Isle of Ever

Told in dual timelines and perspectives, this 'mystery with some fantastical adventure' follows a 12-year-old girl in her quest to find a mysterious island that could lead to a BIG inheritance that she and her mom desperately need. That is IF Everly 'Benny' Benedict can find the island, steer clear of pirates and other people wanting the treasure AND break the curse in the next two weeks. No biggie, right?!

With only a penchant for winning board games and a deep need for the mysterious inheritance, Benny embarks on the quest with a couple of new friends armed only with journal entries from her ancestor Evelyn Terry that will lead her from clue to clue and give Benny (and readers) background information on the island and Evelyn's link to it. But Benny isn't the only person vying for the treasure! 

This was a nicely paced story that blends a few genres. My teeny wee beef with the story was its ending which was abrupt and left me with many unanswered questions. It wasn't a conclusion per se, more of a brief pause since it appears the second book in the series will pick up immediately after this book.

While it felt more mystery than adventure to me, and sometimes its pace slowed due to dialogue, I think this book with its fantasy elements, quest and Benny's tenacious personality will appeal to middle grade readers who enjoy finding clues in the beginning of this big adventure. 

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Sourcebooks Young Readers for the complimentary paperback copy of this book which was given to me in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Jen Calonita

Genre: Adventure, Middle Grade, Children

Series: Isle of Ever 1

Type and Source: Paperback from publisher

Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers

First Published: March 25, 2025

Read: February 15 - 20, 2025

Book Description from GoodReads: Bestselling and beloved author Jen Calonita delivers the first in a brand new series featuring a girl who will inherit a mysterious fortune if she can break a centuries-old curse!

Days after her twelfth birthday, Everly "Benny" Benedict learns she's the heir to a fortune! But to collect the inheritance, she first has to play—and win—a game. Following clues that her ancestor left, Benny must locate a small island that vanished long ago, according to legend.

She has only two weeks to play the game and find the island. If she's successful, she'll break a two-hundred-year-old curse. If she fails, the fortune will be forfeited. And if she's not careful, she'll cross paths with someone else who is after the island's secrets, and who will stop at nothing to get them. Because, as it turns out, there's far more than a fortune at stake.