This Island Isn't Big Enough for the Four of Us

Peter and Scott excitedly plan a camping trip to a deserted island, only to arrive and discover that two girls with zany senses of humor are already in residence.

Grade 4-8 Scott and Pete have long anticipated their week together on uninhabited Turtle Island; but their plans develop some crimps when Scott's uncle, for whose company they are field-testing a tent, gives them the cutesy Hansel and Gretel model. Worse, their ``deserted'' island turns out to be inhabited by two girls, who are always there to jeer when the boys make fools of themselves (which is often); by their aunt, a wildlife photographer; and by Cornelius, a writer who lives in a tree house . The plot, which revolves around one-upmanship between the boys and the girls, is mostly silly: the boys attack the girls' tent pretending to be vampire wolverines, but the girls are on to them and get the upper hand; the island's males face off against the females to see who can complete a task first, and both teams resort to trickery; the boys trick the girls into believing that there's a big reward for their befriending two turtles who are reputed to be former pets of a rich woman, etc. However some of the dialogue is amusing, and the characters are individuals. This fast-moving story should provide some laughs even for reluctant readers. Susan F. Marcus, Pollard Middle School, Needham, Mass.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Scott and Pete picture themselves as intrepid explorers, charting a deserted island by naming field, forest, stream and cove. In reality, they're stuck with a tent decorated to look like a gingerbread house, and the deserted island has at least two other people on itSunny and Jillwho take pictures of some of the boys' most embarrassing moments. Enter Cornelius, an eccentric author who has built a treehouse on the island, and Jill's Aunt Katherine. What follows is a short battle of the sexes that ends in a draw. This isn't a very demanding book; it's summer reading with humorous moments and an occasional strain for the punchline. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.