This book is about a man that crashes on an island in the Pacific when his balloon goes down. It turns out that there are people on the island but his life is about to change agian.This book is good for kids who like adventure. ( )

Another Newbery in my quest to read them all. du Bois's story was a dry read, interesting but not gripping; perhaps the older publication date accounts for the tone. The novel is presented as if it were nonfiction, a travel essay of sorts, but once I adjusted to the style, I found this story within a story to be a quick read. Professor Sherman departed on a trip around the world in his air balloon, only to be discovered months later, in the wrong ocean, with twenty balloons. What happened? The populace of the United States is breathless with excitement as they wait for the Professor's riveting tale.

The author blends supposed scientific accuracy with fantastic imaginations. The characters are flat, because so much attention is focused on what is happening and the inventions and their descriptions. As I wrote earlier, this story is clearly employing a remote tone, trying to present itself as a factual account. I'm surprised by this choice, since what Professor Sherman experiences is so fantastic and incredible, it should have been sparkling with more excitement and less dry narration. Even many nonfiction books employ a dramatic approach. Nonetheless, I was curious to hear all that occurred, and was vaguely concerned about the fates of the characters involved. A decent book, but not as good as many other Newbery options. ( )

Very interesting story. This can be a difficult text, so it is recommended for above average readers.

Fun concept, and full of imaginative potential (I was especially taken with the idea of a balloon house). But I found the story told too speedily, with sentences like "We spent 9 days on the balloon platform" that could have been a whole chapter in themselves. I also found myself drifting during the many technical descriptions. I could see fanciful and creative kids really enjoying it, though. ( )

A 1948 Newberry winner! This story is about a retired math teacher who builds a balloon to help him get away from it all by spending a year floating through the skies. Instead, he is downed on the island of Krakatoa where he finds a secret colony of eccentric people with incredible wealth. This story explores issues of survival, government and innovation. ( )