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

Barbie_sidhu · Post by **Barbie_sidhu** » 24 Jun 2020, 01:18

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

4 out of 4 stars

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The Island Games: Mystery of the Four Quadrants by Caleb J. Boyer is a young adult fictional story engrossed with fascinating mystery, thrilling adventure and action. What typically makes this remarkable story unique is the fact that it was written by the author when he was just twelve years old. Efficiently producing such an astounding story at such a young age is unfathomable as well as praiseworthy.

The story begins on a very interesting note where two teenage kids, Matthew and Ryan, who are also best friends, wake up at a beach with no memories of how they ended up there. The last thing they remember is playing a video game at Matthew’s place and absolutely nothing after that. Initially, they think they are kidnapped and who so ever did so abandoned them at this sinister island. Matthew, being the rational one, decides to look for survival items like food, water and most importantly building a fire to survive the night before they go seeking help the next day. Strangeness starts breathing into the plot when they find a big cargo ship floating in the ocean holding food and other survival items but no radio communication system and waking up to the sound of a rooster every morning. They both experience mysterious dreams about lying on beds in a white lab and some other related flashes. As the plot moves on, Matthew and Ryan face many unexpected fatal obstacles like a shark attack and an unpredictable sinking of the cargo ship. They come across a wood box with a keyhole but without a key on the cargo ship. Gradually, they discover themselves trapped in some kind of a game entering into unusual parts of the island like a dessert, a jungle, a pool and the cold arctic, securing a key in each part. Will they be able to miraculously survive the island? Will they figure out why are they stuck on the island and who is responsible for this? And most importantly, why can’t they recall anything about the past?

The story is stuffed with breathless suspense and mystery from the beginning of the very first line. The reader will nothing but want to dig more and more into the story due to the ever-increasing secrets in the story-line. The characters are extremely interesting who teach an excellent lesson on interdependence, trust and friendship but most importantly survival by holding on to each other. They often save each other in the most perilous situations which reflect courage and bravery. The story not only just includes an action-packed adventure but a very realistically imaginative plot-build.

What I dearly love about the book is the profound depth of genuine emotion and tension which the author has successfully showcased in absolutely appropriate situations throughout the story. The fundamental idea and key concept of the story is highly appealing and captivates the reader, which is admirable considering the fact it is written by a twelve-year-old. There is nothing in the book I did not like except the dialogues which, according to me were little out of the situations at some points but it wasn’t a critical issue at all.

On the whole, I would soundly rate this charming creation a 4 out of 4 stars read. It undoubtedly deserves a full stars rating not only because it is such a breathtaking adventure mystery but also because it is written by a twelve-year-old, which makes it very special. Moreover, the character development is highly appreciable. Matthew’s moral wisdom and his words are worth a credit. For example, he says, “A warrior is bigger than any obstacle and never gives up". The story is also packed with emotional elements like mutual frustration and fear along with lively humor.

There was no profanity in the book, neither were there any typos or errors. The book was well edited without any grammatical errors worth noticing. I would recommend this book for people of almost every age who enjoy a suspense-filled adventure mystery, especially teenagers ageing 10 to 15. Moreover, along with being a young adult story, it can be a very nice tale for children to read.

Lastly, I would personally like to sincerely appreciate the writer for his commendable work and the degree of creative imagination he has put into the story. The whole time I spent reading the book I could experience what the characters were feeling throughout the story. The readers once reading it will love to anticipate this story being adapted into a movie.

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Island Games
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