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Island Boyz
In this rich collection, Salisbury’s love for Hawaii and its encircling sea shines through every story. Readers will share the rush a boy feels when he leaps off a cliff into a ravine or feasts his eyes on a beautiful woman. They’ll find stories that show what it takes to survive prep school, or a hurricane, or the night shift at Taco Bell, or first love. Graham Salisbury knows better than anyone what makes an island boy take chances. Or how it feels to test the waters, to test the limits, and what it’s like when a beloved older brother comes home from war, never to be the same.
From the Hardcover edition.
From the Hardcover edition.
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
12 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Graham Salisbury
32 books99 followersGraham Salisbury comes from a 100-year line of newspapermen, all associated with Hawaii's morning paper, the Honolulu Advertiser. Although a career as a newsman could have been possible, Salisbury chose to imagine rather than report. "I enjoy writing about characters who might have been. To me, exploring fictional themes, situations, and lives is a quietly exhilarating experience. There are times when completely unexpected happenings take place as my fingertips walk the keyboard, things that make me laugh or get all choked up or even amaze me."
Salisbury's drive to write about the emotional journey that kids must take to become adults in a challenging and complicated world is evident throughout his work. Says the author: "I've thought a lot about what my job is, or should be as an author of books for young readers. I don't write to teach, preach, lecture, or criticize, but to explore. And if my stories show characters choosing certain life options, and the possible consequences of having chosen those options, then I will have done something worthwhile."
His books -- Eyes of the Emperor, Blue Skin of the Sea, Under the Blood-Red Sun, Shark Bait, Jungle Dogs, Lord of the Deep, Island Boyz and his short stories, too -- have been celebrated widely with praise and distinguished awards. Graham Salisbury, winner of the PEN/Norma Klein Award, grew up on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Later, he graduated from California State University, Northridge, and received an MFA degree from Vermont College of Norwich University. In fact, he was a member of the founding faculty of Vermont College's highly successful MFA program in Writing for Children, now the Union Institute & University.
Other important things to know about this author: He worked as the skipper of a glass-bottom boat, as a deckhand on a deep-sea charter fishing boat, and as an Montessori elementary school teacher. His
rock-and-roll band, The Millennium, had a number one hit in the Philippines, which he composed. He once surfed with a shark, got stung by a Portuguese man-of-war (several times!), and swam for his life from a moray eel. Believe it or not, he didn't wear shoes until the sixth grade and never saw snow until he was nineteen. Graham Salisbury now lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.
Salisbury's drive to write about the emotional journey that kids must take to become adults in a challenging and complicated world is evident throughout his work. Says the author: "I've thought a lot about what my job is, or should be as an author of books for young readers. I don't write to teach, preach, lecture, or criticize, but to explore. And if my stories show characters choosing certain life options, and the possible consequences of having chosen those options, then I will have done something worthwhile."
His books -- Eyes of the Emperor, Blue Skin of the Sea, Under the Blood-Red Sun, Shark Bait, Jungle Dogs, Lord of the Deep, Island Boyz and his short stories, too -- have been celebrated widely with praise and distinguished awards. Graham Salisbury, winner of the PEN/Norma Klein Award, grew up on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Later, he graduated from California State University, Northridge, and received an MFA degree from Vermont College of Norwich University. In fact, he was a member of the founding faculty of Vermont College's highly successful MFA program in Writing for Children, now the Union Institute & University.
Other important things to know about this author: He worked as the skipper of a glass-bottom boat, as a deckhand on a deep-sea charter fishing boat, and as an Montessori elementary school teacher. His
rock-and-roll band, The Millennium, had a number one hit in the Philippines, which he composed. He once surfed with a shark, got stung by a Portuguese man-of-war (several times!), and swam for his life from a moray eel. Believe it or not, he didn't wear shoes until the sixth grade and never saw snow until he was nineteen. Graham Salisbury now lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 30, 2017
Very much Local stories and told like you would actually hear. Miss my days on the islands!
