Subject
Islands -- Fiction Books
Best books
L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery
Anne of Green Gables
"Anne of Green Gables" by L. M. Montgomery is a novel published in 1908. When eleven-year-old orphan Anne Shirley arrives at Green Gables farm by mistake, the Cuthbert siblings had requested a boy to help with farmwork. Imaginative, talkative, and eager to belong, Anne must prove herself worthy of staying. The story follows her adventures in the village of Avonlea—making friends, excelling at school, clashing with rival Gilbert Blythe, and transforming the lives of everyone around her.
Daniel Defoe
The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
"The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe is a novel first published in 1719. After ignoring his parents' wishes, young Robinson Crusoe pursues a life at sea, only to be shipwrecked on a remote tropical island. Stranded alone for 28 years, he must survive using salvaged tools and his own ingenuity. He faces solitude, builds shelter, grows crops, and eventually discovers cannibals visiting his island. When he rescues a prisoner he names Friday, Crusoe gains a companion—and perhaps a chance at rescue.
H. De Vere (Henry De Vere) Stacpoole
The Blue Lagoon: A Romance
"The Blue Lagoon: A Romance" by H. De Vere Stacpoole is a coming-of-age romance novel published in 1908. Two young cousins are shipwrecked on a remote South Pacific island, where they must survive alone after their caretaker dies. Growing up in isolation, they discover the mysteries of nature, maturity, and love without guidance from civilization. As they navigate island dangers and their own transformation into adulthood, their innocent paradise becomes a place of wonder and peril, leading to an ambiguous fate.
H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
The island of Doctor Moreau
"The Island of Doctor Moreau" by H. G. Wells is a science fiction novel published in 1896. Shipwrecked scientist Edward Prendick finds himself stranded on a remote island inhabited by Doctor Moreau, a disgraced physiologist conducting horrific experiments. Through vivisection, Moreau transforms animals into human-like creatures called the Beast Folk, who struggle to maintain their humanity under a strict code of laws. As Prendick uncovers the dark secrets of the island, he confronts questions about the boundaries of science, the nature of human identity, and the price of unchecked ambition.
L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery
Anne of Avonlea
"Anne of Avonlea" by L. M. Montgomery is a novel published in 1909. This sequel follows Anne Shirley from ages sixteen to eighteen as she becomes Avonlea's schoolteacher on Prince Edward Island. Anne navigates the challenges of teaching, helps raise two orphaned twins, and co-founds the Village Improvement Society with mixed results. Along the way, she befriends an imaginative student and reunites a lonely woman with her long-lost love, all while preparing for college alongside her friend Gilbert.
Johann David Wyss
The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island
"The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island" by Johann David Wyss is a novel first published in 1812. When a Swiss family's ship is wrecked in the East Indies, they find themselves stranded without the crew. Parents William and Elizabeth, along with their four sons, must reach a nearby island and build a new life from scratch. Using the ship's surviving cargo and livestock, they create a settlement and face various adventures in their struggle for survival.
Daniel Defoe
Robinson Crusoe
"Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe is a novel first published in 1719. After ignoring his parents' wishes, young Robinson Crusoe pursues a life at sea that leads to disaster. Shipwrecked and alone on a remote tropical island, he must survive for decades using salvaged tools and his own ingenuity. As years pass, he discovers he is not as isolated as he believed—cannibals visit the island, and dangerous encounters test his resourcefulness and faith in unexpected ways.
Johann David Wyss
The Swiss Family Robinson: A Translation from the Original German
"The Swiss Family Robinson: A Translation from the Original German by Wyss" by Johann David Wyss is a novel first published in 1812. After their ship is wrecked in the East Indies, a Swiss family finds themselves stranded on a deserted island. The parents and their four sons must build a new life from scratch, using the ship's salvaged supplies and the island's natural resources. Through ingenuity and cooperation, they create a settlement and face various adventures in their tropical refuge, all while wondering if rescue will ever come.
Daniel Defoe
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)
"The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner" by Daniel Defoe is an adventure novel published in 1719. After ignoring his parents' wishes, Robinson Crusoe embarks on sea voyages that lead to disaster. Shipwrecked on a remote tropical island, he survives alone for 28 years, building shelter, growing crops, and reading the Bible. His solitary existence is disrupted when he discovers cannibals visiting the island. Eventually, he rescues a prisoner he names Friday, finding companionship and renewed hope for escape.
L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery
Anne of Green Gables
"Anne of Green Gables" by L. M. Montgomery is a novel published in 1908. When eleven-year-old orphan Anne Shirley arrives at Green Gables farm by mistake, the Cuthbert siblings had expected a boy to help with farmwork. Instead, they receive a red-haired, talkative girl with a vivid imagination and strong opinions about spelling her name with an "e." The story follows Anne's adventures as she navigates friendships, schoolyard rivalries, domestic mishaps, and her dreams of a brighter future in rural Prince Edward Island.
Daniel Defoe
The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1808)
"The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe is a novel written in the early 18th century. The story follows Robinson Crusoe, a young man with a strong desire to go to sea, despite the warnings of his father about the risks associated with such a life. Crusoe ultimately finds himself cast away on a deserted island after a series of misadventures, where he must rely on his ingenuity and resourcefulness to survive. The opening of the novel introduces Robinson Crusoe, detailing his rebellious nature and the conflict between his aspirations and his family's wishes. After ignoring his father's counsel, he embarks on a journey at sea, facing numerous challenges from the outset, including a treacherous storm that threatens to sink the ship. His initial experiences foreshadow the trials he will undergo, as he grapples with feelings of guilt and regret for defying his parents. The narrative sets the stage for Crusoe’s transformation into a self-sufficient survivor, highlighting themes of adventure, independence, and the human spirit in the face of adversity.
L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery
Chronicles of Avonlea
"Chronicles of Avonlea" by L. M. Montgomery is a collection of short stories published in 1912. Set in the fictional Canadian village of Avonlea, these twelve tales explore the lives of various townspeople, their courtships, feuds, and second chances. While marketed as part of the Anne of Green Gables series, Anne Shirley appears only briefly. Most stories feature other Avonlea residents navigating love, family conflicts, and unexpected encounters that transform their lives in this intimate community portrait.
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