The Cay

In this children's novel by Theodore Taylor, 11 year old Phillip Enright is stranded on a small island with only an old black man and a cat as company. To add to Phillip's unfortunate fate, he is blinded by an injury to his skull. But with the help of the old man, Timothy, Phillip learns to cope with his loss of sight.

It took me only a few hours to read, but they were an entertained few hours. The portrayal of the cat, called Stew Cat, is excellent. It is rare that you find such realistic characteristics in a fictional story. 

It's really an excellent book, from when he is first on the little raft with Timothy and Stew Cat to when he is eventually rescued. 

Timothy of the Cay is the sequel/prequel, written after The Cay, and is equally entertaining. Through every other chapter, Taylor continues the story of Phillip regaining his sight and backtracks to Timothy's childhood. If I'm honest, I've never been able to get through the parts with Timothy, but Phillip's tale is excellent.