Call It Courage (Armstrong Sperry)

 

This is kind of the island version of Hatchet. I have recently reorganized my classroom library and in the process took every book off the shelf. There were a bunch that I put aside because I thought I should read them. This was one of them. It's a Newberry Medal winner, published in 1940.  I only gave it a 3 because I don't think it will be one that my students will really love. I'll leave it on my shelves though for those readers who love to explore all sorts of books.

The boy in this story decides to try to prove himself. Everyone teases him about being afraid of the water - and the truth is, he is because it took his mother's life. However, he decides to face his fears, if only to prove something to other people. The vocabulary in the story was tricky for me since I'm really not familiar with island life, sea animals and boats. However, there were some riveting stories of fighting off animals (a shark, a wild boar and an octopus) and people (man-eating people!). 

Goodreads says:

Maftu was afraid of the sea. It had taken his mother when he was a baby, and it seemed to him that the sea gods sought vengeance at having been cheated of Mafatu. So, though he was the son of the Great Chief of Hikueru, a race of Polynesians who worshipped courage, and he was named Stout Heart, he feared and avoided tha sea, till everyone branded him a coward. When he could no longer bear their taunts and jibes, he determined to conquer that fear or be conquered-- so he went off in his canoe, alone except for his little dog and pet albatross. A storm gave him his first challenge. Then days on a desert island found him resourceful beyond his own expectation. This is the story of how his courage grew and how he finally returned home. This is a legend. It happened many years ago, but even today the people of Hikueru sing this story and tell it over their evening fires.