July 10, 2024
A collection of short stories all coming of age. Just what I needed to get out of my book funk cuz these made ya feel something. If you liked the things they carried by Tim Obrien this is same vibes but all set on different islands of Hawaii and throughout various time periods. It was cool because a few of the stories were set in my neighborhood.
December 7, 2017
Lovely character development set on Hawaiian islands. I've love anything I have read by Salisbury. Had to buy a used copy but it is a keeper.
November 1, 2018
Its a good book and really expresses the life of a kid thats on an island by himself and how he survives.
did-not-finish
October 15, 2016Read Mrs. Noonan and Frankie Diamond is Robbing Us Blind on 8/11/12.
Review of Frankie Diamond is Robbing Us Blind:
"Frankie Diamond is Robbing Us Blind" comes from a collection by Graham Salisbury entitled Island Boyz, in which he writes about the experience of growing up in Hawaii. Though other stories in the collection are interesting, this one caught my eye especially because I recognized the story’s title character from the Calvin Coconut series. In fact, the ShortBoyz identified at the start of this story are all Calvin Coconut characters, as are almost all the other characters who appear in it. The only differences are that the characters are older in this story than in the series, and Calvin isn’t named Calvin, but Joey.
As in the Calvin Coconut books, Frankie Diamond is a notorious bully who picks on kids who are younger, smaller, and weaker than he is, in order to steal from them or just intimidate them. Frankie really comes to life in this story, as he gives the ShortBoyz new, patronizing nicknames, and at the same tries to convince Darcy, Joey’s little sister, to trust him. A character named Lynnette also makes things interesting when she agrees to defend Joey and his friends from Frankie, but winds up actually starting to like him instead. Though it’s not exactly the same, this plot is quite similar to events that happen in the newest Calvin Coconut book, Rocket Ride.
I think the best thing about this story is that it gives the reader insight into Salisbury’s development of Calvin Coconut as a character. It’s interesting to think about and discuss the changes in Joey as he becomes Calvin, and to look at the ways this story foreshadows certain events in the Calvin Coconut series, but leaves out the possibility of others. It’s also a great study in using local color in dialogue. I could hear nearly every nasty word that came out of Frankie’s mouth, thanks to Salisbury’s judicious use of slang and dialect.
Use this story to open up a discussion about bullying, to get kids hooked on Salisbury’s writing, and to share Hawaiian culture and language with kids who have never been exposed to island life.
Review of Frankie Diamond is Robbing Us Blind:
"Frankie Diamond is Robbing Us Blind" comes from a collection by Graham Salisbury entitled Island Boyz, in which he writes about the experience of growing up in Hawaii. Though other stories in the collection are interesting, this one caught my eye especially because I recognized the story’s title character from the Calvin Coconut series. In fact, the ShortBoyz identified at the start of this story are all Calvin Coconut characters, as are almost all the other characters who appear in it. The only differences are that the characters are older in this story than in the series, and Calvin isn’t named Calvin, but Joey.
As in the Calvin Coconut books, Frankie Diamond is a notorious bully who picks on kids who are younger, smaller, and weaker than he is, in order to steal from them or just intimidate them. Frankie really comes to life in this story, as he gives the ShortBoyz new, patronizing nicknames, and at the same tries to convince Darcy, Joey’s little sister, to trust him. A character named Lynnette also makes things interesting when she agrees to defend Joey and his friends from Frankie, but winds up actually starting to like him instead. Though it’s not exactly the same, this plot is quite similar to events that happen in the newest Calvin Coconut book, Rocket Ride.
I think the best thing about this story is that it gives the reader insight into Salisbury’s development of Calvin Coconut as a character. It’s interesting to think about and discuss the changes in Joey as he becomes Calvin, and to look at the ways this story foreshadows certain events in the Calvin Coconut series, but leaves out the possibility of others. It’s also a great study in using local color in dialogue. I could hear nearly every nasty word that came out of Frankie’s mouth, thanks to Salisbury’s judicious use of slang and dialect.
