At a glance
The Cay
Children's fiction
The Cay
Book 1 of the The Cay series
156 pages · First published 1969
Eleven-year-old Phillip Enright is leaving wartime Curaçao with his mother when a German submarine torpedoes their ship. Blinded by a head injury, Phillip finds himself on a raft with Timothy, an older Black sailor from the West Indies, and eventually stranded with him on a tiny Caribbean cay. Phillip’s inherited prejudice initially shapes how he sees Timothy, but dependence, survival lessons, and shared danger gradually challenge those assumptions. Theodore Taylor’s compact World War II survival novel uses isolation, disability, storms, and friendship to explore prejudice and the human bonds created when social barriers become irrelevant to staying alive.
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No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Wartime/battle violence and peril
Alcohol-Free Pour
Bush Tea with Honey
A fragrant cup of tea suits a tense, twist-filled reading session.
What you'll need
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.How to mix it
- Steep the tea and any herbs or whole spices in hot water according to the tea type, then strain. Stir in sweetener and juices. Serve hot.
- Garnish: Citrus peel, herb, or fruit from the recipe, if applicable.
- Glassware: Mug.
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Mug ↗Cocktail Pour · 21+
Family Secret Sour
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
A warming pour with a sharp edge suits a tense, twist-filled reading session.
What you'll need
- 2 oz bourbon
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice ↗
- 3/4 oz simple syrup ↗
- 1/2 oz pasteurized egg white or aquafaba (optional) ↗
- Ice
Alcohol-shopping links are not shown on children's or young-adult book pages.
How to mix it
- If using egg white, dry-shake first. Add ice and shake again, then strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish: Lemon peel.
- Glassware: Rocks glass.
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