Reviews for Shadow Island: A Tale of Lake Superior

The average rating for Shadow Island: A Tale of Lake Superior based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-05-30 00:00:00 Ole Barre A vacation on the lake of Lake Superior in Northern Wisconsin sounded like a drag to 12-year old Amanda. The resort was completely void of tourists and in the middle of nowhere, the locals attempted to scare families with ghost stories, and she had to be trapped for an entire week with her pesky younger sister Sally. Sounds like a perfect way to ruin the end of a summer. But when she and her best friend Roxanne investigate a ghostly light in a supposed abandoned, old hotel, Amanda, her sister, and her friend will come face-to-face with spirits, spooks, and some humorously incapable terrors on Shadow Island. Once the girls make it to the island by rowboat, accompanied by the family's loyal dog Tulip, strange things start to happen. Their boat mysteriously drifts away from the shore and they are chased by corpse-like monsters. Once inside the hotel, they see the ghost of a woman the locals say was killed many years ago. But ghosts don't really exist, do they? The spooks chase the girls around the hotel, leading to the discovery of secret rooms and pieces to the puzzle of several murders and disappearances of past locals near Shadow Island. The girls' cleverness is no match for the group of bumbling bad guys. But as the trek to the island becomes more than just a ghostly exploration, Amanda, Sally, and Roxanne must rush to solve the mystery and help out a few spirits in need before time runs out. Will Amanda escape Shadow Island before the night is over? Shadow Island is a fun story of spooks and ghouls, and author Raymond Bial does a fantastic job of also encouraging the idea of friendship and family throughout. Like most siblings, Amanda and Sally do what sisters do best'squabble. This friendly banter will be relatable to young readers with siblings, and in the end, the sisters are always there for each other. When the girls must help others, they always choose to do the right thing when the time comes, even if those in need are not even human. The book is a profound example of the bonds of love and family in times of trouble and times of joy. Bial's descriptions of Lake Superior in Shadow Island create a picturesque backdrop for a spooky story. Going up north is a staple of Wisconsin summers for many folks and those who have spent time in the north woods will be familiar with the cabin scene and will be able to feel the cool, wooded air and hear the lap of the waves on the lake shore as they read through the book. It would be a perfect read for a night around the campfire or anytime a reader is in the mood for a good spook. There are also tie-ins to Midwestern regional history, with gestures to Native American culture that will teach young readers of the past of the places in which they live. Shadow Island is a wacky, mysterious read that will keep young readers flipping the pages to see what will happen next.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-10-11 00:00:00 Waltraud Silver This is a delightfully offbeat, humorous ghost story, set on Lake Superior, as three girls on vacation are drawn mysteriously to a spooky island.