On The Island (On The Island #1) By Tracey Garvis Graves

Synopsis from Goodreads:


"When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day.

T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn't bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family - and a stack of overdue assignments - instead of his friends. 
Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter.
Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man."

Stefanie's Review:

5 Stars!!!!

"I was thirty years old when the seaplane T.J. Callahan and I were traveling on crash-landed in the Indian Ocean. T.J. was sixteen.."

I first heard of this book when My friend sent me a Goodread request. I instantly wanted to read it. It reminded me of The Blue Lagoon. LOL.

T.J. and Anna learn very quickly how to adapt to living on this island all alone. You will see how their relationship evolves from teacher/student, to friends, and then eventually more then just friends. You will also get both of their POV in every chapter. Which is great!!!

The story takes place when 16yr old T.J. Callahan beats cancer. Now, his family is forcing him to go on vacation to the Maldives. But, because he missed so much school from being sick, they've hired Anna Emerson to come along as his tutor. T.J talks his parent's into letting him stay home a extra night. Once T.J & Anna get to the airport is where their journey begins.

After they almost get stranded at the airport, they find a pilot willing to take them to the island. While on the way there  the pilot has a major heart attack and they end up crashing in the middle of the ocean. When they finally wash ashore both of them are bruised and battered. But, that is the least of their problems. They have no food, no water, no shelter, and no way of knowing if T.J's cancer has or will return. 

They begin by exploring parts of the island. But, they don't stray to far in hopes of missing their rescue plane. Luckily for Anna, because T.J has gone thru so much in such a short time, he's alot older for his age, and he adapts very quickly. They make a small make shift shelter so their not sleeping on the ground. After living off of coconut & bread fruit for awhile one of Anna's suitcases washes ashore.. HOORAY!!! And, boy oh boy did she pack!!!! LOL. T.J uses her earrings to use for fishing. Now, that they have some protein in them they're feeling  awhole lot better. But, the weeks turn to months and there is still no plane to take them home. 

Everyday is the same thing. Get up, find food, wash up in the lagoon, wash their clothes, take a nap, swim with the dolphins. Not in that order everyday. But, thanks to T.J they have a shack to live in. He found an abandoned  shack and took it apart and remade it on their side of the island. Now, they have a room with a window, walls & a roof. Plus, they kept their little make shift shelter for the fire wood & fire at night. 

Now, the months are turning into years that they're on the island. Neither one of them bring up getting rescued & going home. Because, they've lost faith that in that ever happening. But, now their fighting a totally new battle. They are trying to fight the feelings they're having for one another. With T.J being 18 and Anna being 32 thing's definitely go from friends to something alot more. 

The author does  a excellent making you feel BOTH of T.J & Anna's feelings. All of their pain. All of their feelings for each other. The fear they have of never leaving the island. The fear if the other one gets sick/hurt and them dying. And, being left  alone to do it all by themselves. The fear of if & when they rescued. THEN, what happens??? What will their families say? What will society say about the teacher/student now more then that. And....What happens to them....

I could definitely go further. But, I don't want to give to much away. I will tell you. Anna & T.J's story had me hooked from page #1. If you're looking for a story that will have you not wanting to put down. This is it!!! It's a def nail biter from start until end!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!! 



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