silea's review against another edition
3.0
A brutal round of editing could have made this book awesome. As it was, it's too slow. Even as an adult, i was too impatient to get through the protracted first act without skimming.
em_harring's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book from the publisher on Edelweiss; I am not being paid for my review.
The Vanishing Island tells the story of twelve-year-old Bren, who desperately yearns for adventures on the high seas, far away from his town of Map. After a series of unsuccessful runaway attempts, Bren stumbles upon the Order of the Black Tulip, which enables him to go on the sort of adventure he's been hoping for, in search of the island from Marco Polo's final voyage. His talent at recreating maps and objects after seeing them only once makes him an integral part of the mission, as well as his ability to solve riddles and puzzles. What Bren finds one he's at sea, however, makes him question whether or not the adventurous life is the life he wants to lead.
The main plot of this book is solid. The mystery surrounding both the voyage and the Black Order of the Tulip is done well, and leaves the reader wanting to find out what will happen by the end of the book. I also liked that the book is set in a sort of real world/fantastical world hybrid, and that there are a lot of parallels between the actual 1599 in this more fantastical setting. I do think a lot could be said about the dangers of colonialism in this type of series, and it would be interesting to see how it's handled in a book aimed for younger readers.
It's not an entirely unique story, though. A lot of the characters and plot points fall into trope territory. Bren is the usual boy who wants to be a sailor and go on fantastical adventures, only to find out that perhaps it's more dangerous than it seems. He has absent parents and a kindly (though sarcastic) old man that advises him. There's the admiral, who is a character that you can't quite figure out: is he good? Is he bad? Is he both? There's the quiet Mouse, who befriends Bren on the ship and takes on a 'side kick' status. I lot of it was just predictable. And the points that I liked in the plot felt rushed once you get to the end of the book. I felt there could have been a bit more time exploring this possible world and more time developing the answers to the questions that Bren seems to solve awfully quickly.
I think this is a solid enough story for young readers, and while it may be predictable, it is still a fun read. What I hope to see in the next installments of the series is a bit more character development and more time spent exploring the world and its possibilities.
The Vanishing Island tells the story of twelve-year-old Bren, who desperately yearns for adventures on the high seas, far away from his town of Map. After a series of unsuccessful runaway attempts, Bren stumbles upon the Order of the Black Tulip, which enables him to go on the sort of adventure he's been hoping for, in search of the island from Marco Polo's final voyage. His talent at recreating maps and objects after seeing them only once makes him an integral part of the mission, as well as his ability to solve riddles and puzzles. What Bren finds one he's at sea, however, makes him question whether or not the adventurous life is the life he wants to lead.
The main plot of this book is solid. The mystery surrounding both the voyage and the Black Order of the Tulip is done well, and leaves the reader wanting to find out what will happen by the end of the book. I also liked that the book is set in a sort of real world/fantastical world hybrid, and that there are a lot of parallels between the actual 1599 in this more fantastical setting. I do think a lot could be said about the dangers of colonialism in this type of series, and it would be interesting to see how it's handled in a book aimed for younger readers.
It's not an entirely unique story, though. A lot of the characters and plot points fall into trope territory. Bren is the usual boy who wants to be a sailor and go on fantastical adventures, only to find out that perhaps it's more dangerous than it seems. He has absent parents and a kindly (though sarcastic) old man that advises him. There's the admiral, who is a character that you can't quite figure out: is he good? Is he bad? Is he both? There's the quiet Mouse, who befriends Bren on the ship and takes on a 'side kick' status. I lot of it was just predictable. And the points that I liked in the plot felt rushed once you get to the end of the book. I felt there could have been a bit more time exploring this possible world and more time developing the answers to the questions that Bren seems to solve awfully quickly.
I think this is a solid enough story for young readers, and while it may be predictable, it is still a fun read. What I hope to see in the next installments of the series is a bit more character development and more time spent exploring the world and its possibilities.
theartolater's review against another edition
3.0
I think pirates are interesting, but, for whatever reason, the more swashbuckling narratives never seem to grab me. The Vanishing Island is probably the best of the lot that I've had an opportunity to read over the years, but even then, it's been more of a slog than an enjoyment, and part of it may be due to curriculum changes we've seen recently.
