Bright Island

By Mabel L Robinson, Lynd Ward (Illustrator)

Island girl faces mainland school challenges and unexpected friendships.

3.9/5 Goodreads · 519 ratings

288 pages· 63,131 words· Est. 9 hour read

$6.99Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Thankful Curtis, a spirited islander, is uprooted to mainland schooling, facing a frosty roommate, a charming classmate, and a stern teacher with a hidden warmth. As she navigates these new waters, her heart remains tethered to her beloved Bright Island. Will she find her place in this unfamiliar world, or will the call of the sea prove too strong? Dive into Thankful's journey of self-discovery and resilience.

From the publisher

Mabel Robinson’s delightful coming-of-age story won a Newbery Honor in 1938 and garnered extraordinary praise from critics and readers alike. Born and raised on Bright Island off the Maine coast, Thankful Curtis is more like her sea captain grandfather than any of her older brothers are. Nothing suits her better than sailing and helping her father with the farm. But when her dreaded sisters-in-law suggest that Thankful get some proper schooling on the mainland, the wind is knocked from her sails. Thankful finds the uncharted waters of school difficult to navigate: there’s a rocky reception from her rich roommate, Selina; the breezy behavior of the charming Robert; and stormy Mr. Fletcher, the handsome Latin teacher whose caustic tongue masks a tender heart. And while Thankful works hard to make the best of her new life, Bright Island continues to flash in her thoughts, like the sparkle of the sun on the water. The New York Times raved, “One would be hard put to it to find a better contemporary novel than this,” and now this evocative tale can be welcomed by a new generation of readers.