I Still Remember It - Rated 
I'm all grown up now (over 40) and have moved back to the USA, but I still remember this as one of my favorite books as a child when I was living in England for a few years. The independence and suspense, without scary violence, really resonated with me. This is a lovely book that I have sought out over the years to give as a gift, and it has always been special to me and my family.
memories - Rated 
Just as I remembered the story from my childhood. Now, I hope to pass the pleasure of reading this on to grandchildren.
Perfect - Rated
For children, this book is perfect; every child's dream. Escape, running away to the secret island, living their own lives, outwitting the grown-ups and surviving on their own wits through the summer and autumn and into the winter. And the ending fits nicely into the plot, helping to show that the four children could do and did do what they set out to do. The sort of plausable adventure anyone could aspire to.
Pure Nostalgia - Rated
This has to be one of the best books I ever read as a child and I'm so glad to have re discovered it. Even now, reading Secret Island again, I'm making my plans with Jack, Peggy, Mike and Nora. (Sorry, but nowadays, I'd have to pack more blankets!) Today's children are cocooned in a fast food, overtly safety conscious, politically correct, hi-tech virtual reality culture. Let's break free and sail across the lake unsupervised, explore caves, construct a shelter from willow branches, grow our own vegetables, build a fire and eat wild strawberries. This story is gloriously free not only of greenfly, but also of the deep psychological insights, tragedy and trauma that seem to have tipped the scales of worthy children's literature. There is a place on the shelves for adventure stories which, although idealistic, evoke a 'never-never land' time of innocence, the joy of making do and simple human decency in the face of wrong. Pure childhood nostalgia.
Inspiring children's book - Rated
My 8 year old daughter loved this book. Enid Blyton manages to make the utterly unrealistic seem completely plausible. Four children manage to live in secret on an island when they escape from their cold-hearted relatives. They even bring over a cow and some hens! They have the most wonderful time, build a house and plant their own crops. They eat the strangest meals but they always sound delicious. They stay one step ahead of the grown-ups and are endlessly resourceful. Complete escapism for children.
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