting, the Florida Keys, is a place where I want to spend more time in...I have visited once but that was just for a few hours during a trip to Florida a few years back. So not only is it a place that I want to know more of its an eco-based mystery....which means science and environmental facts. Island Sting is told from the point of view of Kenzie - who just moved to the Keys with her mom from New York. Her first day there she falls into a canal and helps to save one of the Key Deer and somehow gets involved in a mystery of someone who is killing the deer for sport.
I think I expected more from Island Sting then I got. I expected a mystery something that I'd have to try and figure out but there was no real mystery. Everything was handed to reader so it was very unfulfilling. I don't know maybe I just read too many mysteries and so for me this one was no challenge. I also found the writing to be more middle grade in nature than young adult even though all the teens were 16 or so. Although if it wasn't for the occasional reference to driving a car or high school I'd swear they were more 12 than 16. There were several times I felt like I was being talked down to as things were being explained to Kenzie. For as new girl on the island, the city chick, there was much about island life that she was clueless about.
I also had some issues with the dialogue. It just came across as stilted and didn't always ring true for a teen voice. The description to dialogue transitions didn't always work for me either. There just seemed to be a bunch of words that were edited out so there were these random jumps in events. The character of Angelo also annoyed me. His mood swings were just out of control and I just didn't see anything about him to like. So it was hard to believe that Kenzie was so head over heels for him....especially in the short amount of time in which this book takes place.
For me, this book suffered from having too high expectations. I think if I'd expected less I would have enjoyed it more. Perhaps if it were billed more as middle grade that too would have helped me enjoy it more as then the juvenile language of the book would have had more of a place. I've been reading a lot of YA over the last few years and I know that a more complex writing style and story can really thrive. There will be at least two more books involving Kenzie Ryan and I think that I will check out the next one before completely abandoning her story. Kenzie has potential and perhaps Island Sting just suffered a bit from being a debut book and that with time the writing and the crafting of a mystery will grow and become more of what I like to see when reading a mystery. Until then this is a book that I can only recommend to the younger reader.
***As originally posted on my blog Ticket to Anywhere***
Island Sting by Bonnie J Doerr was a book that I was really excited about when I first heard about it last year. Its setting, the Florida Keys, is a place where I want to spend more time in...I have visited once but that was just for a few hours during a trip to Florida a few years back. So not only is it a place that I want to know more of its an eco-based mystery....which means science and environmental facts. Island Sting is told from the point of view of Kenzie - who just moved to the Keys with her mom from New York. Her first day there she falls into a canal and helps to save one of the Key Deer and somehow gets involved in a mystery of someone who is killing the deer for sport.
I think I expected more from Island Sting then I got. I expected a mystery something that I'd have to try and figure out but there was no real mystery. Everything was handed to reader so it was very unfulfilling. I don't know maybe I just read too many mysteries and so for me this one was no challenge. I also found the writing to be more middle grade in nature than young adult even though all the teens were 16 or so. Although if it wasn't for the occasional reference to driving a car or high school I'd swear they were more 12 than 16. There were several times I felt like I was being talked down to as things were being explained to Kenzie. For as new girl on the island, the city chick, there was much about island life that she was clueless about.
I also had some issues with the dialogue. It just came across as stilted and didn't always ring true for a teen voice. The description to dialogue transitions didn't always work for me either. There just seemed to be a bunch of words that were edited out so there were these random jumps in events. The character of Angelo also annoyed me. His mood swings were just out of control and I just didn't see anything about him to like. So it was hard to believe that Kenzie was so head over heels for him....especially in the short amount of time in which this book takes place.
For me, this book suffered from having too high expectations. I think if I'd expected less I would have enjoyed it more. Perhaps if it were billed more as middle grade that too would have helped me enjoy it more as then the juvenile language of the book would have had more of a place. I've been reading a lot of YA over the last few years and I know that a more complex writing style and story can really thrive. There will be at least two more books involving Kenzie Ryan and I think that I will check out the next one before completely abandoning her story. Kenzie has potential and perhaps Island Sting just suffered a bit from being a debut book and that with time the writing and the crafting of a mystery will grow and become more of what I like to see when reading a mystery. Until then this is a book that I can only recommend to the younger reader.
