When the truth hides, courage rises
Island of the Angry Smile
A Middle Grade Adventure Novel
When the Truth Hides, Courage Rises
Gummy’s stories were famous for making the Blink kids jump—but none of them ever expected to land inside one. When a deadly illness called The Sorrow strikes their family, Taddy, Styn, and Parker discover an ancient map pointing to a place that does not want to be found: the Island of the Angry Smile.
Racing to find a cure, they must navigate treacherous jungles, mysterious caves, secret laboratories, and betrayal from someone close to them. With quick thinking, humor, and Gummy’s life on the line, they must uncover the island’s darkest secret. The answer lies within them, but only strength and courage will unlock it.
Time is running out.
Meet the Blink Kids
Meet Parker
Parker, a clever girl
Parker brings humor, quick courage, and bright energy wherever she goes. She has a big, compassionate heart, a love of stuffies, and a talent for making her siblings laugh at exactly the right moment.
Meet Taddy
Taddy, becoming a leader
Taddy has a big heart and an even bigger desire to look out for his sisters, even when he doubts himself. He is thoughtful and steady, even though heights make his stomach flip and a nervous hic shows up at the worst moments.
Meet Styn
Styn, the creature whisperer
Styn loves animals of every kind and seems to understand them better than most people do. She enjoys collecting maps, noticing tiny details, and staying calm when things get strange.
Reader Reviews
What Readers Big and Small are Saying
I loved your book and think you should write more!
It was an intriguing and fascinating novel. I really like that at the beginning, the first three chapters, you based them on the characters in the book, so that you could really imagine how it must be for them and you can see how they view their siblings and family. It is a fun and nerve-wracking adventure book to read.
My favorite character was Taddy because he is funny and brave. These details made the book fun to read. Every day, I was eager to go to school, so when I came back I read your book. I hope you make more books so me, as well as other people, get to read them and enjoy them.
– Samuel, 11 and Dorinda, mom
It’s an exciting adventure book!
Thank you for sharing your book with us. I believe it’s an exciting adventure book that preteens can really get into. Loved all the references to the real Gummy and Grammy. Well Done 😊.
– Dorinda, mom to Samuel,11
The book The Island of the Angry Smile is an instant crowd-pleaser!
The obstacles make it impossible to put down. The Island of the Angry Smile can make you laugh, cry, and even scream all at once. The story features 3 young children on a long epic tale to try to save their Gummy from a deadly disease called “The Sorrow”. The kids need to work together to overcome the island and its many mysteries. From sunny days to dark caves, they must make hard choices and learn what really matters.
– Kelly, 13 with Peter, 8 and Christie, 10
It’s an exciting adventure book!
I loved reading The Island of the Angry Smile by Michael Kulwiec. The story follows three kids who must race to save their beloved Gummy, a grandfather figure who has been struck by a mysterious illness. Along the way, they face tough challenges and discover some painful truths: sometimes the people you trust most are the ones who hurt you, and actions really do speak louder than words. The children have to learn to work together, but will they manage it in time to save Gummy? This is a powerful and engaging adventure with important lessons for readers of all ages.
– Pamela, mom to Peter, 8, Christie, 10 and Kelly, 13
A beautifully written book!
A beautifully written book that I have loved reading with my 8 year old son! What a treasure!!!
– Jenn, mom to Keegan, 8
Our readers
What begins as words on a page becomes a world they can see, feel, and move through. In the laboratories, jungles, rivers, and hidden places of The Island of the Angry Smile, they face fears, make courageous choices, and begin to see themselves differently, stronger, bolder, and more capable than they realized. The story doesn’t just unfold around them. It grows within them.
Be strong and courageous, for you are never truly alone.
About the Author
Ad astra per aspera
Gummy’s gaze lingered on the marks. For a moment he didn’t answer. “Sometimes maps carry more than directions,” he said at last. “Sometimes they carry a cost.”
“A cost?” Styn whispered.
He tapped the dot the arrow pointed to, slowly and deliberately. Then he handed the map back. “Ad astra per aspera.”
“Huh?”
“It’s Latin for ‘To the stars through difficulties.’”
About the Author
Michael Kulwiec started writing stories long before he ever stepped into a science lab, where he discovered that science and imagination make a pretty great team. Today he helps researchers share their discoveries through his studio, DesignLab, while creating his own adventure novels in his Laboratory of Imagination in San Diego, California, with his wife Pam. Neighborhood kids often wander by for a chat, a sneak peek at his latest idea, and maybe a gummy or two.
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