Product Description

Phillip is excited when the Germans invade the small island of Curacao. Was has always been a game to him, and he's eager to glimpse it firsthand, until the freighter he and his mother are traveling to the United States on is torpedoed.

When Phillip comes to, he is on a small raft in the middle of the sea. Besides Stew Cat, his only companion is an old West Indian, Timothy. Phillip remembers his mother's warning about black people: "They are different, and they live differently."

But by the time the castaways arrive on a small island, Phillip's head injury has made him blind and dependent on Timothy.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #307409 in Books
• Published on: 2005-02-08
• Released on: 2005-02-08
• Formats: Audiobook, Unabridged
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 5.91" h x .57" w x 5.25" l, .27 pounds
• Binding: Audio CD

From Amazon.com
This award-winning novel remains a powerful classic of prejudice, love, and survival. In 1942, 11-year-old Phillip Enright lives with his parents on the Dutch island of Curaçao, but when the war moves too close for comfort, his mother decides to travel with him back to the safety of Virginia. When their boat is torpedoed, however, Phillip is blinded and finds himself adrift on a life raft with an old black man and a cat. They eventually land on a deserted island. Phillip is suspicious of "the large Negro," but soon grows to trust--and ultimately love--the patient and generous Timothy. Dedicated to "Dr. King's Dream," The Cay has a clear message that friendship is colorblind; it is also a terrific adventure story of a young, newly blinded man learning to survive on an uninhabited island. (Ages 12 and older) --Richard Farr

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8–This is a classic novel about racism and a young man's realization that skin color does not matter. Phillip is an 11-year-old living in the West Indies at the start of World War II. He's excited at the idea of being in the war but is taken away by his mother who only wants to return to the safety of Virginia. Their ship is sunk by the Germans, and Phillip and his mother end up on separate life rafts. After being hit on the head with a beam from the sinking ship, Phillip awakens to find himself alone with Timothy, an old black ship hand, and Stew Cat, the ship's tomcat. The three survive on a raft for several days, during which time Phillip loses his eyesight due to the head injury. They eventually come ashore on a small unpopulated island. Phillip must learn to deal with his blindness and overcome his dislike for Timothy. Phillip's question, "Timothy, are you still black?," shows that Phillip has moved past the barrier of color. After Timothy's death, Phillip continues to live on the island and is eventually rescued and reunited with his parents. This audio version of Theodore Taylor's novel (Doubleday, 1987) is well done, with actor Michael Boatman doing a wonderful job of giving the characters individual voices. The West Indian dialect is smooth. At the end of the novel, there's an author Q&A featuring an interview with Taylor in which he talks about the inspirations for his characters and his travels. An excellent purchase for middle and high school libraries.–Lisa D. Williams, Chocowinity Middle School, NC
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From AudioFile
High adventure, survival on a small cay in the Caribbean, and friendship between a boy and a man are the stuff of Theodore Taylor's enduring tale. When their ship is torpedoed by a German submarine while leaving Curaçao, young Philip, a cat, and Timothy, a West Indian man, find their lives converging as they seek rescue. Michael Boatman is a fabulous narrator. His narration expresses both the urgency of learning a new way of life and the joy of new friendship. The lilting calypso intonation Boatman gives to Timothy--and his uniquely outrageous "wisdom"--transports the listener. An interview with the author provides insight into the story and completes the recording. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine