Lobsterland

By Susan Carlton

Tourists may think life on an island off the coast of Maine is quaint, but Charlotte knows better. She's tired of her island prison (it has a real name, but she calls it Bleak), and she's sure that a life in the great anywhere-else is heaps better than one that revolves around catching a ferry to the mainland. She even has the perfect solution: boarding school. But who will take care of the siblets? Will clinically crazy Mom or organic-obsessed Dad be able to hold things together without her there? And is Charlotte ready to leave love-of-her-life Noah behind?Susan Carlton has created a remarkably vivid, strong character in Charlotte; her intelligence, charm, and bitingly sarcastic wit are sure to win over anyone who has ever wanted more than Bleak.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805080961
• ISBN13: 9780805080964
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.6" x 0.8" x 4.9"
• Age Range: 14 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

Great Summer Read

This book is a great summer read for anyone of any ago who wants to laugh and dream of Maine island life. It is a hysterical view of teenage and Maine island life that anyone will enjoy.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Charlotte quits. Wants out. Wants to leave everything behind. She doesn't want to have to be responsible for her brother and sister. She doesn't want to be around her mom, who finds comfort in her pills, or her dad, who surrounds himself with everything healthy and natural. She can't stand school or having to go back and forth on that stupid ferry. Charlotte just needs time to think. To think about her longtime boyfriend, Noah, who is making her even more confused. To think about her friendship with Susannah; that is, if she is even her friend any more. To think about how she is leading her life and if her family is really there for support. Charlotte thinks she has the answer: boarding school. But is it the right answer? Charlotte isn't leaving right away, so she has time to think some more. Will this time help her decide who is really there for her and who isn't? Or will it make the decision to leave even harder? Can she muster up the strength and courage to actually see what a new life would be like? At least she has those stupid ferry rides to use to think about it, especially with a little company from a certain someone that she never thought would be more than a friend. A girl, a ferry, and a very important decision. Three cheers for Charlotte, the perfect heroine for anyone who needs to make a big decision that will change their life and hopefully make it better. LOBSTERLAND was adorable, captivating, and completely real. The perfect read for those who need a character that kicks butt. Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

A witty, fresh perspective on island life

Engaging, satisfying and fun, this book is a winner all around! Charlotte has an edgy, smart, hilarious sense of humor that is strong from start to finish. Her way of looking at the world is fresh and unique, yet the basic issues her struggles reveal are ones we can all relate to. The understandable desire to escape the place where this teenager has been born and raised is skillfully juxtaposed with the pull that those same familiar people and surroundings have on her. The ensuing conflict--emotional and interpersonal, with eye-opening revelations along the way--is realistically and artfully portrayed. Charlotte is a memorable character in a memorable story, and once you read this novel, you'll never look at island life the same way. I highly recommend this wonderful book!

fun, sarcastic read

This book is a very enjoyabe read which tells the tale of a teenage girl who is living in an island off the coast of Maine. As Charlotte embarks on her secret journey to apply to boarding school, many bumps along the road occur which make this process far from easy. In light of her disfunctional family environment and boyfriend issues, Charlotte experiences a hillarious and relatable journey of the life of a teenager girl. I strongly recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a few laughs and a plot line which transports you into the mind of a girl experiencing a not-so-typical New England winter.