Greta Washington hated summer vacation with all her heart. Poor Camp. The concrete, the hoop without a net, the snacks made with government cheese and stale crackers. It would be her sixth year and she just couldn’t bear it. No, she thought, that isn’t the right word. I am dreading it. I am filled with morbid consternation. I am morose. As she made her way to the bus, all she heard were pieces of excited conversations. Plans for family vacations: horseback riding, swimming, hiking, sailing and camping. Each adventure sounded even better than the one before and just made her more melancholy. If these kids were riding horses, she’d be riding one of the four bikes at Poor Camp without a flat tire. They’d be swimming in lakes and she’d be swimming in her own sweat!When the five children arrive to spend the summer with Tia on The Island, international intrigue and adventure are the last things on their minds. But there is an unexpected guest and curious events unfold. Strangers in town are asking questions and someone is watching the house. How long before the five wonder - is this boy more than what he seems?"A Prince in Peril is a riveting tale for young readers." -Midwest Book Review"This book has everything I used to love in a book: bright, adventurous kids in an unusual setting, a code to break while the deadline looms, a secret cave, and mystery." "What a thoroughly pleasurable reading experience. It has been a long time since I've felt so absorbed by a story. The characters are all engaging, and the protagonist, a little girl named Greta stoically dreading a summer at "poor camp," immediately won my sympathy. The interaction among the characters is warm and lively -- as a reader, I felt pulled into their world and began to see them as friends. The plot, with its embedded mysteries, is always exciting, builds up a great deal of suspense, and kept surprising me with very clever twists. It has everything children love to read about -- secret codes, disguises, wonderful and mysterious places, and children who save each other through their courage and ingenuity. Ms. Russell's treatment of the young characters was very empowering. I loved how seriously she took them and how she trusted their intelligence and common sense. The book is also written with a wonderful sense of humor, including a hilarious, though sinister, pair of bad guys nicknamed "Sweet Tooth" and "Grumpy," and various moments that made me laugh out loud. Although I'm an adult, I couldn't put the book down, and, in fact read it twice for the pure pleasure of it. And it is likely to become any child's favorite book. Highly recommended for all ages!""This is a captivating novel, great for age 8-88. Ms. Russell paints a great picture of a band of fearless kids off on an action-filled summer adventure.""My 9 year old daughter and I read this book together. She loved it and so did I. Often my husband and I trade off reading aloud, but I wouldn't share this one with him as I wanted to hear the whole story. My daughter couldn't wait for our next read. When is Summer Island II coming out?""This is just a FUN read!! ...well written, interesting characters, and a very interesting plot which is everything I like in a book.""I would heartily recommend Summer Island - A Prince in Peril. It has a great cast of characters who find adventure on an island in Maine - without electronic devices of any kind! They model for the reader the joy of time out-of-doors, books galore, and building friendships. In the midst of this they face great challenges and have to work together. Highly recommended!"