Official Review: Driftwood Island by Amanda McCoy

[katemichael]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Driftwood Island" by Amanda McCoy.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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A new entry in the crowded field of Young Adult Fiction, Driftwood Island by Amanda McCoy is a thought-provoking study of society disguised as an action-packed thriller. This one is sure to pique the curiosity of even the most hesitant teenage reader.

Driftwood Island is told from the point of view of Alley, a teenager that thrives on being unconventional with her goth wardrobe and quirky packrat tendencies. Sent away to avoid some particularly nasty High School bullies, Alley is living with her “Aunt” in Kelpi Harbor, a drowsy town where she shouldn’t possibly be able to get into any trouble. Friendless and bored in this quiet seaside place that seems more than mundane - its residents truly remind her of zombies - she is intrigued to find there is a mysterious mist-covered island nearby that no one will speak of. Determined to uncover the secrets of the island, Alley finds herself in far more danger than anyone could anticipate.

A slow and uncertain start eventually yields to a fast-paced and exciting tale of mystery, exploration and suspense. While Driftwood Island is obviously a fantasy adventure tale, the author includes enough pragmatic detail to create a bewitchingly believable story — and one that could translate easily enough onto a movie screen. By combining her protagonist, a cheeky girl with just the right amount of teenage detachment, with the macabre results of environmental contamination, McCoy creates a bubbling cauldron of intrigue and nefarious intentions… not to mention intense action scenes.

By the time Alley sets foot on Driftwood Island, the reader is fascinated, and her efforts there only hook more. It doesn’t matter that McCoy's vocabulary is often redundant and her characters largely one-dimensional, the best part of the Driftwood Island story is that —while feverishly reading to find out what happens next — multiple themes converge in a way that makes sense. Combatting small mindedness; appreciating people’s differences; fighting against bullying; these, as well as themes of self reliance and acknowledging the strengths of others, are imparted honestly along with the young girl’s blossoming sense of purpose and naive fearless resolve.

Driftwood Island appeals most to YA Fiction/Fantasy readers who like action and adventure stories and appreciate a strong female lead. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars for situating itself in the overly popular monster/zombie/sci-fi space and then exceeding all expectations for values sharing, story development, and page turning anticipation.

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Driftwood Island
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[mccoyamandamarie]

Yay! Thank you so much for your awesome review of my book "Driftwood Island"! This was the first time my work was reviewed by anyone, and I have to admit I was pretty nervous. No words could say how relieved I was to read that you seemed to like my work, or at least didn't hate it. Seriously, I can't get the smile off my face! Your review has inspired me to submit my second book "Monster in the Basement" to be reviewed, and to stop dragging my feet so much and to finish my third book "No place for fairy tales". And I also want to thank you for pointing out that my characters could use a little more depth, I will definitely keep that in mind as I continue my writing. Again, thank you so much.

P.S. I also thanked you on my website (which, evidently I'm not supposed to give a link to).