Review by rondanoh1 -- Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer

rondanoh1 · Post by **rondanoh1** » 18 Sep 2020, 09:52

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

4 out of 4 stars

Share This Review

Best friends Matthew and Ryan wake up face down on a beach. They have no memory of where they came from or how they got there. As they survey the area around them, they discover they are on an island with a volcano in the distance. They know they need to get off the island and get back to where they came from, but where is that? This is how Island Games: The Mystery of the Four Quadrants by Caleb J. Boyer begins.

From here, the friends travel the island facing physical obstacles they must defeat by working together to move to the next “level.” In each area, they are awarded food packets, water, and sometimes other helpful gear after overcoming the challenge. No matter where they are on the island, the friends are awakened every morning by a rooster they name Reggie. From the beach, the boys begin their quest home through a jungle, a prairie, a desert, and a mountain. As the story progresses, the characters remember small pieces of their lives before the island, but not everything. Finally, they arrive at the volcano, which is their goal to end their quest and get home.

I liked several things about Island Games. One is the flow of the story. The plot moves from one part of the island to the next in a logical manner, and the transitions are interesting. The storyline is thrilling and is believable based on the premise applied from the beginning. Another is the characters are well developed and have unique personalities that work well together. The author describes each area of the island and each challenge well. The entire adventure is a good metaphor for life and the uncertainty we all face. It also shows that life experiences are better when shared with someone you love. All these things are awe-inspiring; in light of the fact the author wrote the book when he was 12 years old! There are a few light-hearted moments where Matthew and Ryan have a chance to tease each other and forget their surroundings for a little bit. Their conversations are appropriate for teenage boys and give the characters more personality and depth.

There are only two things I didn’t like about Island Games. One is the ending (I won’t say more). The other is that the story is reminiscent of other, recent Young Adult novels where the characters are in similar circumstances. This book gives that premise a bit of a spin and is written by a young adult.

There are no inappropriate words or scenes in the book, which one would expect in a book written by an adolescent. It seems a professional edited the book since I didn’t find any typos or significant grammar issues. Even though I was not fond of the ending, I am giving Island Games: The Mystery of the Four Quadrants by Caleb J. Boyer 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend the book to young adults and anyone who enjoys a good “coming of age” thriller.

******
Island Games
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon