I first read this short novel in 6th grade and was really drawn into the quick, fast read as well as the challenges 11-year old Philip and Timothy, an old black ship hand, had to face just to survive. Over the course of some 35 years, I've read it a few other times. I just finished reading it to my 9-year-old and enjoyed it again. This is one of those truly timeless tales.

The Cay is almost 40 years old, and was set back in World War II, which required some explaining on my part to my son to set up the background and the war period. However, once that was out of the way, we flew through the pages regarding Philip's adventures after his ship was torpedoed by a Nazi submarine.

The relationship built up between Timothy and Philip, though briefly described in this 144-page book, is powerful. It's stayed with me after all these years, but I still found it fresh and new. Reading it through the first time, I was drawn to Philip and his struggles, but reading it through now, I found myself thinking more of Timothy. Having raised kids of my own, I know how hard it must have been for him to survive alone, much less take care of an 11-year-old boy who was angry at him and didn't want to listen.

This novel is definitely kid-friendly, and provides just enough information to make young minds think about social conditions that have improved but still continue to be a problem. The short, quick sentences, scenes, and chapters beg to be read aloud. And the adventure of simply staying alive on a small tropical island will capture the minds of young readers/listeners.

I was disturbed to find, while researching the author, that he was awarded the Jane Addams Peace and Freedom Foundation Award for The Cay in 1970 only to have them ask for it back after five years. At that point the book was deemed racist and pulled from the shelves for four years. Now it's sold over four million copies.