Abel's Island is a 1976 novel by William Steig, about a mouse named Abel who gets stranded on an island. During a heavy rainstorm that interrupts a picnic, Abel is separated from his wife Amanda and swept down a river. Eventually he arrives on an island where he must fight for survival, fending off an owl, the cold weather and his loneliness. After a frog named Gower fails to help him, Abel swims across the river and makes a long journey home.
Some of the major themes in Abel's Island include:
Survival: Although escaping from the island is Abel's first concern, he soon has to worry about finding food and shelter. He also needs to stay on the lookout for predators.
Change: At the start of the story, Abel never has to work. Being stranded on an island in the middle of river forces him to change and expect more from himself.
Love: Abel often thinks about his wife Amanda, and he clings to the hope of seeing her again. His clothes get rumpled and stained, but he takes care of his wife's scarf and guards it until he can return it to her.
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