Barter Island

by Peter Scott

In this sequel to Peter Scott's first novel, Something in the Water, islanders face another invasion, this one by refugees from the turbulent social upheavals of the late 1960s. In this book, hippies, Vietnam veterans, and back-to-the-landers bring with them beliefs and behaviors that seem to threaten the traditional island ways and outrage the islanders' sense of right and wrong.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

This is NOT the famous naturalist, sportsman, and founder of the World Wildlife Fund. He is listed under his full name:
Peter Markham Scott

Reviews

[Jennifer Fitzpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sense of place is very strong in this tale of island life - from the old timers and back-to-the-landers to returning veterans to the hippies from off island, there is a tie that binds them all, even if they are on opposite sides of the island. The author captures the landscape so well; the characters in this book are people I’ve known, the situations are so familiar, the conversations have been heard before; the community gatherings, the fog, and the ocean all have been experienced. I found joy and familiarity while reading about Maine island life and the inherent struggles.

[Colleen Lahey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book written in third person. Takes a while to get used to flow of the book. Good story once it gets going.