Review of Island Games

[June Blue]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Island Games" by Caleb J. Boyer.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Matthew and Ryan have been best friends for as long as they can remember. A contrasting pair in which Matthew has always been practical, rational, and great at football, whereas Ryan has always been reckless, laid-back, and a pro at video games. One day, they both suddenly wake up choking on sand and seawater on an unknown island with no recollection of what happened or how they ended up in the middle of nowhere. The only thing they know and can depend upon is their bond of friendship.

At first, Matthew and Ryan were naive and unaware of the dangers that were about to befall them. A near-death experience and sunken hope leave them a shade more terrified, along with the sinking realisation of the possibilities of what this island could hold for them. The journey continues as they search for food, water, shelter, and answers while exploring this strange island and its different mysteries.

In The Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer, logic is defied and the norms of nature are bent. Whoever they are, they've made it clear that the boys will have to play the game, or the alternative is a gruesome death.

What I enjoyed about this book was that it held a constant fast pace; there wasn't a single boring moment. The way the writer keeps leaving pieces of the puzzle here and there only ends up leaving you more clueless than before. A good balance has been maintained between the two protagonists. Also, after reading about the author himself, I was much more inclined to appreciate the book itself on the whole.

The things that I did not like were the dialogue and the underlying theme of the story and characters being a bit cliche. At times, the flow and the sense of familiarity of the conversation between the two boys didn't give the impression that they had been childhood best friends.

I would rate this book three out of four. The reason why I deducted a point in addition to the ones mentioned above is that although the book was very well written as a whole, for me it was a bit simplistic, probably because I'm part of an older readership than the one targeted by the book, and therefore it did not impact me with the same intensity. I must also mention that the book seems exceptionally well-edited, as I found no errors while reading, which further credits the reading experience.

I would recommend this book to young readers falling into the age group of 10–14 who have just started reading or are looking for an interesting book to build the habit, preferably those with a thirst for adventure.

I would also suggest that the author's description be placed at the start of the book, as it might incentivise a readership of his age.

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Island Games
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[Charlize Venter]

I agree with your suggestion, the author was still very young during the publication and his youth is evident within the text. He need guidance, further education and practice, as well as the wisdom that chronological age will provide.
I am still amazed at what he has doe though!