Goodbye, My Island

by Jean Rogers, Rie Munoz (Illustrator)

Overview

Esther Atoolik is twelve years old and her Alaskan village is getting smaller; there aren't enough children to keep the school open. What to do? the people ask. Should we abandon our island in the Bering Sea that her people have lived on for centuries? Here is the tender, true story of Esther's last season in her island home and the wonderful memories she carries with her. A chapter book illustrated with the drawings of Rie Muñoz. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780882405384
Publisher:	Turner Publishing Company
Publication date:	10/01/2001
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	12 - 14 Years

About the Author

Jean Rogers has lived in Juneau, Alaska, since 1945. There, she and her husband George adopted and raised six lively children, and Jean wrote seven children’s books. Among them was the Alaskan classic, The Secret Moose, and two books about the Natives of King Island. The idea for Goodbye, My Island took shape while Jean was collaborating with artist Rie Muñoz on King Island Christmas. Both books have seen national success, and King Island Christmas has been adapted as a musical. Jean’s love for books and reading — and volunteerism — earned her a lifetime membership with the Alaska Library Association. She also is a member of the American Library Association, and has served in various capacities on the boards of the Alaska State Broadcasting Commission, Alaska Public Offices Commission, and Juneau’s public television station, KTOO-TV.  The Universityof Alaska bestowed upon Jean an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters for her work writing published books.

Read an Excerpt

“The school teacher rose. ‘I, too, have bad news,’ Roger said. He spoke slowly, with long pauses, so everyone could hear and understand. ‘The Bureau of Indian Affairs has told me, too, that this is the last year there will be school on King Island. I am very sorry to say this as Marie and I have enjoyed our teaching very much.’….Inside me a bad feeling twisted and turned like a bird trying to free itself from the net. How many times our father had told us that it was important that we attended the white man’s school and learn all we could.” From Chapter 4, page 25

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“An authentic chapter in Alaska history.” School Library Journal starred review

“A bittersweet Eskimo version of Little House on the Prairie.” The Atlantic Journal

“A treasure.”  Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Editorial Reviews

An authentic chapter in Alaska history.” School Library Journal starred review

“A bittersweet Eskimo version of Little House on the Prairie.” The Atlantic Journal

From the Publisher