Nim's Island

By: Wendy Orr

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 2 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

Nim lives on an island in the middle of the wide blue sea, shared by only her father, Jack, a marine iguana called Fred, a sea lion called Selkie, a turtle called Chica, and a satellite dish for her e-mail. No one else in the world lives quite like Nim, and she wouldn't swap places with anyone.

But when Jack disappears in his sail boat and disaster threatens her home, Nim must be braver than she's ever been before. And she needs help from her friends, old and new.

©1999 Wendy Orr (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"[A] fantasy tale as welcome as a breath of fresh tropical air....With ample doses of suspense and comedy...the tale portrays the improbable so cleverly that readers will want to believe everything about the likable Nim and her idyllic isle." ( Publishers Weekly)

Enchanting for All

I loved the movie but I'm glad I didn't miss the book! It is delightful and so cleverly written. This is a true classic in children's literature! -Not that it is just for children. It has appeal for adults, too. The author's plain but sprightly narrative is most engaging. A very worthwhile book!

My daughter's favorite book

My daughter is 5 and doesn't usually have the attention to listen to a chapter book (other than this and the Wizard of Oz) but she asks for this one repeatedly. Something in the story has grabbed her imagination. She says, "it's fun and scary and funny at the same time." The scary parts aren't too scary and she likes that Nim helps the adults and the bad guys don't win. This is a great book. Not too simplistic because it grabbed my imagination, too.

Sea Girls Dream

My daughter dreams of swimming with sharks and living on the water. She has kayaked the islands of Tampa Bay, and studied the ocean in school. This audio book took her into her dreams. She read the book and then enjoyed just listening to the story over again. We both agree the movie was good, the book was better.

Great Deserted Island Tale

Nim is such a great, strong girl character! She and her friends (a sea lion, a marine iguana, and a great green turtle) survive alone on the island while her father is adrift in a broken-ruddered boat. The email correspondence with Alex is perhaps a little contrived and the ending is incredibly fortuitous but you will be happy with it! I know I was.

A Movie in Your Head

Thank God, for Children's Books
I like books from all genres, but mostly I like well written, entertaining books I can get lost in. Nim's Island is a beautiful story on a beautiful Island. Nim's days are busy with play, friends and chores. The Island provides all her needs. The writing is so well done, that you will feel the warmth of the sun on your face, the spray of the ocean, and the warm breeze. I have been disappointed in several adult books lately and I am so glad I found this little story of escape. Kids, will like it, but I liked as an adult.

Delightful Adventure

What did you love best about Nim's Island?

The story line was well written and entertaining.

Which character – as performed by Kate Reading – was your favorite?

Both Nim and Alex were interesting characters as well as the animals.

Any additional comments?

A great book for all ages. It is well written and the narrator, Kate Reading, does an excellent job. Nim's animal friends are cute and interesting. The story is filled with adventure. Wendy Orr describes the island so that you feel as if you can picture it in your mind. Parents and children will enjoy this. Much better than the movie.

Wow 😮

I am a little disappointed
But it is still awesome 👏🏻
It reminds me of my side of the mountain

Just this Side of Reality

An enchanting MG Contemporary Fantasy

BOOK DETAILS:
Nim's Island by Wendy Orr, read by Kate Reading, published by Blackstone Audio (2008) / Length: 2 hrs 25 min

SERIES INFO:
This is Book #1 of 3 in the Nim series. It is the only one available on audio.

SUMMARY:
It could be argued that this book is not really fantasy, it is just a book about a very imaginative little girl who is good with animals. That's probably true; but it reads more like a fantasy than a straightforward contemporary, so I feel comfortable reviewing it here on the blog.

Although the book is very short, it feels longer (in a good way). And it is strong in all three areas I generally review (see below).

CHARACTERS:
Nim: Although she is very mature for her age, and able to take care of herself pretty well, she is also a typical child. She loves to have fun, such as playing coconut soccer with her "friends," and throws a bit of a tantrum when things aren't what she thought they were.

The human supporting cast includes Jack (her father) & adventure writer Alex(andra) Rover. If I was reviewing this as a contemporary review, I might have to say some harsh things about Jack's parenting. But I'm not, so I can say that he is a loving & fun father who is raising a smart & self-sufficient daughter. / The animal friends are bursting with personality. Selkie, the sea-lion nanny, reminds me of Nana from Peter Pan.

WORLDBUILDING:
Although in real life I would probably hate the heat & humidity, this definitely makes me want to take a vacation to her island. There are so many details here of all the wonderful things in Nim's life. As well as a few not so wonderful ones, such as dead & rotting things - yuck.

PLOT:
This is a really short book, and yet a lot of things happen. We get to start out with a more typical view of her life with regular chores & scientific chores plus fun with her animal friends. Then things start to get more & more serious as she loses contact with her father and complications ensue. The ending resolves all of these issues while leaving their future open to changes.

HIGHLIGHTS:
--All the times they say they love something "the way..."
--An avian postman

I COULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT: dead sharks

CONTENT NOTES(?): Nim's mother died in an accident at sea (caused by the irresponsible actions of others.)

NARRATION:
Character voices differentiated = Yes, I wasn't always fond of Alexandra's / Opposite sex voices acceptable = Yes / Phrasing, Pacing & Pronunciation = Good / Emoting = Good, especially angry Nim / Speed = listened on 1.25, my usual

Delightful

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was funny and entertaining. It was also nice to see a strong, girl heroine.

Delightful!

The story is precious and the narrator brought it to life. Absolutely adorable.