Review: Shipwrecked written by Jenny Pearson and illustrated by Nick East

Well, that was spectacularly stupendous!  Shipwrecked is the PERFECT summer read which swept me into a desert island adventure sparkling with exciting escapades, giggles galore, and fantastic friendships.   

Sebastian Sunrise is excited to have won a place on the Climate Avengers Summer Camp with best friends, Lina and Étienne.  Unfortunately, Sebastian has a penchant for finding trouble so when he loses a volleyball game, he finds himself challenging the winners to a boat race.  What could possibly go wrong?  Well, there is the storm, the overturned boat, the being lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the being hit in the face by fish falling from the sky, and … oh, yes … the being stranded on a desert island.

And so begins the most wonderfully action-packed, laugh-out-loud, heart-warming adventure as the three children become castaways on an island which offers plenty of surprises and challenges.  Will these three friends be able to work as a team to survive on the island, or will its challenges and hardships prove too much for them? 

Oh my goodness!  I absolutely loved spending time with Sebastian, Lina and Étienne on Sunshine Island as they learn how to survive by using the resources on the island to build shelter (and not just any old shelter!) and find food and water, as they work together to protect young turtles from dangerous pirates and as they never give up hope of seeing their families again. 

Lina has been reading Lord of the Flies and is determined that they won’t descend into savagery as she leads the group – but she does have a hatchet and is willing to use it!  Be prepared to meet the most amazing animals in the majestic Tarquin Tarantino who lays her eggs on the beach; in the free-spirited I’ll-do-it-my-way goat Giuseppe Garibaldi; and in the patiently-waiting-to-sting-you jellyfish Julian Jehoshaphat.  The humour in this adventure flows perfectly and brought so many smiles from the banter between the friends to the hilarious situations they find themselves in as they practise their survival techniques whilst trying to have fun!  Burnt bums, toileting trials and blongberry bewitchment await …

As always with Jenny’s characters, Sebastian, Lina and Étienne are incredibly likeable and genuine, and I found myself immediately warming to them, but unable to stop myself giggling at how they deal with the situations they find themselves in.  Each learns more about themselves as they face the challenges and joys of the island and show their individuality and strengths.  They have very different personalities, but they use their strengths to work together as a team, supporting each other and deepening their friendship as they learn to survive on the island and protect its inhabitants from harm. 

My proof copy does not have the illustrations by Nick East, but I have no doubt that they’ll be a perfect addition to enjoy when I buy the published copy.

The perfect summer getaway to an unforgettable, hilarious and heart-warming desert island adventure, perfect for readers of 9+.

Thank you to Usborne Publishing for providing me with a proof copy in exchange for my honest opinion.