The Mysterious Island

More about the book

Set during the American Civil War, five Northern prisoners escape by commandeering a hydrogen balloon, leading to a crash on an uncharted volcanic island. The group, including a railroad engineer, his loyal ex-slave, a sailor, his adopted son, and a journalist, uses their ingenuity to survive. They create a self-sustaining life, developing fire, pottery, and even a telegraph, while living in a cliffside home they call "Granite House." The island, named "Lincoln Island" in honor of Abraham Lincoln, becomes a backdrop for their adventures and innovations.