Joshua's Island (James Madison Series Book 1)

Joshua's Island was a truly heartwarming story about the harsh realities of bullying and the young love that triumphed over it. The author does an incredible job of bringing the characters to life and you immediately sympathize with poor scrawny Joshua who has been tormented for years in middle school by the villainous bullies and the Dragon Queen. Thank goodness for the appearance of Eve into his life which little by little brings him out of his shell and back to the once happy kid he used to be. I applaud the author for tackling such a relevant subject and depicting the trauma that bullying truly causes to young teens. I greatly recommend this book to young teens/middle schoolers as well as parents to see what is really going on in schools today. I loved the moral of the story, it really just takes one person to stand up to the bullies and then others will soon follow their lead. It's so important for kids to realize that they can make a difference by not just sitting by and allowing these things to happen. This book should be a must read for all kids!

Although not part of this book's intended demographic, I fully support its message. For any child going through similar schoolyard bullying, it would be a comfort to read this. Books are friends, and what better friend than one that knows what you're going through.

The author's style is very simple and straightforward (in a good way) and the writing itself was clean and concise, and obviously professionally edited. The narrative was great, the story was great, and it kept me reading far in excess of my allotted reading time and into what should have been the beginnings of much needed beauty sleep. I'm glad that the author chose not to break into a mid book montage, turning this loveable character into a karate master or anything that would diminish the power of this story.

In my mind, Joshua was played by a young (wonder years) Fred Savage, that's how far out of the intended age range I am ;) and I thoroughly enjoyed this touching story.

Great read five stars

Mr. Hodges has brought the topic of bullying to light, revealing the dark moments that a victim faces and it brought tears to my eyes more than once. To think that my own son could go through something so despicable is frightening and heartbreaking. When Joshua spends three years with no friends, it takes one girl to see who he truly is on the inside, and realizes that the stories told about him have been lies. She befriends him and finds that she is falling for a boy that she felt angry to even partner up with in Science class. When a young girl comes along, she teaches them that it's not okay to be a bystander and that you must stand up to the bullies as a group. The more people on your side the better. The bullies are real. The characters are real. The story...real. It's a compelling story with heartwarming moments. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel good about bullies losing against the power of many. Nicely written. Down to earth words.

Keep in mind that there is swearing in this book as the bullies and victim get, understandably, angry. That's what made the book more real for me. But there are readers who may be upset about it. There are very few, and only used when it is necessary to convey the pain and anger. You'll enjoy it!

Last thing...The island metaphor is amazing. I just loved the choice in the name.

Absolutely powerful book! I purchased and read the Nook version. A must read for all ages, but this book is especially important for children, teachers and parents to read as it provides an incredible portrayal of bullying and its impact of children and families. From my own experiences I had of being bullied, this book successfully presents the depths of pain and despair a child endures. The author also shows the hope that is ever present and the resources available to those being bullied. As for writing style, I thought the authors two-person perspective, reflecting experiences from the two main characters, was effective in capturing the full extent of the turmoil, stress and courage of the characters. Great work that would make for a great summer read!

Joshua is thirteen years old, and has been relentlessly bullied at school for three years. He is, in a very real way, all alone. He hasn’t told his parents about the bullying, and his former friends are too terrified to even speak to him. He's got no one.

Eve, on the other hand, has been plucked from obscurity by the most popular girl in the school, and is being groomed to be in her group of ultra-popular kids. If that means leaving behind her identity, and her former best friends, then it’s all worth it to be popular, right?

When a science teacher forces Joshua and Eve to work together, they both learn things about each other, their school, and themselves. Through their own changes, they affect the whole culture of their school.

This is a very emotional book. I couldn’t put it down once I started. I have never felt the hopelessness and helplessness that Joshua felt, nor the popularity that Eve sought, but as someone in Joshua's age range, but it's easy to understand all the other kids in the book that are too intimidated to step in and help the bullied kids. They don't just appear in fiction, they are everywhere.