Use this story to open up a discussion about bullying, to get kids hooked on Salisbury’s writing, and to share Hawaiian culture and language with kids who have never been exposed to island life.
March 18, 2014
A 3.5, anyway. I quite like the last story, "Hat of Clouds."
I find the various ethical and emotional dilemnas faced by the characters compelling. For instance, I like that Vinny in "The Ravine" is able to overcome peer pressure to jump off a high ledge into a pond where another boy recently died. What makes this an especially good moment in my eyes is that he refuses the jump not for ethical or even necessarily safety reasons, but because he's uncomfortable with it. That's reason enough, but I think kids and teens often don't feel that way.
The ethics are also very interesting in "Mrs. Noonan" - I'm surprised by the ending, but kind of pleased. Yes, it was a super-dishonest and underhanded way to take out the school bully, but the school bully was a terrible person and our protagonist didn't have a lot of options. I'm not normally an "ends justify the means" type, necessarily, but I do find this story satisfying.
I find the various ethical and emotional dilemnas faced by the characters compelling. For instance, I like that Vinny in "The Ravine" is able to overcome peer pressure to jump off a high ledge into a pond where another boy recently died. What makes this an especially good moment in my eyes is that he refuses the jump not for ethical or even necessarily safety reasons, but because he's uncomfortable with it. That's reason enough, but I think kids and teens often don't feel that way.
The ethics are also very interesting in "Mrs. Noonan" - I'm surprised by the ending, but kind of pleased. Yes, it was a super-dishonest and underhanded way to take out the school bully, but the school bully was a terrible person and our protagonist didn't have a lot of options. I'm not normally an "ends justify the means" type, necessarily, but I do find this story satisfying.
April 10, 2012
PRESENTATION
Island Boyz is a collection of short stories with teen male protagonists set in Hawaii. The tales range from a trip to a supposedly haunted waterfall to preteen boys dealing with a disabled classmate at a remote boarding school. What stands out the most to me, however, is Salisbury's spot-on description of the islands where I grew up. Hawaii itself becomes a character in these stories, whether as a hot and humid heat or the power of a hurricane descending upon a couple of stupid boys who decide to go out in it. I also appreciate that the Hawaii Salisbury depicts is the everyday Hawaii filled with real people and real problems, not the romanticized, idyllic vacation getaway that so many associate with the islands. Recommended for teen boys and anyone interested in reading realistic teen fiction set in Hawaii.
Island Boyz is a collection of short stories with teen male protagonists set in Hawaii. The tales range from a trip to a supposedly haunted waterfall to preteen boys dealing with a disabled classmate at a remote boarding school. What stands out the most to me, however, is Salisbury's spot-on description of the islands where I grew up. Hawaii itself becomes a character in these stories, whether as a hot and humid heat or the power of a hurricane descending upon a couple of stupid boys who decide to go out in it. I also appreciate that the Hawaii Salisbury depicts is the everyday Hawaii filled with real people and real problems, not the romanticized, idyllic vacation getaway that so many associate with the islands. Recommended for teen boys and anyone interested in reading realistic teen fiction set in Hawaii.
May 14, 2010
Good collection of short stories from Graham Salisbury. The different voices and differing writing style used in the stories was refreshing. My favorite stories were probably the last three: "The Doi Store Monkey," "Angel-Baby," and "Hat of Clouds."
February 5, 2009
Good compilation of short stories set on various islands in hawaii. Enjoyed a lot more than I thought I would.
May 7, 2009
I really liked the title poem, but I could only read a few of the short stories before I gave up. They just didn't interest me.
September 21, 2009
Graham Salisbury is a skilled writer. This book is probably just as good as Blue Skin of the Sea, except I'm not as much of a short story person as novel person.
October 19, 2016
I thought it was a really great book and loved all of the short stories about Hawaii, as they use lots of sensory details as well as a lot of visualization. I would recommend this book to anyone.
March 24, 2017
Gem: "Waiting for the War."
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews