Armstrong Sperry (1897–1976)

A short classic I never read until now. Reminded me a lot of Island of the Blue Dolphins– in that there’s a part where the boy has to survive alone on an island with just his dog, making all the things he needs- clothing from plants, weapons, shelter, etc. But otherwise quite different. About a boy who lives on a Polynesian island, where everyone makes their living on the sea. But he is afraid of it, since a traumatic incident where his mother died and he himself nearly drowned as a small child. He stays on land and perfects other skills: making nets, spearpoints, etc. The other boys mock him and the adults think he won’t amount to much. One day he just can’t stand it anymore and gritting his teeth, shoves his canoe out into the ocean alone. In the face of a storm, no less. With just his dog and a pet albatross following along. He barely makes it to the next island where has to do everything on his own, plus avoid the dangers of sharks, wrestle an octopus, find enough food -including hunting wild pigs- and start a fire from nothing. When he notices another island in the distance has smoke rising, and finds what appears to be an altar on the mountaintop (his island has a peak in the center, unlike the very flat one he came from) he fears that there are cannibals nearby who would use him in their terrible sacrifices. His main goal is to build a canoe so he can get back home, and hear the praise of his family and peers, when they see the proof of his bravery. He faces many challenges and overcomes all in the end, not without plenty of sweat and tears and a few injuries though. Darn good story.… (more)

I remember reading this book years ago for school. Our copy doesn’t have a particularly inspiring cover, so I wasn’t sure if I would like it or not, but as soon as I got into it, I realized the cover was misleading. I loved it!

More recently, when my siblings wanted me to read a book to them one day, we chose this one…and ended up finishing it the same day. This is a gripping read! I love the way it showcases history and how people lived in the past, while also illustrating what it means to be courageous and push yourself outside your comfort zone.

This isn’t an easy story, in some ways—Mafatu faced some very difficult circumstances, and then there are (vague) allusions to horrific worship practices that were not uncommon back then. There are also quite a few mentions of Polynesian gods, as this book is based on a legend that was formed long before any Christian missionaries got to the area.

Overall, though, it’s a great book. It has become a family favorite, one of those books that if someone mentions the title, everyone’s eyes light up. “Yes, that one!”. In my opinion, everyone should read this at least once in their lives. It’s a short, sharp, impactful story, and I’m grateful my mom introduced me to it when I was a child.… (more)

Maftu was afraid of the sea. It had taken his mother when he was a baby, and it seemed to him that the sea gods sought vengeance at having been cheated of Mafatu. So, though he was the son of the Great Chief of Hikueru, a race of Polynesians who worshipped courage, and he was named Stout Heart, he feared and avoided the sea, till everyone branded him a coward. When he could no longer bear their taunts and jibes, he determined to conquer that fear or be conquered-- so he went off in his canoe, alone except for his little dog and pet albatross. A storm gave him his first challenge. Then days on a desert island found him resourceful beyond his own expectation. This is the story of how his courage grew and how he finally returned home. This is a legend. It happened many years ago, but even today the people of Hikueru sing this story and tell it over their evening fires.… (more)