Three teenage boys find their survival skills and moral resolve tested after a shipwreck leaves them stranded on an uninhabited Pacific island. Ralph, Jack, and Peterkin must navigate the physical demands of their isolated environment while contending with the sudden arrival of hostile Polynesian war parties and ruthless pirates. The narrative follows their transition from carefree exploration to a desperate struggle for safety, utilizing a first-person perspective that emphasizes the boys' ingenuity and growing maturity. Their objective is to maintain order and survive the encroaching threats that disrupt their initial idyllic existence.

Readers and critics often identify this work as a foundational text within the survival adventure genre, frequently noting its influence on later literature like Lord of the Flies. Discussion often centers on the stark contrast between the boys' optimistic, industrious nature and the increasingly violent external threats they encounter. Many observers highlight the prose as reflective of Victorian-era values regarding self-reliance and Christian morality. While some modern readers find the pacing leisurely, others appreciate the detailed world-building that captures the romanticized view of island life prevalent in the nineteenth century. The book remains a subject of study for its role in shaping the tropes of the castaway narrative.