This is a book that deserves to be read. It raises awareness about how bullying destroys lives, and how simple actions can stop it. The message of Joshua's Island is powerful because it shows that bullying can be stopped. One of the most powerful scenes in the book is when a younger girl stops the older bullies just by standing up to them, and having the support of her friends. If you have experienced bullying first hand, or if you witness it at your school, I highly recommend you read this book.

What a compelling read. I am super critical of the early teen genre! Often I find myself losing interest part way into the book - I blame Harry Potter. But here, Hodges has managed to balance humour with real-life issues to create a beautiful, rich story about conquering your inner demons and childhood hardship. The relationships and friendships in the book are well thought out and I truly found myself caring about Joshua and the trials he faced. The messages and themes within the book are strong and clear - perfect for this genre.
I will be recommending this to my eleven year old sister.

This YA novel is thoroughly enjoyable. It alternates between Eve's voice and Joshua's voice, giving the reader both points of view as the story unfolds. Joshua is a victim of bullying. Eve, in the beginning, tries to become one of the. Cool kids by joining in making fun of Joshua. As the story goes on, she sees the ugly truth about the cool kids and herself.

The story has universal appeal, and its points about bullying and the shared responsibility to stop it are still very valid.

Besides, the enduring love story is great fun.

Highly recommended.

This is an important book. Hodges has written a powerful, moving story, and done so in impressive fashion.

Joshua has suffered for three long years at the hands of Rhonda and her bully squad. Eve has just been drawn into Rhonda's inner circle. Hodges tells the story in alternating viewpoint, which I was trepidatious about at first. Stories like 'Sarum' and 'Game of Thrones' work as multiple viewpoint tales, thanks to sweeping landscapes and epic timelines. 'Joshua's Island' is an intensely personal tale, told from Eve's and Joshua's perspectives. The back-and-forth works wonderfully, and Hodges even doubles back from time to time, retelling events from the opposing character's viewpoint. It was a risky move, but one that immensely paid off. It drives home the effects of bullying, and how one event can trigger countless others.

Another risk Hodges took was writing a teenage story with real kids. No one has secret powers, no one turns 13 and becomes a wizard/vampire/werewolf/alien, and everybody just tries to go about their regular, day-to-day lives. This feeds the emotional impact of the story to reach amazing heights. He's made the conversations between teenagers actually sound like conversations between teenagers, which is no mean feat.

'Joshua's Island' is not for the squeamish. There are scenes of intense violence, but none of it feels gratuitous. These are moments that countless kids experience across the globe every day, and they are too often sugar-coated and buried underneath political correctness and adult mishandling. Hodges has gone for it, and again, the book is made better and more impactful because of it.

This book would not be out of place in a classroom setting, serving as a wonderful way to show how important it is to speak up, build a community, and not be afraid to step in when you see something happening you know is wrong. Hodges has written a very powerful, important book that should reach a wide audience and be appreciated for the amazing story it is. Thank you, Mr. Hodges.

Joshua's Island was a lovely, emotional read. I thought the way Mr. Hodges dealt with bullying and the feelings of isolation and hopelessness it causes was spot on. The hero, Joshua, had my heart from the beginning. Here was a child who had been utterly alone for three years through no fault of his own, ostracized because of nasty rumors and picked on because of his small stature.

The heroine, Eve, was a harder sell at first. She threw away true friendship for popularity and was very naive about the price she would have to pay. I was happy when she quickly learned the error of her way. I also like that Hodges didn't make Eve's path easy. Because she stood up for what was right, she too was ostracized and her meteoric rise to popularity was eclipsed by the speed of her fall.

The relationship between Eve and Joshua was beautiful and organic. Two kids have never needed each other more. I loved that Eve brought Joshua out of his shell, and Joshua helped Eve believe that she could be forgiven for her past sins.

With wonderful supporting characters like the firecracker Kelsey and Eve's adorable sisters, Hodges really rounds out the secondary cast. I love how Joshua started out alone on his Island and as his relationship with Eve progressed, kept adding castaways like Eve's best friends Susan and Emily.

