The Cay by Theodore Taylor

Taylor, Theodore. (1969). The Cay. Philadelphia: Avon Publishers.

The Cay is slowly becoming a classic piece of American Literature. Best suited for the genre historical fiction the novel is a Jane Adams award winner. This is an excellent class novel. Taylor originally wrote this novel after hearing the story from another person. The story begins on the island of Curacao during World War II. Philip Enright, a young American boy, is being sent back to America on a ship with his mother. On the journey home there is a boat wreck and Philip finds himself stranded on a raft with a native West Indian named Timothy. Timothy is a black man and Philip has been taught to fear and not trust black men. Shortly after discovering that he is stranded with Timothy Philip begins to lose his sight. The two eventually finds themselves on a deserted cay and begin trying to survive. The old man and the young boy form an almost father and son like bond. Timothy teaches Philip basic rules for survival and subconsciously teaches Philip that racism is unnecessary. Eventually, Timothy dies on the island leaving Philip alone. Philip is rescued not long after. The book wraps with Philip undergoing surgery to regain his eyesight and setting out on a mission to honor Timothy and find the cay that he had been stranded on as a young boy.