Scar Island

About this book

Dan Gemeinhart brings his signature blend of action and heart to a tale of misfits struggling to survive.

Jonathan Grisby is the newest arrival at the Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys — an ancient, crumbling fortress of gray stone rising up from the ocean. It is dark, damp, and dismal. And it is just the place Jonathan figures he deserves. Because Jonathan has done something terrible. And he’s willing to accept whatever punishment he has coming. Just as he’s getting used to his new situation, however, a freak accident leaves the troubled boys of Slabhenge without any adult supervision. Suddenly the kids are free, with an entire island to themselves. But freedom brings unexpected danger. And if Jonathan can’t come to terms with the sins of his past and lead his new friends to safety... then every boy on the island is doomed. Dan Gemeinhart’s most gripping novel yet, this is a tale of misfits and outcasts at odds and in peril, and a redemption story that shines a light on dark truths to reveal that the strongest prisons of all are the ones we build for ourselves.

Reviews

Praise for The Honest Truth:

A New York Times Editors' Choice selection
An Amazon.com Best Book of the Month
An Indie Next List selection

*"An emotionally hard-hitting survival story... A gripping page-turner." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"An impressive combination of suspenseful adventure thriller and cancer narrative... Touching but unsentimental, this is a deeply moving adventure." -- Booklist

"Gemeinhart presents a rousingly riveting two-hanky read." -- Kirkus Reviews


Praise for Some Kind of Courage:

*"This is true adventure with strong underpinnings of moral courage and love... Poignant and real." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*"Exhilarating and enthralling, Courage promises even the most reluctant readers a breakneck adventure that will keep them turning the pages with utter devotion." -- Booklist, starred review

"This is a terrific book, morally thoughtful and wonderfully well told, that 9- to 14-year-olds are likely to cover at a gallop." -- The Wall Street Journal