Island of Shipwrecks by Lisa McMann

The storm grew, and the wind began to sing around Alex’s ears.
    â€œStand by, will you?” Alex shouted to Henry, grateful for the extra set of eyes. “Look at the land when it’s lit up—we’re moving awfully fast. We’re heading straight toward it!”
    Henry squinted and shielded his eyes from the rain. “Thestorm is centered right on top of the island; did you notice that?”
    â€œYeah,” Alex said, “and it isn’t moving. But we definitely are—right toward the rocks.” He looked at Florence as the rain poured down, sounding like a thousand drumbeats on the deck. She leaned over the side, making the boat shift with her weight and almost throwing Alex off balance.
    â€œFlorence!” he called. In a flash of lightning, Alex could tell the warrior was talking with Spike. He motioned to Henry to follow him, and the two maneuvered their way on the tilting vessel over to Florence. Waves roiling in all directions, seemingly undecided on their path, slapped at the ship, splashed up, and soaked them.
    â€œWe’re being pulled toward the island!” Florence shouted when the boys drew near. “Spike is having trouble hanging on to us!”
    â€œI thought we were moving way too fast,” Alex muttered. “Why isn’t Captain Ahab doing anything?”
    â€œI don’t think he realizes it. He’s not well, Alex.” She gave him a serious look. “I think you need to take over the ship’s wheel.”
    Alex looked at Florence in alarm. “Me? I don’t know how to steer this thing!”
    Florence pointed at the island in the flickering light. “We’re turning, see? Watch the island. We’re moving in a circle around it, picking up speed.” She looked at Alex. “Take over. I’ll coach you. I’d do it myself if I could reach the wheel, but I need to get centered on the deck for everyone’s safety, especially now that the waves are swelling.” She shifted carefully back to center, trying to counterbalance her weight against the rocking ship.
    Alex nodded—there was no one else who could take Ahab’s place, so it was up to him. If only Simber were here! he thought. Simber would have seen this coming before it was too late. “Henry,” he said abruptly, turning to the boy, “I need you to distract Captain Ahab and coax him away from the wheel. I don’t know how happy he’ll be to leave his post right now.”
    â€œI can do it,” Henry said.
    They braced themselves against the wind, and as the ship rocked, they lurched along with it until they reached the captain. Henry distracted the statue, suggesting to him that the whale he sought might be on the other side of the ship.
    When they’d moved away, Alex grabbed hold of the wheel and peered into the storm. Florence called out instructions and Alex did his best to follow them and try to turn the ship away from the island, but at every lightning flash he saw they were growing closer and closer. Soon their wide circling of the island became a tighter spiraling motion around it, as if they were caught in the water of a draining bathtub. “No! Stop!” he shouted. Then, “Hang on!” His words were all but snatched up by the wind.
    Alex tugged and pulled at the wheel, fighting the impossible current and wind, until his whole body ached. His muscles began shaking, and he knew he couldn’t get the ship to turn away. “It’s no use!” he shouted. “We’re caught in this storm and it’s not letting go!”
    The ship rocked and the sea churned. Even in the confusion, Alex heard the glass-patched hole explode. The shouts of Samheed, Lani, and Ms. Octavia assured him they were still alive, but they would have trouble aiming a new glass spell accurately with all the rocking.
    Spike jumped nearby, trying to fight the current by traveling through air rather than