The Cay

The Cay is a story of survival and unexpected friendship.  As war breaks out on the island of Curacao, Phillip and his mother board the Hato seeking safety in America.  When their ship is hit by a German missile, Phillip awakes to discover he is drifting on a raft with a West Indian named Timothy.  Growing up on the island, Phillip had been taught that the natives were different, and not to be spoken to.  However, Phillip was stranded, he had to put his prejudices aside and learn to rely on Timothy's knowledge of survival skills.  During the attack aboard the Hato, Phillip had been knocked on the head with a large board.  After a few days at sea, Phillip awakes to darkness.  The bump on his head had rendered him blind.  Shortly after this horrid discovery, Timothy spots land.  Upon arrival on the cay, Phillip must rely on Timothy to be his "eyes."  Finding food, water, and shelter have become necessities; long passed are the days of the young boy's innocence.  Timothy and Phillip's emotional and physical strength are tested daily.  An unlikely pair, Timothy and Phillip learn to support, teach, and encourage each other.  After a tremendous hurricane, Phillip's strength and welfare are tested more than ever.  This is a touching story of survival, loss, and acceptance.  An adventure not to be missed!

This book is intended for older children, ages 9-12, and as a teacher of mid-level students, I would do a few different lessons.  First we would do a geography lesson.  The Cay is full of information about South America and it would be fun for my students to find where Phillip lived, and then try and figure out where they think "the cay" is.  Next, I would plan a lesson on survival.  We would go through basic survival strategies (i.e. what to do in a tornado, hurricane, etc.).  I would then have the students make "emergency kits" and encourage them to talk to their families about their "emergency plans."  Lastly, I would incorporate a writing lesson.  My students would write a fiction story about a deserted island of their own.  There are many lessons that could be done with this book, it is a great tool for discussing many topics.

The Cay. ISBN0-380-01003-8. Theodore Taylor. 1969. Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. Age 9-12. Young Adult. Contemporary Fiction. Adventure.