Growing Up

I just finished reading Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder (2017, 269 pages) for a class discussion. I chose this book because it was praised by Kelly Regan Barnhill, the author of another book I read and loved. At first, I thought it was a delightful fantasy novel about an island and the mysteries of what lay beyond. It is that, however, it is also about the inevitability of growing up. Jinny, the main character, loves her life on the island, her childhood. There will come a time when she must leave the island behind. She must grow up. This is the story of her journey through this transition, all of the decisions she makes, for good or for bad, and the consequences of those decisions. Along with this journey of growing up are other lessons: you can’t always get what you want; there are different ways to be alone; every person is unique and should be appreciated for their unique qualities; and not everyone learns the same way. While this book is geared toward children around age twelve, it is no less relevant for older youth or even for adults. We all sometimes need a reminder that change isn’t necessarily bad, change is how we grow.

Other books about growing up…

Addie Bell’s Shortcut to Growing Up