Review by Tiny_Turtle -- Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer
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Mary WhiteFace
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Review by Tiny_Turtle -- Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer
[Following is a volunteer review of "Island Games" by Caleb J. Boyer.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Matthew and Ryan awoke on a sandy beach with no memories of their past or how they came to be there. They only knew their names and that they were best friends. They also knew that they would need to find food, water, and shelter if they were to survive. They were afraid of the mysterious animal sounds coming from the forest, yet they knew they would have to brave the unknown if they were to have any chance of making it home alive. They knew they had homes, even if they couldn't remember them. The challenges they faced tested their bravery, survival skills and their friendship. At times they felt as if someone was playing cruel games with them after stranding them on the island. But who would do such a thing, and why? Along with the physical challenges, the intense dreams were slowly making them question their sanity.
Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer was written for teens and young adults. Yet as an older adult, I found it fascinating and couldn't wait to see how they would handle each new obstacle. There was almost a sense of a young-teen Indiana Jones type of adventure. I liked that even though they found themselves in one scary situation after another, they were able to joke around with each other as young boys like to do. Their ages weren't mentioned, yet their behavior suggested that they were most likely pre-teen or barely teen.
I found the narrative exciting, and I was able to read it in a couple of hours. It was filled with adventure, danger, mystery, and smile-worthy humor, with quite a bit of life lessons scattered throughout. The concepts that action in the face of fear creates bravery and that working as a team makes you stronger than working alone are important lessons that readers young and old can appreciate. I was particularly impressed the lesson of not sending "negative intentions out into the universe" if you want a positive outcome (pg 150).
The variety of predicaments the boys found themselves in were easy to envision, and the way the transitions were handled from one scenario to another added to the mystery. I was a little disappointed at the cliffhanger ending, as there were numerous questions left unanswered. I continued on to read the Message from the Author and discovered the reasoning behind the ending, which was intriguing considering the author's age. In the About the Author section, I was surprised to learn that the author was only 12-years-old when he wrote this book. The attention to detail and consistency was impressive. I found only four small errors, and the narrative was flowing so smoothly that I barely noticed them.
I happily award Island Games 4 out of 4 stars. The enjoyment of the read far outweighed the tiny errors. It was mentioned that this is "the first in a series of adventure books" which made me feel better about my unanswered questions. Although, at the time of the writing of this review, the next book in the series was not yet available.
Readers from the age of ten and above, including adults, who enjoy fast-paced adventures with a touch of mystery will appreciate the experience of time spent immersed in the tale of Matthew and Ryan as they struggle for survival. I suggest that readers who usually bypass the YA genre give it a chance. They may be surprised to find that the level of excitement and mystery keeps them from putting the book down. The cliffhanger ending may disappoint some readers and should be taken into consideration before starting to read. Other than that, the only ones who may not enjoy it are readers who only read a specific genre.
******
Island Games
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4 out of 4 stars
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Matthew and Ryan awoke on a sandy beach with no memories of their past or how they came to be there. They only knew their names and that they were best friends. They also knew that they would need to find food, water, and shelter if they were to survive. They were afraid of the mysterious animal sounds coming from the forest, yet they knew they would have to brave the unknown if they were to have any chance of making it home alive. They knew they had homes, even if they couldn't remember them. The challenges they faced tested their bravery, survival skills and their friendship. At times they felt as if someone was playing cruel games with them after stranding them on the island. But who would do such a thing, and why? Along with the physical challenges, the intense dreams were slowly making them question their sanity.
Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer was written for teens and young adults. Yet as an older adult, I found it fascinating and couldn't wait to see how they would handle each new obstacle. There was almost a sense of a young-teen Indiana Jones type of adventure. I liked that even though they found themselves in one scary situation after another, they were able to joke around with each other as young boys like to do. Their ages weren't mentioned, yet their behavior suggested that they were most likely pre-teen or barely teen.
I found the narrative exciting, and I was able to read it in a couple of hours. It was filled with adventure, danger, mystery, and smile-worthy humor, with quite a bit of life lessons scattered throughout. The concepts that action in the face of fear creates bravery and that working as a team makes you stronger than working alone are important lessons that readers young and old can appreciate. I was particularly impressed the lesson of not sending "negative intentions out into the universe" if you want a positive outcome (pg 150).
The variety of predicaments the boys found themselves in were easy to envision, and the way the transitions were handled from one scenario to another added to the mystery. I was a little disappointed at the cliffhanger ending, as there were numerous questions left unanswered. I continued on to read the Message from the Author and discovered the reasoning behind the ending, which was intriguing considering the author's age. In the About the Author section, I was surprised to learn that the author was only 12-years-old when he wrote this book. The attention to detail and consistency was impressive. I found only four small errors, and the narrative was flowing so smoothly that I barely noticed them.
I happily award Island Games 4 out of 4 stars. The enjoyment of the read far outweighed the tiny errors. It was mentioned that this is "the first in a series of adventure books" which made me feel better about my unanswered questions. Although, at the time of the writing of this review, the next book in the series was not yet available.
Readers from the age of ten and above, including adults, who enjoy fast-paced adventures with a touch of mystery will appreciate the experience of time spent immersed in the tale of Matthew and Ryan as they struggle for survival. I suggest that readers who usually bypass the YA genre give it a chance. They may be surprised to find that the level of excitement and mystery keeps them from putting the book down. The cliffhanger ending may disappoint some readers and should be taken into consideration before starting to read. Other than that, the only ones who may not enjoy it are readers who only read a specific genre.
******
Island Games
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Tiny_Turtle's review? Post a comment saying so!
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After writing a review like this one you thought mine was good?! You're better than me! I'll pass on this story, because the teenage adventure genre is not my cup of tea and I hate cliffhangers with a passion. What a great review and welcome aboard if you are new on the obc. ☺
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
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