4 out of 4 stars
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Finding themselves lost and alone on a mysterious island, Matthew and Ryan, without food and shelter are faced with the task of combating many dangerous obstacles in order to survive their ordeal.
Island Games: Mystery of the Four Quadrants, by Caleb J. Boyer, is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure thriller, aimed at giving its young readers a jaw-dropping experience of surprise, suspense, and trepidation. It encourages friendship, teamwork, bravery, and risk-taking.
On this mysterious and eerie island, Matthew and Ryan have awoken in a trance-like state, with sparse memories of their former lives. The plot depicts Matthew’s role as one which shows brotherly protection towards his friend, the sometimes impulsive Ryan. There is an ever-present sense of someone watching them, therefore both boys have conjured up thoughts of being kidnaped. Their plight causes the survivor instincts of the boys to kick in. The mechanics of past experiences, as well as their critical thinking abilities, are introduced, to overcome the onslaught of these speedy and ever-present challenges. Teamwork and friendly banter are also used, to spur them on, in their quest to return to the normalcy of their everyday, familiar surroundings.
Author Boyer has written his book in the third person and his tone throughout the passage is one of excitement and resilience. He has employed an impressive usage of metaphors, personification, imagery, pathos appeal and other language skills to keep his audience’s hearts pumping and their eyes glued to the pages of his book. The use of metaphor is evident in the passage, at para. 2, page 4 of 227, “Matthew and Ryan were now shivering from head to toe in their wet, sand-covered clothes.”
This twelve (12) year old author is truly a remarkable and impressive individual. Apparently, he must have been an avid reader and watcher of mystery and adventure games, stories and films, from a very early age. It is rather thought-provoking that such a young person is able to bring such intrigue, clarity and brilliant writing style to a story. He has certainly captured the imagination of his youthful audience. Even the older ones will be pleased with his utilization of energetic lucid twists and thrills of the characters’ experiences and escapades. Undoubtedly, his book will motivate youngsters to take on a more intellectualized and creative approach to writing. I, however, have some qualms as it concerns the ending of the story. I anticipate an explanation of how the boys had found themselves on the island in the first place. This is not given. Beyond that, the grammar is perfect.
This book is certainly of award-winning material. It is definitely an amazing page-turner as the characters and events portrayed are truly interesting and unforgettable. Without reservation, I concur with the author that his book will motivate others to embrace tenacity when faced with stressful situations. In comparing the age of the author with his mature style of writing, I would definitely give the book a 4 out of 4 stars rating.
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Island Games
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