Teamwork

The Island series written by Gordon Korman begins with Shipwreck. This story introduces the six adolescents who are enrolled in the CNC program. Charting a New Course is designed to take at risk youths out of their environments and teach them the skills of cooperation and teamwork. The course is a month long session in the Pacific Ocean and the adolescents who are enrolled begin to bond almost immediately against a common enemy - the ship's first mate and cook, Mr. Radford. His abrasive character gives them a focus for their distrust, anger, and separation issues while allowing them to form a cohesive group with a common adversary.

The program is a combination of hard work, science and math, and oceanic studies that give each crew member a chance to excel individually and as part of a group effort. The participants are expected to work hard for which...