Returning to Papala means another summer of island adventures for twelve-year-old twins Tabitha and Timothy, but this visit quickly becomes tangled in an old Shetland legend and a very modern environmental problem. In Living at the Edge of the World – Summer, S. J. Barratt brings the twins back to the remote island just as Tabitha spots what appears to be a selkie skin floating in the harbour.
According to local legend, failing to return it before midnight could condemn Papala to generations of bad luck. Yet the island already has troubles no legend can explain away: pollution is reaching its coastline, its bird sanctuary is threatened, and Papala itself may soon be sold. Myth, mystery, and conservation meet in a story that asks its young characters to decide what their island home is worth fighting for.
Living at the Edge of the World – Summer
The Papala Island Adventure Series Book 3
written by S. J. Barratt
narrated by Gill Mills
Middle Grade Eco Adventure
When twelve-year-old Tabitha returns to the remote Shetland island of Papala, she expects adventure with her twin brother and friends–not trouble.
As their ferry approaches Papala, Tabitha discovers what appears to be a selkie skin drifting in the harbour. Local legend says the skin belongs to a mythical creature–half human, half seal–and that if it is not returned before midnight, the island will be cursed with generations of bad luck.
But Papala is already under threat. Pollution creeps along the coast, the bird sanctuary is at risk, and the island’s owner plans to sell. With time running out, Tabitha and her brother must uncover the truth and convince the islanders to protect their home.
A lyrical eco-adventure for those who enjoy atmospheric island stories like The Storm Keeper’s Island by Catherine Doyle, with the adventurous spirit of Malamander by Thomas Taylor.
“Educational storytelling doesn't come any better than this.” Dieter Korger, Science fiction author for adults.
This story has a little of everything that 9-12+year-olds love to read: ocean life, adventure, animals, science and suspense. The list goes on and the pages keep turning!" - Janet Ashmore, children’s writer
“The fast pace and beautifully vivid descriptions add to the richness of the story. Judy Wollin, Writer Fun Fast Reads”
“I am still as thrilled with this third volume of the Papala Island Adventure Series: the writing is top-notch, the plot is gripping, and we are getting attached to the characters. This time, the main themes are environmental conscience, and whether it's even worth fighting against a global problem.
An uplifting and important read for young people.” - Anne-Chat – Amazon 5 star review
Papala’s selkie legend and its environmental troubles create two mysteries for Tabitha and Timothy to untangle. One carries the warning of an old island curse; the other can be seen along the coastline, where pollution threatens wildlife and the bird sanctuary. Placing those concerns side by side allows Living at the Edge of the World – Summer to explore how stories inherited from the past and problems unfolding in the present can both shape the way a community understands its home.
The possibility that Papala will be sold raises the stakes beyond solving the mystery of the selkie skin. Tabitha and Timothy must consider what could happen to the people, wildlife, and places connected to the island if its future is decided without them. The environmental message is therefore tied to something tangible for the characters: protecting a place they care about.
This third Papala Island adventure also brings science, folklore, wildlife, and suspense into the same island setting. Young readers can follow the mystery while encountering questions about pollution and conservation through the choices the twins and islanders face rather than through a lesson detached from the story.
Young readers who like remote islands, local legends, wildlife, and mysteries rooted in the natural world are especially well matched with this adventure. The selkie lore brings a touch of the unexplained, while the pollution threatening Papala keeps the twins’ investigation connected to recognizable environmental concerns.
It may also suit families and educators looking for middle-grade fiction that can open conversations about conservation without leaving adventure behind. Readers already following the Papala Island Adventure Series can return to Tabitha, Timothy, and their island community, while the combination of twins, seals, seabirds, science, suspense, and Shetland atmosphere offers several entry points for newcomers.
Living at the Edge of the World – Winter
The Papala Island Adventure Series Book 1
Living at the Edge of the World – Spring
The Papala Island Adventure Series Book 2
S. J. Barratt is a self-published, professionally edited children’s author whose eco-themed stories celebrate the connection between people and the natural world. Rooted in an English countryside upbringing and shaped by a career in agriculture, she blends a gardener’s curiosity with a storyteller’s warmth to her writing. Now based in Lyon, France, Suzanne creates tales that inspire middle-grade readers to swap screen time for green time—and rediscover the wonders waiting just outside their door.
Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok * Bookbub * Goodreads
A former BBC broadcaster and journalist, Gill Mills brings over 20 years of experience in entertainment to her narration. Known for her warm, resonant voice, she began her voice career while DJing on BBC Radio 1 and has since voiced numerous TV and audio productions. She now runs a content company specialising in podcast and film production from her studio in East London.
Amazon * Amazon ebook * Apple * Google * Bookbub * Goodreads
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Papala is more than scenery in Living at the Edge of the World – Summer. Its harbour, wildlife, legends, bird sanctuary, and uncertain future are all part of the mystery Tabitha and Timothy must confront. A supposed selkie skin may be what first captures their attention, but the pollution creeping along the coast and the possibility of losing the island turn their adventure toward a larger question: when a place matters to you, what are you prepared to do to protect it? For middle-grade readers, the answer unfolds through twins, island folklore, wildlife, science, and a mystery with Papala itself at stake.
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