A most successful retelling of the classic for the pre-junior high group, which skirts the pitfalls of the labryinthian sentence structure of the original and yet never weakens the excitement of the story. Sentences have been clipped to the quick and a straight, simple reportorial style emerges which is beautifully suited to the loving details of the ingenious castaway's busy existence. By all means introduce the original first but keep this satisfying alternate in mind, especially for younger children of seven — even six.