Flackett, J. & Levin, M. (Directors). (2008). Nim's Island. [Motion picture]. United States: 20th Century Fox.
· Plot Summary
Since the death of her mother, Nim has lived on a remote island in the South Asiastic Sea with her father/scientist, Jack Russo. Her friends are the animals that populate the island, and enjoys the shipments from the mainland that her father orders, particularly the action novels of Alex Rover. When Nim convinces her father to let her remain on the island while he seeks a species of plankton he calls Protozoa Nim, and Jack fails to return as planned, she is dismayed. Believing her father's stories of pirates to be true, a group of cruise ship tourists fall victim to Nim's inventive means for protecting her island from their settling. In the meantime, the real Alex(andra) Rover is living in New York, but refuses to leave her own house-a victim of agoraphobia. Alex contacts Jack regarding the volcano on the island as part of her research for a new book, and ends up in communication with Nim. With no other resource, Alex manages to leave her home, board a plane, and brave the wilds of the nearby villages to find Nim's location. After reaching the island, Nim does not at first believe Alex is who she claims to be, but eventually warms to the slightly rattled author. Jack returns with his sample, but only after being aided by a wily pelican, and the duo becomes a trio.
· Critical Evaluation
Eleven year-old Nim is spunky and brave, the kind of girl that can survive the wilds, but is naive to the world outside her own. Her "rescue" by Alex makes for first rate humor, and the reunion at the film's end is heartwarming without being gratuitously so.
· Reader’s Annotation
One of those rare films for tweens that does not try to make the main character act as though she is less than nine or more than sixteen. Nim is enjoyable, and her reactions in keeping with the events as they unfold.
· Booktalking Ideas
Asiatic Sea and life within it
Famous island discoveries
· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 4-8/Ages 9-13
· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
Honestly, I watched this film because of the actors and actresses in it, more than the plot. That this movie turned out to be a gem was just the icing on the cake.
