From the New York Times–bestselling author of Northwind, a unique exploration into the exhilarating joys—and the inevitable dangers—of total solitude.

Every day, fifteen-year-old Wil Neuton gets up, brushes his teeth, leaves the house, and rows away from shore. He’s discovered the island, a place where he can go to be alone and learn to know nature—and himself.

Wil’s only mission is to let go of the outside world. But the outside world refuses to let go of him. His family regards him as a puzzle. The town bully is determined to challenge him. And suddenly, even reporters know his name. He can confront them all, or he can embrace his solitude forever. Just one thing is certain now: Wil Neuton will no longer be relying on anybody but himself.

“This could have been another back-to-nature story, but Newbery Honor writer Paulsen tells Wil’s inner journey with a confident lyricism that duplicates Wil’\’s emotional qualities.” —Publishers Weekly

“Wil Neuton seeks out harmony within [nature], recalibrating his life by way of his self-imposed solitude on the island . . . While Hatchet provided readers with some much-needed escapism, The Island centered its focus on what we can never escape—mortality, which, in the immediate aftermath of Paulsen’s passing, now takes on new significance.” —The Millions