The villains in this book weren't just the bullies Rhonda and Brent, but also the adults who preferred to ignore the problem rather than deal with what was really going on in the school. Again, I felt that Hodges really got that right.

The only reason I gave this book four stars instead of five is because I didn't feel Joshua's parents were fleshed out enough. Eve's family was very real to me. I had a clear picture in my mind of her mother and sisters. Eve's mother, when she found out what was going on at school, jumped into action and really tried to save the day. We are told early on Joshua's parents aren't around much, and that he had been hiding or excusing his physical injuries for three years. I guess I can buy that maybe they wouldn't notice if they weren't around, but three years is a very long time to hide that type of violence. And when Joshua finally confessed all to his mom, I was underwhelmed by her reaction. She was more than happy to let Eve's mom take on the burden of saving her son. She never contacted the principal herself or a lawyer or the bullies' parents. I just didn't buy it, especially as Joshua kept insisting his parents and sister were such great people.

Despite my issues with Joshua's family, I think this was a very moving book and would recommend it to both young adults and adults.

Joshua’s Island was an emotional read for me—bullying is such a charged topic. I liked Joshua, and I thought he was very believable. Kids do hide that they are being bullied from their parents, and that’s so heart-breaking.

I also liked Eve, the girl who becomes friends with Joshua. I appreciated that the author didn’t make her perfect, but allowed her to make mistakes and learn from them. She is a stronger character because of that.

The plot was very engaging with many twists and turns, although I found it a little unbelievable that the all-boy Bullying Squad at Joshua’s school had a female leader. Otherwise, I enjoyed Joshua’s Island.

Joshua's Island deals with the serious issue of bullying in a realistic way. 13 year-old Joshua has been tormented for three years by the bully squad and the most popular girl in school, Rhonda. At the beginning of the novel, Joshua wants to keep his head down and wait for eight-grade to pass so he can revel in the freedom he hopes high school will bring. He tolerates the name-calling and shoving the bully squad gives him by retreating to his sanctuary after lunch, what he calls the "Island."

Then we meet Eve. Over the summer she was recruited into Rhonda's inner circle and now lives a "fabulous" life as a popular girl. In Science class, however, she is inevitably paired with Joshua. She can only think about all the rumors about him. But when Rhonda forces Eve to cut contact with her two best friends and then, after a seriously bad grade, is forced to study with Joshua. Over the next few weeks she realizes how toxic Rhonda is and slowly befriends Joshua as she is demoted to an outcast.

Over the course of the novel we navigate Eve and Joshua's relationships--with each other, with their friends, with their classmates.

The novel delves into some deep and incredibly important issues that happens everywhere. But it also shows that one friend, one person who will support you no matter what, can change everything.

I would definitely recommend this book to all middle and high school students.

Beautifully written and thoughtfully constructed, Joshua’s Island takes a fresh look at the bullying problem and places it in an uncommon context. Make no mistake, at its heart, this book is a love story. A romance between two unlikely individuals brought together by shared enemies.

Hodges weaves his tale by coming at you from two perspectives and protagonists. Joshua and Eve express themselves as individuals, separate and distinct. These characters are real, they speak with real voices, and they feel real teenage emotions. The complexity of falling in love for the first time is captured nicely without being overdone or needlessly embellished.

Throughout the narrative, the bullies are over our shoulder. They invade every chapter and lurk in every paragraph. Hodges shows us how bullies operate, and helps the reader understand why so many suffer in silence. Any victim of this crime will instantly relate to the unfortunate realities of acceptance and ignorance from the outside world.

Nevertheless, the author is not content to let his characters be the timid victims we’re used to seeing. Instead, they are empowered individuals strong enough to fight their own battles. Through their love and friendship, they find a way to defeat their enemies, and push back, together.

Joshua's Island is about bullying. It's about conquering you fears and standing up for yourself. It's about finding your inner strength and doing what's right. Mostly, though, it's about something that millions of kids face every day, as victims, bystanders, or bullies themselves. Bullying is a huge issue in our schools and communities all over the world. Patrick did a wonderful job exploring this topic from the viewpoints of two eighth graders who begin the school year on different sides of the playground, literally.