***As originally posted on my blog Ticket to Anywhere***
August 10, 2010
What better way to hook your readers than have your main character almost drown as she rescues an endangered Key deer and is fished out by a cute guy--all in the first 10 pages of your book? Those are the ingredients that author Bonnie Doerr uses to keep 5th-8th grade readers from putting down this illustrated eco-mystery.
Kenzie Ryan and her newly-divorced mother (Maggie) have just arrived in the Florida Keys. While Maggie is starting her job as a nurse, Kenzie is supposed to be unpacking boxes and setting up housekeeping in their grandmother’s cottage. Instead, she is quickly consumed by an obsession to discover the poacher who is killing the miniature Key deer who make the Big Pine Key their home. Kenzie’s anger towards the unknown poacher is joined with a desire to clean up the litter-strewn island. These two themes intertwine and constitute the backbone of this entertaining and informative book—and become the focal point for the Keys Teens Care group which Kenzie helps form.
Science and language arts teachers will be excited to find a contemporary mystery that can be used across the curriculum. Teachers and students will both be happy with the end notes which provide more history and information about the Key deer and their fragile island environment.
Bonnie Doerr lives in North Carolina but her intimate knowledge of the picturesque Florida Keys comes through on every page. When I wrote to her and complimented her on how well she described this extraordinarily unique setting she said: “I actually consider the setting to be a character in my work. Since I have an environmental theme, I need readers to care about the environment before they will care about any wrong or crime associated with it. I often say I hope readers feel like they're on vacation in the Florida Keys when they read my work. A free vacation with no bugs, no sun burn, and no crowds!”
In my book, Teaching the Story, I discuss how setting should answer the question, "What can happen here?" This example of a well-honed description, prompts the reader to ask that question:
“Cars poured out of the shopping center under an ever-threatening sky. Clouds darkened and billowed upward. Armies of great mushrooms, brewing thunderous time bombs.” (p. 192.)
Whether you read this as an adult or recommend it to your students, I have a challenge for you. How many ways can you find that Ms. Doerr uses the word “sting?” I found two. She told me of a third. Is there a fourth hidden in these pages? Read the book to find out! (Leap Books, 2010)
Kenzie Ryan and her newly-divorced mother (Maggie) have just arrived in the Florida Keys. While Maggie is starting her job as a nurse, Kenzie is supposed to be unpacking boxes and setting up housekeeping in their grandmother’s cottage. Instead, she is quickly consumed by an obsession to discover the poacher who is killing the miniature Key deer who make the Big Pine Key their home. Kenzie’s anger towards the unknown poacher is joined with a desire to clean up the litter-strewn island. These two themes intertwine and constitute the backbone of this entertaining and informative book—and become the focal point for the Keys Teens Care group which Kenzie helps form.
Science and language arts teachers will be excited to find a contemporary mystery that can be used across the curriculum. Teachers and students will both be happy with the end notes which provide more history and information about the Key deer and their fragile island environment.
Bonnie Doerr lives in North Carolina but her intimate knowledge of the picturesque Florida Keys comes through on every page. When I wrote to her and complimented her on how well she described this extraordinarily unique setting she said: “I actually consider the setting to be a character in my work. Since I have an environmental theme, I need readers to care about the environment before they will care about any wrong or crime associated with it. I often say I hope readers feel like they're on vacation in the Florida Keys when they read my work. A free vacation with no bugs, no sun burn, and no crowds!”
In my book, Teaching the Story, I discuss how setting should answer the question, "What can happen here?" This example of a well-honed description, prompts the reader to ask that question:
“Cars poured out of the shopping center under an ever-threatening sky. Clouds darkened and billowed upward. Armies of great mushrooms, brewing thunderous time bombs.” (p. 192.)
Whether you read this as an adult or recommend it to your students, I have a challenge for you. How many ways can you find that Ms. Doerr uses the word “sting?” I found two. She told me of a third. Is there a fourth hidden in these pages? Read the book to find out! (Leap Books, 2010)
December 29, 2010
WARNINGS: Definintely something different.
