The Coral Island:
A Tale of the Pacific Ocean
by R.M. Ballantyne
Fifteen-year-old Ralph, mischievous young Peterkin and clever, brave Jack are shipwrecked on a coral reef with only a telescope and a broken pocketknife between them. At first the island seems a paradise, with its plentiful foods and wealth of natural wonders. But then a party of cannibals arrives, and after that a pirate ship... what is to become of them?
(From Goodreads)
My Review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ & ❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎
4 stars & 4/10 hearts. I enjoyed this story because of the characters. I loved Jack, and Peterkin was a hoot. Their banter was perfect. I also really liked Ralph. I think this must have been one of Ballantyne’s earlier works because it’s somewhat different than the other books I’ve read by him. The only thing I disagreed with was the boys stripping to swim. I loved how the Gospel was clear (though I wasn’t sure if Jack, Peterkin, & Ralph were saved or not) and how it’s work among the South Sea Islanders was shown... and how there was absolutely no discrimination (at least, that I can remember) against the natives/black missionary—not even the stereotypical language for black people. That was so refreshing. The story was exciting right up to the very end and I was quite unsure how it would end!
A Favourite Quote: “‘Ralph, my dearest child, always remember in the hour of danger to look to your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He alone is both able and willing to save your body and your soul.’”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “This huge, ceaseless breaker ... was a much larger and more sublime object than we had at all imagined it to be.... Slowly and majestically it came on, acquiring greater volume and velocity as it advanced, until it assumed the form of a clear watery arch, which sparkled in the bright sun. On it came with resistless and solemn majesty,—the upper edge lipped gently over, and it fell with a roar that seemed as though the heart of Ocean were broken in the crash of tumultuous water[.]”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘The fact is, I’m quite tired of throwing stones at the birds. I began the very day we landed, I think, and have persevered up to the present time, but I’ve never hit anything yet.’
“‘You forget,’ said I, ‘you hit me one day on the shin.’
“‘Ah, true,’ replied Peterkin, ‘and a precious shindy you kicked up in consequence. But you were at least four yards away from the impudent paroquet I aimed at; so you see what a horribly bad shot I am.’”