This is a very well written, emotional book. I was bullied through elementary and middle school quite severally, so I really related and understood a lot of what the main character, Joshua was going through. I really can't say enough good things about Joshua's Island. It does a great job of exploring a heavy topic, and I would suggest it to both parents and young teens to read and discuss together.

However, I do have one critique and one warning on that. There is way too much cursing for me to consider it appropriate to hand to a thirteen or fourteen year old. We don't allow it in our home, so as wonderful as this book is, I couldn't let my own children read it because of the excessive use of one curse in particular ((taking the Lord's name in vain)). I understand the use of some expletives to an extent, and wouldn't mind a few damns and hells at all. But, that particular curse just takes it too far for me, especially in a book geared toward young people that may be dealing with these issues. I would suggest a cleaner version, if not take them out entirely, they aren't necessary to the story line.

Other than that one thing, I absolutely loved this one and highly recommend it.

*I recieved a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

I would recommend this book to any middle school student of either gender.

Joshua’s island taps directly into the collective American middle school psyche. It is wholly believable, which draws the reader in and makes them roots for the protagonist, Joshua, who has been relentlessly bullied over the past several years – most especially this last one.

Hodges perfectly captures the slow and steady rise of violent behavior from the bullies, mirroring exactly what happens when no one (parents, faculty, or peers) step in, allowing the perpetrators to become more and more empowered to take their abuse to further and further levels.

The unlikely friendship that Joshua forges with the most popular girl at school is honest, inspirational, and loyal – something that Joshua experiences for the first time. I especially love the dual perspective in which the book is written, from both Joshua and Eve’s point of view: both believable and relatable, it nicely rounds out the characters and adds a larger view of middle school as a whole.

After Joshua and Eve’s long and difficult period of isolation and taunting at school, these two outcasts—because of their honesty and bravery—eventually inspire others to follow in their path instead of with the typical “mean girls” and bullies in their school, who run the place by inciting fear and insecurity. The hard but powerful lessons that Joshua and Eve learn are ones that will remain forged in their characters into adulthood. Without spoiling the ending, I especially appreciate the courageous students, families, and teacher who pull together in order to stop the corruption from the playground bullies to the passive, blind-eye turning principal.

The only reason why I can’t give it five full stars is because towards the end of the book, Joshua and Eve’s relationship takes on such a (albeit pg-rated) physical aspect that occurs in so many scenes that it became a little difficult to read those parts so often, and the last chapter of the book was a little rushed. However, this is entirely a matter of opinion and in no way detracts from the book in its entirely. It was a fantastic, wholesome read. I definitely wept a few tears at the end!

A book about bullying in middle school could so easily be written with a heavy hand - this book is the opposite of that. Subtle and brilliantly nuanced, the prose is just a delight. Mr. Hodges perfectly captures the soul of the young adult protagonists; I work with adolescents, and everything about this story rings true and feels authentic. Not only will this book appeal to pre-teens and teenagers, but to anyone who has ever *been* one (so... everyone!). This story will grab your mind and your heart and will not let you go long after you've put it down. I can't recommend this book highly enough. What are you waiting for? Read it now!

Joshua’s Island tackles a very difficult theme with a lot of sensitivity, and power. Joshua himself is a well rounded character, and is portrayed with a lot of empathy and strength. It’s refreshing to see the progress as he finally learns that he can unburden himself, and that there are routes away from what has been a very bleak situation for him.

This is a very easy read, and it encourages you to keep going as the events unfold. I think this is an important contribution to this genre, and has a lovely message of hope and community behind it.

Highly recommend this book to people of all ages! This book opened up my eyes and put a new perspective on the things I see everyday! Patrick puts so much emotion and love in this book and is amazing . This book deserves thousands of stars!!!!!! I was just amazed at how amazing his book was.

Joshua's Island is above all else a wonderfully written work of fiction and a very enjoyable read. For a book that draws from such a real and depressing subject matter, it has its fair share of heart-warming moments and comic relief, an outstanding cast of characters, and a very engaging narrative.