Part of the charm of this one is some of the historical nods. A kid desperate to get on a ship ends up apprenticing under Rand McNally, he eventually enlists on a ship searching for Marco Polo's treasure. There's mysterious forces at play as well, so it becomes a sort of classic pirate tale in many regards. Where this book begins to fall flat is the attempts (over and over and over) to include nonfictional pieces within the narrative. The facts strewn about in the story absolutely break the narrative, and drag down the entire story as a result.
It's not unreadable by any means. If you or your kid reader like pirate tales, this is actually a pretty decent one. Certainly better than The Map to Everywhere, as a more recent comparison. It's just frustrating where the book feels like it has a bunch of information crammed into it so the story can be more palatable to a Common Core era. There's no need for it, and it could have been a much better story if it was a lot tighter on a whole.
Part of the charm of this one is some of the historical nods. A kid desperate to get on a ship ends up apprenticing under Rand McNally, he eventually enlists on a ship searching for Marco Polo's treasure. There's mysterious forces at play as well, so it becomes a sort of classic pirate tale in many regards. Where this book begins to fall flat is the attempts (over and over and over) to include nonfictional pieces within the narrative. The facts strewn about in the story absolutely break the narrative, and drag down the entire story as a result.
It's not unreadable by any means. If you or your kid reader like pirate tales, this is actually a pretty decent one. Certainly better than The Map to Everywhere, as a more recent comparison. It's just frustrating where the book feels like it has a bunch of information crammed into it so the story can be more palatable to a Common Core era. There's no need for it, and it could have been a much better story if it was a lot tighter on a whole.
samantha_randolph's review against another edition
3.0
Bren Owen is bored of his small town, Map. He wants excitement, adventure, and to sail the seas. When a dying sailor gives Bren a strange coin of sorts, Bren’s journey launches into danger, mystery, and more excitement than he ever bargained for.
What I Loved:
The premise of THE VANISHING ISLAND is incredible. I love the mystery behind the Black Tulip, the magic, and the great legends. The mystery of Marco Polo’s journey is especially intriguing, and readers will easily ooh and ahh over the clues as the story builds.
The world building is strong and believable, crafting a setting that seems somewhat familiar and calm but is somehow still ripe with magical possibilities. Map is the kind of teaser town one can easily imagine a young person like Bren feeling trapped in; few opportunities exist for him, yet he is surrounded by explorers making pit stops and telling fantastical stories like those he reads about in his adventure novels.
What Left Me Wanting More:
While I understand Bren’s general motivations, I still had a hard time connecting with him. His character feels surface level, and though he does develop throughout the story, he still seems flat and a bit predictable. The plot is a little slow going at times, which may contribute to not getting a fuller force of Bren’s internal growth as there are fewer areas for his actions to give notice. Secondary character Mouse captured my interest much more easily, and Mouse’s own mystery is sure to keep readers turning the pages. The ending does give hints that a deeper course may await Bren the next book.
Final Verdict:
Though I found it difficult to connect with Bren, the enchanting premise and awesome world building make this a delightful read, perfect for eager young explorers.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/18461-the-vanishing-island-chronicles-of-the-black-tulip-1
What I Loved:
The premise of THE VANISHING ISLAND is incredible. I love the mystery behind the Black Tulip, the magic, and the great legends. The mystery of Marco Polo’s journey is especially intriguing, and readers will easily ooh and ahh over the clues as the story builds.
The world building is strong and believable, crafting a setting that seems somewhat familiar and calm but is somehow still ripe with magical possibilities. Map is the kind of teaser town one can easily imagine a young person like Bren feeling trapped in; few opportunities exist for him, yet he is surrounded by explorers making pit stops and telling fantastical stories like those he reads about in his adventure novels.
What Left Me Wanting More:
While I understand Bren’s general motivations, I still had a hard time connecting with him. His character feels surface level, and though he does develop throughout the story, he still seems flat and a bit predictable. The plot is a little slow going at times, which may contribute to not getting a fuller force of Bren’s internal growth as there are fewer areas for his actions to give notice. Secondary character Mouse captured my interest much more easily, and Mouse’s own mystery is sure to keep readers turning the pages. The ending does give hints that a deeper course may await Bren the next book.
Final Verdict:
Though I found it difficult to connect with Bren, the enchanting premise and awesome world building make this a delightful read, perfect for eager young explorers.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/18461-the-vanishing-island-chronicles-of-the-black-tulip-1
librarianna's review against another edition
1.0
Over 100 pages in and no adventure had me uninterested to continue. Bummer.
Might try to pick up again.
Might try to pick up again.
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