THE ISLANDERS

Set on an island off the coast of Maine, this compelling coming-of-age novel captures the listener's attention. Evan Sibley performs this audiobook with narrative drive, a convincing tone, and a sure sense of the unfolding drama. The setting is a posh but remote club on fictional Whaleback Island--just the place to retrain young misfits to work hard on land and sea to please the billionaires who have founded this Outward-Bound-style experience to fight against the "soft" youths of today. The skillfully written narrative benefits from the appealing young characters, especially the bright protagonist Walt McNamara, a former standout hockey goalie who loves poetry and has a romantic soul. A.D.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2025]