This book doesn't beat around the bush in its portrayal of bullying, but it doesn't over-dramatize or preach. It tells you a story about a boy and girl, about the importance of friendship, about moments in life that change your perspective forever and the tough decisions involved in standing up for yourself and standing up for others.

This is an incredibly heartfelt story that I'd recommend to everyone, no matter the age. We've all either been Joshua or known Joshua. It touches upon various teen issues tactfully (opposed to a cheesy/in-your-face approach), weaving them into a gripping story. An easy and enjoyable read. I couldn't put it down!

I don't often read books having teenagers as protagonists. Mostly because so many of them are just written for teenagers. This is not such a book. Yes, it will speak more loudly to those who are still teens. But there is something in the style of Patrick Hodges that is more than just a story of a young boy and a young girl meeting and helping each other through the vicissitudes of youth. It's a story that grabs your attention by its precision, by its heart, by its capacity to keep you alert and wanting to read more. I will certainly want to read more of that author in the future.

Pat Hodges has created a wonderful and heartbreaking story for anyone who survived middle school. The story is extremely well written, compelling, and I highly recommend it for anyone over 10 years old. An excellent first effort and I look forward to reading Pat’s future work as he sharpens his craft and offers his sincere vision of a better world in upcoming stories.

This book was really well written and has a great point on bullying. Although it was a little crazy at one point, it shows the really life of a boy and girl, their friendship and how bullying can be defeated by friendship. Really enjoyed this book! Definitely appropriate for middle age students. Thank u to the author!!!!:)

As a school teacher, I must continuously deal with kids being bullied and left out by other kids. Joshua's Island does an amazing job of depicting the pain a child can feel and experience being the victim. This story is told with a great deal of eye opening truth that leaves the taste of the Joshua's pain in the readers mouth. A great lesson tis taught in this book which should be shared with children and adults alike. My students greatly enjoyed hearing this story being read to them and truly related to it. A wonderful read for any classroom!

Told in the POV of the two main characters, Joshua and Eve, this tale conveys the growing pains of childhood with a struggle of finding one’s place in this world.

Joshua carried a voice that is reminiscent of a young Kevin Arnold with his love for comic book heroes and his general invisibility status to society; Eve was the young impressionable kid that got swept up in the new popularity, having done whatever it took to be accepted.

When the two get paired as lab partners the first day in 8th grade, both are set in their infantile opinions and are none too eager to work together. As the story progresses, the reader gains a better insight into the lives of the two characters. Each chapter (day) is written as a diary entry, bringing us back to the trials of middle school daze. And just like in school, the days roll by painfully slow, especially with each one being the same as the last.

The most impressive part was how the author was able to actualize the awkward experience from the perspective of both the boy and the girl. The tone grew quite somber with all the mental and physical abuse Joshua endured, which is the one thing that drew pity from Eve. Even though kids can be so cruel and violent these days, I just found this layer of the story particularly thick and sappy.

For the most part, Joshua’s Island is witty and relatable; it is a sweet, poignant story that opens barriers of fear and seclusion, and unveils possibilities outside the island. A solid good effort.

The opening is attention getting! This novel will hold the attention of any adolescent looking for a good book to read. Joshua represents many students who are bullied in schools across the nation and it takes an author like Mr. Hodges to address the topic in a crafty way.
It is a must read!!

Genius Reading-Intervention Clinic
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This story was an amazing journey through all to real things that happen in schools . Bullying is a frightening and dangerous thing, and this book helps those affected to know that they are not alone and that they can and will make it through. I love this book and have already recommended it to friends. Great job Patrick.

This story was an amazing journey through all to real things that happen in schools . Bullying is a frightening and dangerous thing, and this book helps those affected to know that they are not alone and that they can and will make it through. I love this book and have already recommended it to friends. Great job Patrick.

Definitely not interesting enough for an adult. A subject that needs addressed, but poor way to do it. More like a pre teen romance book than a bullying awareness story. Can't recommend this one. Only made it through 54%. Just couldn't read anymore teenie romance.