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Orphan Island

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By DeeDee
Orphan Island
by Laurel Snyder
Walden Pond Press, 2017. Fiction. 269 p.
Jinny has grown up on a secluded island populated by nine orphans.  Every year a boat comes bringing a new child, and taking the oldest of the orphans away.  The new "oldest" orphan takes charge of the new child and teaches him/her the ways of the island.  When it is Jinny's turn to be the oldest, she is uncomfortable with her new responsibility, and begins to question the status quo of their life on the island, with disastrous results.

This is a unique approach to the classic "coming of age" story.  Even though the setting is unusual, Jinny struggles with accepting separation from loved ones and the changes that come with growing up will feel familiar to many young readers. This title is getting a lot of Newbery buzz and it is available in print, as and e-book, and as an audio download.
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