The Bobbsey Twins on Blueberry Island

The Bobbsey Twins on Blueberry Island was published in 1917 and is one of the simpler outdoor adventures in the series. The family takes a summer camping trip to an island in the lake, where they pitch tents, fish, gather wild blueberries, and live somewhat closer to the rough than the comfortable Lakeport house usually allows. The book reads in places almost like a primer on early-twentieth-century camping practice.

The central conflict, such as it is, involves a man named Jenkins who has set up an unauthorized fruit-picking operation on the island and tries to chase the Bobbseys off as trespassers. Bert eventually uncovers documentation that the island actually belongs to a family friend, not to Jenkins, and the matter is resolved through quiet adult negotiation. Flossie and Freddie spend most of the book getting blueberry stains on increasingly unlikely articles of clothing. A pleasant outdoor entry without any particular pretension to plot.