Stig & Tilde: Vanisher’s Island

Gr 4-6– Twins Stig and Tilde are heading out on their kulku, a local tradition in which 14-year olds are sent to an island to survive on their own. Modern expectations have reduced this one-year survival adventure to one month in a camp-like atmosphere, albeit without adults. When a storm causes the twins’ boat to veer off course, the duo land on a different island than expected and must find ways to survive and also escape. The natural earth tones of the art match the island setting and survival theme and make Tilde’s red-and-white striped shirt and Stig’s red axe stand out on the page. While adults may find the concept of letting 14-year-olds live alone for a month laughable, younger readers will cherish the idea. Tilde’s encounters with the island’s other inhabitant, which involve retelling a murder, may make this book too violent for some readers. This is the first installment in a series that is sure to be loved by readers who enjoy their adventures with just a touch of scary. The survival aspects of the story will resonate with fans of the “I Survived” series; lovers of “Bone” will appreciate the supernatural aspects and be drawn to the illustrations.