Reading Level: Ages 9-12

On the stormy night before his 12th birthday Michael and his Border Collie, Stella, fall overboard. His parents are sleeping during his watch and their sailboat, the Peggy Sue, sails erratically away. Michael awakes the next day on a small Pacific Island.

Michale soon discovers the presence of another person, who has brought him food and water. The old man, Kensuke, is unfriendly and insists Michale stay away from his side of the island.

After Michael is severely stung by jellyfish, Kensuke nurses him back to health, and as they become friends Michael learns Kensuke's story. During World War II Kensuke was a physician with the Japanese Navy. He has been living like Robinson Crusoe on the island and has no desire to return to his home in Nagasaki.

After searching for almost a year, Michael's parents see his firey beacon and Michale is rescued. Kensuke chooses to remain on the island, and makes Michael promise to wait ten years before he tells anyone about him.

Kensuke's Kingdom reminds me of Theodore Taylor's, The Cay. Both are adventures in stormy seas wherea boy becomes dependent on an adult from a vastly different culture. Like Phillip with Timothy, Michael finds his life enriched by his friendship and respect for Kensuke.

— Carole Schoneman, Member SCBWI