4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Caleb J. Boyer did a stellar job in writing this page turner, Island Games. Right from the beginning, best friends, Matthew and Ryan recognize that they are in a dire situation; they do not know where they are, how they got there and how will they get home. To find their way back home, their ultimate goal and staying alive their more pressing need, they soon learn it will take their wits and reliance on each other.
The settings and associated “games” include but are not limited to a diversely vegetated tropical jungle, an impromptu freezing winter blizzard and a scalding hot desert. Using the scarce tools provided the strength of their opposite personalities and sheer will Matthew and Ryan play the Island Games.
I thoroughly enjoyed the various settings. This added element gave the book excitement and made me wonder what challenges different temperatures or terrains would present Matthew and Ryan. I also enjoyed the speed at which the book took off. In Chapter 1, the boys were already on the island and headed to their first test. Sometimes authors spend too much time setting the stage, I like that Caleb got right to the point.
I did not like how the characters would think a thought and also say it aloud. The redundancy lessened the flow of the read. I also would have liked Caleb to build upon the Matthew and Ryan’s personalities, especially since their personalities were a big part of the storyline. Caleb made it obvious that Matthew and Ryan thought and behaved differently. I would have liked him to display these differences versus just telling me.
I give Island Games a 4 out of 4, especially since Caleb is such a young writer. If there were grammatical errors, they were minor because not a one comes to mind. I would have given Island Games a 3 if Caleb was older. I would expect a more mature writer to not have the redundancy problem that this book presented. Besides, that Island Games was a great read. Most importantly, the line between reality and fantasy is constantly blurred. Some aspects of Island Games add credence to the fact that this is a perfectly believable survival story. Simultaneously some of the settings, characters and even the way that Matthew and Ryan find nourishment test the limits of reality. Being a fan of both fiction and nonfiction, Island Games provided a healthy dose of both.
******
Island Games
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like karinapettway's review? Post a comment saying so!
