At lunch behind the gym,
my sister Maya and I leaned over
a crumpled hand‑drawn map
she’d copied from Grandpa’s old book.
“See this dot?” she whispered.
“It’s an island Grandpa spotted once—
beaches, palm trees, no buildings at all.
Just birds and tide pools and space to dream.”
I raised an eyebrow. “That’s nearby?”
She nodded. “Off the coast. Past the ferry.
We could bike to the docks, hop a boat—
straight as a compass needle.”
We spread the map on my backpack.
The bell rang, but we didn’t budge.
Maya traced blue ink like a treasure trail.
“We could call it Pebble Isle,” she said.
“Our own place—no homework, no chores—
we’d build a fort, catch dinner,
sleep under stars without alarms.”
I smiled. “Okay, but how do we even get there?”
“Dad’s at that work conference,” she said.
“He won’t notice if we just check it out.”
After the last bell, we raced to the waterfront,
wind whipping our hair,
the smell of salt and boardwalk fries
curling around us.
But the ticket clerk grinned kindly.
“Nice idea, girls, but that island’s off-limits.
Protected research site. No ferry stops there.”
Maya folded the map, cheeks turning pink.
I bumped her shoulder. “We’ll find our own spot.”
As we biked home,
the sun dropped like a coin into the bay.
We started planning a backyard fort—
blankets for sails, buckets for treasure,
a little Pebble Isle, just for two.
“Escape to Pebble Isle” by Nina D. Smith. Published by Bright Bunny Books © 2025. Retelling of “The Heroes of New Swishford” from The Parkhurst Boys and Other Stories of School Life by Talbot Baines Reed, originally published in 1914.
“Escape to Pebble Isle” is ideal for Grades 6–8, as it uses accessible vocabulary, relatable sibling dynamics, and a modern-day setting to explore themes of independence, curiosity, and creative problem-solving.
Discussion Questions
- What does Pebble Isle represent to the sisters, and how does their idea of adventure change by the end of the story?
- Have you ever made big plans that didn’t go the way you expected? How did you handle it?
- Why do you think the sisters still felt satisfied with their backyard version of Pebble Isle? What does that say about imagination and resilience?
This content is provided under fair use for educational purposes only. Commercial use is strictly prohibited by the creator.
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