Buttonwood Island

First published in 1940 by Doubleday, Doran & Company, this vintage children’s adventure centers on the horse-loving Hardwicke children and their discovery of a hidden wilderness sanctuary. While exploring a newly flooded boundary of their property along the Black River, the two oldest Hardwicke siblings stumble upon a secret island, anchored by a giant buttonwood tree and home to a weatherbeaten, abandoned old barn. Though they initially hope to keep the refuge entirely to themselves, they are quickly discovered by their younger twin siblings and Sig, a new neighbor boy who arrives riding his beloved horse, Mliss. Striking up an eager friendship, the children decide to convert the old barn into a hidden stable and launch an exclusive backyard riding club. However, their pastoral paradise is soon disrupted by a series of strange occurrences, including disappearing Native American artifacts and a mysterious visitor attempting to scare the children away with tales of a haunting. Blending a classic equestrian narrative with an intriguing local mystery, the novel—charmingly illustrated by renowned horse artist Paul Brown—is a timeless celebration of youthful independence, outdoor resourcefulness, and animal companionship.