Island Sting is a good book. Doerr writes in such a way that keeps you interested just enough to keep you reading. There was just something about Kenzie's character that I loved. She cared for animals from the start and was very implusive. She didn't think about anything first; she just jumped right into it.
All of the characters were very well developed and unique. You have a group of kids who want to do something to help their environment and they do it. Of course, they have parents and other people in the neighborhood that loves where they live and they help too.
There are a few pictures through out the book. I liked them and at the same time, I didn't. I liked them because it felt better to have them when this is a book about saving deer. Sometimes, having a few pictures helps you visualize it better. I didn't like them only because sometimes, I would be in a middle of the sentence and the next page would be a picture. I looked at the picture then had to re-read the sentence that I forgot while looking at the picture. But it's not that big a deal.
Addict's Last Words: If you want to read something different, something that shows kids can make a difference, then this is your book.
To Buy or To Borrow: Either or.
Island Sting is a good book. Doerr writes in such a way that keeps you interested just enough to keep you reading. There was just something about Kenzie's character that I loved. She cared for animals from the start and was very implusive. She didn't think about anything first; she just jumped right into it.
All of the characters were very well developed and unique. You have a group of kids who want to do something to help their environment and they do it. Of course, they have parents and other people in the neighborhood that loves where they live and they help too.
There are a few pictures through out the book. I liked them and at the same time, I didn't. I liked them because it felt better to have them when this is a book about saving deer. Sometimes, having a few pictures helps you visualize it better. I didn't like them only because sometimes, I would be in a middle of the sentence and the next page would be a picture. I looked at the picture then had to re-read the sentence that I forgot while looking at the picture. But it's not that big a deal.
Addict's Last Words: If you want to read something different, something that shows kids can make a difference, then this is your book.
To Buy or To Borrow: Either or.
January 4, 2011
Island Sting by Bonnie Doerr is an environmentally friendly middle grade read aimed at children ages 10-12. This is a book about making a difference. When Kenzie rescues a small deer a desire and passion is awoken within her. Kenzie and her friend Angelo gather their friend and do what they can to help protect the endangered Key deer. Cleaning up litter, encouraging tourist to stop feeding the deer and tracking down a poacher make a great adventure story for younger readers. This book was also educational with references to the environment and wildlife of Big Pine Key. The last few pages of the book contain facts about the miniature Key deer and measures that have been taken to protect it.
Review copied from my blog: http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot....
Review copied from my blog: http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot....
November 25, 2010
Kenzie has only been in the Keys a few hours when she finds herself in a canal rescuing what turns out to be a deer. Her rescuer turns out to be the good looking Angelo. She learns that someone is killing the key deer, an endangered species that live in the Florida Keys. She and her new friends set out to clean up the environment and secretly try to find the poacher responsible for the butchered deer. This book reminded me of Carl Hiaasen's "Hoot" and "Flush". I was please to read the first chapter of the next book at the end of this one. This is a book to be placed on my shelf. Since we just finished reading Flush as a class I am sure this one will be quickly picked up.
August 22, 2016
Kenzie and her mom have moved to Big Pine Key--I could totally relate to this since my (single) mom took me and my little brother to live in Key West when I was a young teen. An intriguing mystery, that builds to a satisfying end. Kenzie and her friends are searching for one nasty poacher, and you sure do root for the kids to catch the bugger. Tidbits of ecological information are lightly sprinkled throughout. I think middle grade traders will enjoy this first book. You can read the entire series, out now from Bonnie Doerr.
June 20, 2010
A fast, fun mystery good for younger readers.
September 29, 2010
A great adventure book for younger teenagers, guessing age 9-12 who are interested in the environment, covers a good range of subjects, not a hard going book, it also relates to current issues.
January 18, 2011
A mystery/thriller with storng enviornmentalist overtones. The enviornmental themes are earnest but a bit heavy-handed.
April 5, 2010
Wow! Full of action and drama. A great eco-mystery for younger teens.
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