“Here in Sueño Bay, Robertson Island, it rains over two hundred days a year.”

From Mike and Nancy Deas’ Sueño Bay Adventures: Shadow Island.

Oliver hates everything about living in Sueño Bay from the secluded location to the fact that he’s run out of relatives to live with and has been sent here as a last resort. In fact, Oliver is planning to leave the island and never look back, just as soon as he gets everything set up. On the way home from school one day, Oliver’s friend Kay announces that she heard a rumor about something strange being kept in a trailer in the woods, so she and Oliver hop the fence to investigate the rumor. Not to be left behind, their friend Jenna and her little brother Sleeves are also join their search. When Oliver and the others find the trailer in the middle of nowhere, they are surprised to discover that the mean gym teacher, Ms. Grundle, knows about the trailer, but that is nothing compared to what the kids find when they sneak inside the trailer. Oliver is surprised to find both an adult moon creature with her baby locked inside, but when Grundle returns to chase the kids away, they let the creatures escape before fleeing. However, when Oliver discovers that the baby monster stowed away in his backpack, he must work with his friends to find a way to get the mythical creatures back to their home before Grundle finds them.

This series opener does a good job of creating an interesting world and group of characters that will easily carry the series. The mysterious adventure developed in the book is captivating from start to finish. Shadow Island is a must-read for anyone looking for a fantastical adventure.