Honey Bunch: Her First Summer on an Island is one of the few Honey Bunch books I had as a child that I remembered something about before I started rereading it. It opens with Honey Bunch and some of her friends discussing her upcoming trip to an island. (Anna Martin's reason for comparing an island to her cookie made me smile.) From their attempts to find Cedar Point Island in the Mortons' geography book, it appears to be off the coast of Massachusetts.

Honey Bunch's mother makes some of her clothes, just as my mother did for me. Honey Bunch tolerates standing still to be measured with much better grace than I ever did, but she's a very good little girl.

The good little girl usually gets a present before a trip. This time Daddy Morton gives his wife and daughter each a suitcase with her initials on it because they won't be able to take a trunk, not even a steamer trunk, with them.

After the packing scene, it's time for Honey Bunch to go outside so Norman Clark can endanger the backyard fence and pepper our little heroine with questions (I counted seven). Remembering how my flip flops were acceptable summer footwear even to walk to the drug store made me smile when Honey Bunch realizes she's run out front where people who might be dressed in their best might see her wearing her third best shoes -- oh, the shame! We may pardon her for making such a dreadful faux pas because the big dog from the next block is chasing her beloved cat. Now Lady Clare is stuck in a tree. Will they have to call the fire department to get her down?

The Mortons are finally on the road in chapter five. They pass a couple of little girls who are crying so the Mortons stop and help them. Other things happen on their way. Road-side stands seem to be the fast food restaurants in 1929, which was nice to learn. There's also a storm, but what's a Honey Bunch trip without one?

The family reaches the town where they're to catch a steamer to Cedar Point Island. Honey Bunch is allowed to walk outside by herself in the rain and that's when she meets an old sailor who has a serious problem. Jack Bett's rowboat disappeared while he was running errands for the locals. It had several valuable packages in it. The two most valuable were insured, but Jack is worried about his reputation. He's right to worry. Later on, Honey Bunch hears someone talking about Jack taking one of the valuable packages. She gets very upset.

This trip allows Honey Bunch to meet two old school friends of her mother and their children. They're all nice, but Bertram Olds, another child staying on the island, isn't. He gives Honey Bunch a rude nickname. Will he ever learn his lesson?

I liked the description of life on Cedar Point Island. Honey Bunch makes an exciting discovery during a hunt for shells, but another big storm interferes. Will she be able to find it again even though the beach sand has covered everything?

This may not be one of your favorites in the series, but it's still a very nice read. ( )