Review of Island Games

[Annabell Samuel]

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

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5 out of 5 stars

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What do you do when you suddenly find yourself in a place where you have no recollection of how you got there or what you're supposed to do to get out? You may not have been in that situation, but imagine the scenario. Matthew and Ryan find themselves on an island with no recollection of how they got there or what is expected of them. To survive, they have to play games that test their friendship and trust in each other. Even the food they need to strengthen their bodies depends on the successful completion of the games. Will the duo survive on an island they know nothing about? Find out in Caleb J. Boyer's "Island Games."

"Island Games" is an adventure-laden book. The book begins with high drama and maintains a steady pace from start to finish. It reminds me of "The Hunger Games," only this time it involves boys who are likely tweenagers, considering that the author wrote this book at 12. The naivety, fear, and courage Matthew and Ryan exhibit in this story are palpable. Although this book is fictional, it has a level of realism that readers can relate to. This is the first thing I like about the book.

I also like how the author arranges the games. First, they are not boring and flat; the games are engaging. Each game has some lessons that the boys will learn from. The games also make them dig within themselves to find the courage they probably don't know they have. Secondly, the games come in varying degrees of difficulty. There are the easy ones, like escaping from a shark-infested water. There are also the difficult ones, like escaping from a beast. I like all the adventures in the book.

Another thing I like about the book is how the author takes the time to let the reader into the boys' personalities. The reader can see their similarities and differences. For instance, Ryan is concerned about his looks, while Matthew cares less about what anyone thinks about his looks. Understanding their personalities helps the reader to make sense of some outcomes in the book. Additionally, the infusion of humor and sarcasm into the boys' interaction is good; I love it.

There's absolutely nothing to dislike in and about this book. It is exceptionally edited. Therefore, I rate it five out of five stars. I recommend it to lovers of adventure books involving tweenagers.

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Island Games
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