Review of Island Games
Posted: 22 Sep 2022, 08:55
[Following is a volunteer review of "Island Games" by Caleb J. Boyer.]
Waking up on an island is usually everyone's vacation dream. But that dream turns into a nightmare for Matthew and Ryan. Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer is a young adult novel with surprisingly teachable moments for every age. I like it despite its little quirks.
Matthew and his best friend Ryan woke up on a strange island with no memories of how they got there. Perplexed by their current situation, they started an initial exploration and realized the island was deserted. This began a journey for survival on a dangerous island that kept playing games with them. It tested their mettle and friendship. Their goal was to return home. Will their friendship hold when stripped from the comfort of life? Who brought them here, and for what reason?
A few pages in and my interest was already piqued. The introduction promised a taste of adventure. Although it wasn't up to my expectations, it was exciting. The plot scenes were reminiscent of the Hunger Games trilogy. It was also a short read that was so easily consumed.
The suspense device used was a good one. Every change in terrain brought a unique obstacle the two best friends had to overcome, and starvation was always a good motivator. For a suspense-filled book, the cliffhanger at the end irked me. I couldn't get the cathartic release I sought. Maybe the author planned on releasing a sequel, or his original plan was for the reader to come up with an ending of their own. I'd be on the lookout.
Ryan was the designated source of humor, and the banter was expected, as they were best friends. Although some of the dialogues were corny, they gave the book a lighthearted feel. The book portrayed how humans would react in dire situations regardless of age, and the core message was an analogy of life and its turbulence.
I was surprised when I discovered it was the author's first novel at 12. It made sense of some scenarios. For a novel written at such a young age, it was terrific. With such skills at that age, I'd look forward to more of his books in the future.
I enjoyed the author's writing style and the absence of fillers. The editing was superb; I couldn't find any errors, making for a smooth read. Apart from little inconsistencies here and there (considering that a 12-year-old wrote it), there was nothing to dislike. Therefore, I would rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend it to teens, young adults, and adults interested in adventure stories. There was a message in it for everyone. The cliffhanger might be a bummer, but it was worth reading.
******
Island Games
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Waking up on an island is usually everyone's vacation dream. But that dream turns into a nightmare for Matthew and Ryan. Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer is a young adult novel with surprisingly teachable moments for every age. I like it despite its little quirks.
Matthew and his best friend Ryan woke up on a strange island with no memories of how they got there. Perplexed by their current situation, they started an initial exploration and realized the island was deserted. This began a journey for survival on a dangerous island that kept playing games with them. It tested their mettle and friendship. Their goal was to return home. Will their friendship hold when stripped from the comfort of life? Who brought them here, and for what reason?
A few pages in and my interest was already piqued. The introduction promised a taste of adventure. Although it wasn't up to my expectations, it was exciting. The plot scenes were reminiscent of the Hunger Games trilogy. It was also a short read that was so easily consumed.
The suspense device used was a good one. Every change in terrain brought a unique obstacle the two best friends had to overcome, and starvation was always a good motivator. For a suspense-filled book, the cliffhanger at the end irked me. I couldn't get the cathartic release I sought. Maybe the author planned on releasing a sequel, or his original plan was for the reader to come up with an ending of their own. I'd be on the lookout.
Ryan was the designated source of humor, and the banter was expected, as they were best friends. Although some of the dialogues were corny, they gave the book a lighthearted feel. The book portrayed how humans would react in dire situations regardless of age, and the core message was an analogy of life and its turbulence.
I was surprised when I discovered it was the author's first novel at 12. It made sense of some scenarios. For a novel written at such a young age, it was terrific. With such skills at that age, I'd look forward to more of his books in the future.
I enjoyed the author's writing style and the absence of fillers. The editing was superb; I couldn't find any errors, making for a smooth read. Apart from little inconsistencies here and there (considering that a 12-year-old wrote it), there was nothing to dislike. Therefore, I would rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend it to teens, young adults, and adults interested in adventure stories. There was a message in it for everyone. The cliffhanger might be a bummer, but it was worth reading.
******
Island Games
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon