One of our students recently enjoyed reading Theodore Taylor's The Cay.  She was excited about comparing the plot to two other books we had studied this year, Hatchet and Island of the Blue Dolphins .  She helped to lead our class in a great discussion contrasting and comparing the characters, settings, and plots.  It was fun learning the definition of a "cay,"  as well as finding the Cayman Islands on the map.  The setting of the book led into a discussion of the strong discrimination feelings, as well as the global effects of World War II.  Our whole class enjoyed learning, because one student got excited about her choice of books and was willing to share it with classmates.